The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-02
AMERICANS TREATED WITH GREAT
CONSIDERATION In GERMANY
AT OUTBREAK OF THE WAR GOV
EMINENT TOOK EVERY PRE-
CAUTION FOR THEIR SAFETY
Emperor Issues Decree Holding All
suroomasters Responsible For
All Harm TO Foreigners.
Correspondent OF fine Associated

Correspondent OF fine Associated
Pressl.
ROTTERDAM. Aug. 21.-Americans
who found themselves in Germany
during the first few days OF the Eu
ropean war were In no wise molested:
in fact the German government took
every step TO protect them. This is
the total Of the statements made here
by Americans returning from Ger.
many.
Several instances of abuse and per.
sonal danger were recorded. however,
but in every case the excitement in
cident TO the declaration OF war. mobi.
lization and resulting high spirits OF
the people were responsible. Then,
too. the few cases recited to The As.
ISOLATED Press correspondent occurred
in out OF the way places. and per.
sons tourinf the empire in automo
biles were the principal sufferers.
German villagers. unable to distin.
guish the American from the English.
stoned travellers. threatened them ano
molested them In hotels. but as soon
as IL had been made clear that the
victims OF their wrath were Ameri.
cans the most complete apologies
were offered. In most cases the OF.
tenders were Immediately arrested
and summarily punished.
Personally Responsible.
On August 5, the German emperor
is said TO have himself issued a de-
cree according TO which the burgo-
masters all over the empire were to
be held personally responsible for all
harm Detailing foreigners. especially
Americans. There is every reason to
believe from accounts told by Ameri-
can refugees. that the Germans went
out of their way TO take care OF the
visitors from the United States. II
must be said. however. that they were
subjected TO the severe military rules
so suddenly applied and that those
without passports we're in some cases
detained until Identification had been
accomplished. But even this neces-
sary process was never attended with
the usual brusqueness OF the German
official Americans by the score
maintain that they had never thought
German officials could be as polite as
they showed themselves
Treated Considerably.
UP TO about August 5 IL was difficult
to obtain money in Germany on Amer.
lean paper OF any sort. II was soon
realized. however, that all American
drafts, notes and letters OF credi; OF
standing were good, and after that
II was a comparatively easy matter
TO secure money. Many banks limited
the daily allowance of Americans TO
about $50. Persons who found II i'm
possible to realize on. paper in their
possession were given credit b ythe
hotel and boarding house proprietors.
Those who were caught while enroute
were given accommodations. in most
cases on the promise that they would
mall the amount OF the bill from the
United States. The Bristol hotel at
Berlin, for instance turned $50 rooms
over TO the Americans absolutely free
OF charge. and thoes who failed TO
get rooms at hotels were taken in by
families. Similar reports were made
by Americans from other parts OF the
empire
Many. Americans here assert that
the English tourists In Germany had
little cause for complaint. A party OF
them stranded at Cologne was put up
free OF charge by a prominent hotel
there. Women and males not Of mill
tary age were permitted to pass over
the Holland border without trouble.