The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-10-07

the military officer and asked II
there was any chance of getting thru
the German lines as an English Red
Cross nurse. The official who was ex-
tremely polite and pleasant said that
this was permitted in the Franco
Prussian war. but was very much
afraid that it would not be done in
the struggle Inen commencing.
THE end of ii was that went
again to see the American consul
representative and was informed !
that there was only one thing to be
done. if I cared to risk it. That was
to attempt to get across the frontier
without any special permit I might,
was informed, be turned back, or
might be arrested as a spy, but it
was possible that / might get thru.
1t was just matter Of chance either
way. Anything was better than sit
ting still. SO / decided to make the
attempt. made for Rotterdam,
and at the frontier everybody had to
leave the train while their luggage
was carefully inspected.
Il had a box with me and among
its contents was a book containing
a few notes which had been prepar-
ing ON an Italian holiday. These /
showed to the officer inspecting the
lar RON ioro xr,ffl,n,,4 do1oxr ~ - -
lief he assured me that everything
was quite all right. He did not even
search my box while curiouslyl
enough, lady a little further along.
the line of passengers had everything
in her box tumbled out on the
ground.
At the Dutch frontier we all had
again to turn out, and some of the
luggage was looked at again. We
were, then penned up in the waiting
room which speedily became a regu-
lar Black Hole of Calcutta. Subse-
quently more officials arrived and
examined our passports, this being
done six times in all. Rotterdam
some of us went to a hotel, where I
was compelled to snare double
bedded room with three American
ladies'. / left next morning for
Flushing, extremely relieved at hay-
ing reached the end of an exciting
adventurous journey. The Folke-
stone boat, / noticed was crowded
to excess with German-Americans
who seemed to be very glad at get
ting away.
The two points which stand out
the most clearly in connection with
the matters were the sympathy and
help / received at the American con-
sulate and the kindness and cour-
! tesy of individual Germans during
the journey, although they knew I
was English. Money was offered me
by three people to assist me home,
but what / required was loaned me
by my friend, for naturally one did
not go away expecting to have to
stay at hotels, and incur the extra
expenses which in the unexpected
circumstances arose
lone thing that struck me as very
significant was the absolute secrecy
observed in regard to the wonderful
siege gun employed against the
Liege forts until the weapon was
actually in use.
1T is a 4 1 centimetre bore, carry
ing a very pointed narrow shell
which will penetrate any fortified
ton, steel, iron, or earth, and ex-
pIode a few seconds later. The
! point is, however, that not soul in
Germany, except the workmen who
make the gun and the military au-
thorities, knew anything about the
weapon until it was placed in posi-.
ton.
q was struck by the orderliness
and sobriety which prevails every.
where amidst the excitement Al
the time / was away saw nc
drunken people. With the exception
of two sailors.
4 The departing troops are voldn.
tarily attended to by the women Of
the Red Cross Society, who provide
for them milk, coffee or fruit syrup
with sandwiches, black bread. ssans-
ages and hard4boiled eggs, with
4 cigars and cigarettes. The whole
thing is very carefully organized.
nEanNrcA, 1,ANNnn RE CIrRED