Alma record., 1914-08-27
SHIPPING GRAIN 70
ARMED EUROPE
Loading Cargo on Vessels a
Back Breaking Task.
NEEDS RARE GRIT AND SKILL
Trimming Gangs in Dust Laden
Steamship Holds Must Work
Increasingly.

Nineteen hundred Americans return
Ing from Europe on the Holland-Amer-
lean liner Nieuw Amsterdam brought
thrilling stories Of their flight from
warning countries and OF the nine
days ocean trip from Rotterdam. Dur
ing her voyage the ship ran the gaunt-
let of British destroyers that fred
across her bow in the English channel.
The first and second cabins. the bag
gage room and part of the hold Of the
Amsterdam were converted into sleep
ing quarters TO accommodate Amer
lean citizens willing TO endure any
physical discomfort to reach their own
shores. Class and caste were ignored.
The second class came up TO swap
stories of war adventures in the first
cabin smoke room and with the wom-
en- In the saloon.
A smudge OF smoke showing over
the horizon as the Amsterdams pas
sengers were making ready for din
1t developed into British warship.
From distance of FIVE miles the war
ship started her wireless to find out
all about the Amsterdam and her ships
company.
The British cruiser was not satisfied
Swinging around in pursuit she came
tearing along. Half a mile away two
puffs OF powder smoke curled away
from port and the screams Of whis-
tling shells reached the panic stricken
passengers on the Amsterdam.
The Amsterdam stopped. circled and
headed for the warshlp. When a
quarter of n mile away there followed
much wagging of signal flags. the sput-
terlng of wireless on both ships. The
Essex was finally satisfied.
Proceed; pleasant voyage" she
signalled. steaming of.
Shell Fired Across Ships Bow.
Five hours after the Amsterdam left
Rotterdam and was turning south tow
ard the English channel the whistle Of
a shell fired across the ships bow in
spired frenzied run for the deck.
Soon thereafter a British destroyer
circled the Amsterdam. while lieu
tenant interviewed Captain Baron
through a megaphone.
First came the peremptory COM
mand. "Dismantle your wireless"
Next a lot Of questions: "Where was
the Amsterdam bound7 or what does
your cargo consist? What ports did
she maker The captain answered
amiably. But there was one he didn't
answer. It was:
'Have you seen any German war
shipsr'
The Dutch captain had full knowi-
edge Of the purpose Of his government
to remain neutral.
Then the British lieutenant ques-
toned the Amsterdam's passengers.
''Do any OF your ladies' and gentle
men speak EngiishT
Five hundred shouted "Yesv'
Thanks" said the lieutenant. Then
you can tell me: Have you seen any
German warshipsT
Nor the five hundred cried
Thanks" piped the lieutenant "You
may proceed. captain: but keep your
wireless unlocked until we have pass
ed out"
Saw the Attack on Liege.
Almost every one of the 1894 Amer
lean passengers OF the Amsterdam had |
story to tell of experiences In get
ting away from Germany. Austria. |
France, Belgium and Russia before |
the shooting started.
Matt Walter of Springfield. Mo-, aft |
er being arrested three times by the |
military authorities of Germany, Bel |
GUM and Holland, started to walk two |
miles to the Belgian border got lost, |
skirted the edges of Holland and Ger |
many and got back into Germany.
Falling In with three Englishmen |
trying to get out of the zone of war
fare Walter says that he saw the |
Liege attack from four or five miles |
away He described the constant thun- |
der of big guns, rattle of musketry, |
passed hundreds of wounded soldiers |
being carried toward the German bor- |
der. witnessed the fight of aeroplanes
over the lines of battle, saw one of the
air men brought TO the earth by "sky |
gun" and described the bombs he saw
drop from some of these air craft, of |
which there were more than twenty.