New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-24
London, August a.

London, August -.
"The Standard is to-day IN posi-
ton to publish what will rank as per
haps the most arresting and vivid mar
ratiye OF the opening scenes 10 the
great European war. Below VIII b.
+ found the diary Of an English school
girl. Miss Nuricl Furness, written m
f the convent at Eysden, a village near
Wise. Eysdcn is just on the Dutch side
Of the frontier, and the story opens
with what may be described as the dis
/ tant murmuriags Of the tempest which
/ threatens 20 deyastate Europe AT first
letters begin TO arrive from parents ask
/ ing their girls to come home. a war rs
feared. A little later follow kilograms
-urgeu. and besecchng Then the blow
falls. War is declared. cannOns roar
Villages burst out In flames, and the
story becomes more and more intense.
Air and earth alike are filled with grim
instruments Of destruction. We get a
pen picture Of the girls huddled to-
gethor in an underground room, with
the night made hideous by great eXplo-
sions. waiting for death while the nuns
lead them in prayer Throughout the
narrative there runs a deep pathos
the sadness Of an English girl placed m
the most appalling position in which
any woman could find herself. The
diary. as stated. is the unaided work
of Miss Nuriel Furness, of Blackpool,
who arrived yesterday in London, after
being rescued" by her father. 1t has
been somewhat shortened, but the
words Of the original are adhered TO.
July 3O-This morning the Mother Su-
pcrior received a letter from Bonn
saving that all German girls from
Bonn must return Immediately,
owing to the fear of war. or course
we scorned the idea and laughed at
their parents. At dinner time
French girl had telegram saying
that she must return At once. The
nuns goothed our fears, but at tea
so many kilograms were arriving that
4ba reverend mother decided that the
school holidays should commence on
Saturday. instead of the Monday as
arranged. At supper we were toid
that we must 20 home tomorrow.
July 3l-We went to the station to sec
! the Belgian girls off, still thinking
that there was no war.
August 1t was impossible for the
Dutch girls to return, as the trains
we're full Of soldiers going to the
frontier. In the afternoon we packed
up everything and prepared to leave.
AUGUST We rejoiced that we should
90 home tomorrow, but at tea time
Ia Mere came in crying like child
and telling US that war had been
actually declared. The sunset to-
night was most beautiful. 1t kept
changing its color that, we are told
is a sign Of war.
August 3-In the morning we cleared
the drawing room. so that the SOL
diers might come 20 camp there II
they wanted.
August AT o'clock this morning
every one was startled by terrific
explosion which shook the convent.
We learned that the bridge at Wise
had been blown up, as Belgium must
defend her neutrality. We were told
that cannons were being brought up.
People began to come in from Wise
spcd or by a hail Of bullets. a Ger
man officer came to Wise. He COM
menced to read a proclamation, but
before he had finished doing so he
was shot dead. This the nuns told
US. This afternoon la Mere told US
to put up beds in the drawing room
for the wounded. We also hoisted a
/ big white flag with a red cross. Doc
tors and nurses came from far and
near All the while we could hear
the crackle of rife fire and the roar
Of cannons. From above came the