Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-03
THR0NCS OF j. 5.
TOURISTS HELD
Seek Refuge in London,
Their only Hope of Get
ting Home Soon.

London, Aug. 3.-London is fast fill
Ing up with Americans who nave been
compelled to forego their continental
tours. Every cross-channel steamer
from France and Belgium Is filled
with American tourists who, on ad-
vice of their ambassadors. ministers
or consuls, have left the continental
ute's notice for England, which coun-
try affords them their only chance
Of reaching home.
Cannot Get Money.
Inability to get money is another
incentive for thei rdesire to leave the
continent. Express companies checks
which Americans universally use on
foreign tours, cannot be converted in
to currency except at the highest
rates Of discount.
w. H. Crane. the American actor,
vas among hundreds who hurriedly
left Paris Friday night. He said there
was a veritable panic among Ameri-
cans in the French capital. ~
Leaves IN Consul's Advice.
ION the advice Of the consul. who
told me that If I did not go away i'm
mediately I probably would be ma
fooned in Paris for several more
to the station" said Mr.. Crane. There
I found the station crowded with
Americans acting on the same i'm
pulse. MOI only did they want to get
home. but they had found their Amer
lean money checks Unacceptable.
Trains Are Crowded.
who had gladly paid fun first class
fares. but who had arrived late and
found only standing room in third
class cars, did not complain because
they were so anxious to get away.
Nobody got any sleep until we ar
, rived in London in the early hours Of
the morning. We were several hours
late because the train was held up on
the french lines to enable the passage
Of trains loaded with French sailors.
Some Sail for Home.
A few of those who arrived early
were able to get berths on h steam
ers sailing for New York, Boston and
Canadian ports, but the majority
Joined the big crowd Of Americans
who, already are filling the London
hotels.
Later a boat from the continent
brought another large contingent Of
Americans. who felt satisfied until
they discovered that their American
checks were almost as useless in Lon
don as in the continental cities.
Compelled to Sign Notes.
Regular customers at hotels and
! JIG ! ctihSAI ~ Az iloI tldNc
gold or silver were politely invited to
sign bills for payment at some future
day, as no currency could be given in
change for notes or checks. Strangers
were compelled to pay their bills in
currency, Neither checks nor notes
were acceptable.
No Change for Bills.
In one famous resort of Americans
here there was a continual stream Of
me motoring f5 ($25) notes in pay
ment for 10-cent drinks and asking
the change, only to be told there was
NJ gold in the house. Some of them
! got the drink for nothing. but most
\ of them were unable to produce silver
when pressed.
Such Ger were never before wit
messed in the West end of London,
where ordinarily the notes of any
country Of the world are changed
without demur.
To Aid the Stranded.
Prominent American residents met
here and organized a mission to as
sist their compatriots who may be
stranded on the continent through
the paralysis Of the ordinary banking
facilities.