The Alaska daily empire., 1914-12-17

TE WAR
 DOUGLAS. Dec. 17.-Aftor long and perilous Journey Of 5000 miles rom war-torn Europe to Alaska Mrs. Joseph Riedl wlth her three children, arrived on tho Jefferson yesterday morning to reioin her husband
 Mrs Riedi has been travelling since tho 2Srd oi November when she left Magen6eim, her parents home in AL saco, for Douglas. The route Of travel taken by Mrs. Riedi vas through Hol- land, as il is almost impossible to leave Gormany by my other route, ghe said
 Relatives at Front.
 "The conditions in Europe said Mrs. Riedi this morning, Fare such that a person not brought face to face with them is unable to even Imagine that they arc like. Every family in Germany has one or more Rear and dear relatives at the front and the work formerly done by the able bodied men has to bo done by those who are unable to shoulder a gun. ! myself have four brothers and Q nephew in the German army fighting for the Fatherland. The wives and children of tho soldiers, however are fairly well taken care of by the government - tho women receiving nine marks (S2.25) and each child five marks per month for maintain- ance. Although there ia plenty of foodetuns in the country at tho pre-. rent umc, ovcry precaution ia taken for tho future atlons of the people In case or long War The popular belief IS that tho war viii last two years more but the people Of AL saee would welcome the end of the war no matter who wins 90 the sol- diers take everything b sight and the people arc forbidden to take even white bread but must use black bread made Of the coarsest kind Of flour.
 eroae syGiom Shown.
 aGermany has systemized every thing. There is foodstuff set apart for use as 1t is needed that will sps- tain the entire population for a per iod Of i've years, and there is iron and steel at hand with which arms and ammunition may be made in great quantity for the next three years.
 'The crops were divided 80 as to provide against hunger fl the war should continue long, As soon as tho harvest was over the family was DOT mitted to retain what was necessary for its own consumption until time for another crop to be harvested. Seed was left to provide for Che next years crop, and Che remainder was taken over by the goyernment; but it was paid Tor by the government. This surplus has been put aside and win be used only when -nocesaity re- quires 1t for the eustenance of tho nation.
 'E9erythlng is being conserved. It Is an ofiense against the law to kill calf in Germany Neither can 9 milch COW be butchered until after she has become useless as such. Stock Is being conserved ag IS everything else, and there will be plenty Of meat two. three, four or even five years from now no matter how the bat ties so.
 Sentiment Divided.
 When asked # the German people as Q whole were in sympathy with the German cause. Mrs Riedi stated that she did not know much of tho sentiment Of the Germans at large but that the sentiment Is yery much divided in Alsace and Lorraine aH tho bulk of tho population in those provinces arc or French descent
 Mrs. Riedl intimated that Holland will, sooner or Inter be drawn into the .embrogllo. She said that otieers on the Holland liner on which she returned to America talked as 4 any day they might hear news that Hol- land had gone to war.
 "Over half million soldiers have been lost by the Germans since the war began, continued Mrs. Riedi, eand just before left call was made for boys Of 16 years and upward. and also for the able-bodied men ol g and over
 That Ameflca lu tae best place for 9 person to reside during lhe pres- eot troublous tines is the impression lefs with pergon who talks over Inc war for iew minutes with Mrs Riedi, who hae oeon trying to return
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