Connecticut western news., 1914-08-20
MIR. WELlNER RETURNS
Had Exciting Experiences Getting Out
 of War-Ridden Europe.

TeJuTneu 10 Canaan unexpectedly, Thursday evening, having landed i'll New York from the American liner, Philadelphia, the day before. His family were not bit more glad to see him return than he was to get back to the peaceful land that flows with milk and honey, where he can go outside his own door without risk of being con- fiscated, or stuck with a bayonet The last week of his stay in Europe was the most stirring week in his existence, and one which he has no desire to have repeated.
 Having visited his relatives in Aus tria, his native land, and visited three sisters whom he had not seen before in B years, he started on the homeward trip. By that time the war prepara- tions were in full blast and war measures in force in all the countries through which he had to pass i'll order to get to sailing point, and he had his own troubles. His itinerary, from the start, took him from Hamburg, where he landed from the Imperator, on July. IS, to Brussels, Belgium, where he visited friends; thence to Paris, whence he sent postals to his family in Canaan. From there he went to Vienna, Austria, and to Marie -Astro, to Galacia and to Crackow, Austria, a fortified city now occupied by 200,000 troops. From Crackow he was ordered to move on, as the city was to be "closed up" by the soldiery, and there was no telling how long he might be compelled to remain if he had stayed.
 He went from there to Breslau, Ger many, thence to Berlin and Hamburg, and to Belgium, whence he was turned back on account of the fact that there was no vessel sailing to England, which he was desirous of reaching, as he intended to sail from Southampton, on any old boat that would carry him home. He went to Rotterdam-nothing doing there; thence to Flushing, Holland, by train, and managed to get ferry boat to Southampton. On the way, however, the train on which he rode was intercepted by Holland soldiers who took possession for their own trans portation to mobilizing point. The passengers were rudely hustled out of
 
 and piled ill a massive heap beside the tracks, while the soldiers boarded the train and started on. The evicted passengers, including MT. Wellner, were hobliged to walk two miles, to a station, to get another train.
 On one leg of his journey he rode on the last train that passed over bridge, near the Russian line, before the bridge was blown up with dynamite. While ill Belgium, two miles from Liege, he distinctly heard the heavy cannonading of the German assault on the forts, and during his rush through the country to get passage for home he witnessed the mobilizing of armies in France, Ger many, England and Austria.
 Arriving at Southampton he was obliged to go to London to purchase a ticket for New York. He was obliged to make adeposit for a ticket, and could get no assurance that the ship, Phila- delphia. would sail, until th4 day before she actually sailed. When he finally procured his ticket he was offered $10O more than its price, if he woald sell it, which of course he refused. Hundreds of stranded Americans were unable to get tickets and were offering all kinds of prices.
 At London he saw 5000 persons wildly saluting King George, who appeared on a balcony of the Kings Palace and simply bowed his greetings. His experience at Hamburg indicated that he had a close call from the necessity of making a protracted and enforced stay in that German city. The American consul had informed him that he would probably not be able to leave the city before the decree that mo- body would be allowed to depart from the country. A friend, however, advised him that train would be leav- ing at certain hour, which was the last train on which he could possibly leave. He rushed to the station to purchase a ticket, but was informed that American money would not be accepted at any discount, for tickets. Hes had just time to rush to bank, nearby and get his American money exchanged, at 20 per cent. discount, and had just one minute left to catch his train. He got it literally by the skin of his teeth, and thus barely escaped the embargo.
 The Philadelphia was escorted from Southampton by a French torpedo boat, which compelled her to haul down her wireless masts and rigging, and for some unknown reason she was detained about half an hour before being allowed to proceed. But from that point, a few miles out from Southampton, she saw no war vessels, and reached New York, Wednesday without noteworthy incl dent