The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-12
ONLY BRITAIN
CAN REe0UP SELF
FOR WAR LOSSES
Can Pay Part of Cost by Seiz-
ing German Trading Vessels,
Belanger Declares
EVEN VICTORY EXPENSIVE
FOR OTHER BELLIGERENTS
Local French Consul Can See
No Chance of Allies Losing
on Seas

England Is the only country en-.
gagged In the present conflict In Eu
rope which STANDS chance to re-
coup itself from losses incurred, ae
cording to Joseph l.. Belanger, the
French vice-consul In Detroit.
Each OF the other countries will
suffer an enormous loss financially
and commercially no matter whether
they are victors In the war or not,
said the vice-consul to The Times
England alone will have the oppor.
tunity to make up for her losses by
the seizure OF German trading yes
sells and the enhancement OF her
maritime supremacy by the Gripping
OF her greatest commercial rival, Ger
many. The only condition affecting
her Is whether the allies shall be
successful on the sea, and that Is SC
nearly certainty as to be hardly
worth questioning"
The Rev. e. II. Pence, pastor OF the
Fort-st. Presbyterian church, arrived
In Detroit. Monday, .i.om England az
ter an exciting trip which was fea-
tured by q run through dense fog
on the coast OF Newfoundland with
all lights covered to insure protection
against capture by German cruisers.
DR.. Pence sailed from Southampton
on the steamer Laurentic, OF the
White Star line, the day war was de-
clared between Germany and Brit
ain. He had been motoring with a
party OF friends through England and
Scotland. Their motor trip was cut
short by the war, for when they heard
rumors OF the coming struggle, they
FASTENED back to London and thence
home.
"On account of the secrecy main.
tanned by the British war office, we
could learn little about the situation
before leaving England" said DR..
Pence. There were then many
Americans In London, and all were
anxious to get passage home as soon
as possible."
Other Detroiters who crossed on
the Laurentic and reached home,
Monday. were Walter Scotch, and
Drs. j. M. Robb. A. w. Blain and j.
w. McEMen.
Carl G. Fisher, vice-president of
the Lincoln Highway association, and
John Aitkin. a former automobile rae
ing driver, Of indianapolis. also ar
rived In Detroit. Monday, after cross
Ing on the Laurentic. They were re-
turning from a trip to Paris, which
was cut short by the war. Mrs. Fish.
er accompanied her husband on the
trip. Mr.. Aitkin joined the Fishers
in making a dash of 200 miles for the
French coast. The journey was made
successfully In an automobile. Ac-
cording to their accounts, Paris was
then In an uproar Of enthusiasm.
Crowds were continually singing the
Marseillaise.
The only Atlantic steamship lines
not interfered with by the present
war as far as their schedule OF sail.
ings is concerned. are the Holland.
American line and the Scandinavian
American line. Such Is the state
ment OF G. Leidich, local steamship
agent, who received word, Monday,
that even an English line which sails
from New York to Bermuda had can
celed its sailings.
The same action has been taken
with regard to a line running from
New York to Quebec. The reason
given for discontinuance of the SER
vice Is the danger of molestation
from German war vessels.
About 800 men have presented
themselves for medical inspection In
Windsor In response to the call for
volunteers. Many Of them are re-
servists. who have seen service be-
fore, and not few are men who
crossed the river from Detroit and
other places In Michigan to offer
themselves for enlistment.
The Daughters of the Empire met
In special session, In Windsor, Mon
day afternoon, and decided to start q
fund to fit out hospital ship to be
presented to the British admiralty.
The meeting was addressed by Col.
Wigle and Oliver Wilcox, M. p.
Henceforth, first-class mail to the
European war zone, will be sent from
the United States by way of Liver
pool, Naples and Plymouth only. Let
ter mail to Germany and Austria
Hungary will close Aug. H.: that tc
the rest Of Europe, Aug. 10.
Omcials of Detroit banks express
themselves as very well satisfied
with financial conditions at the pres
emit time. The local situation hal
never given evidence of any ten
dency to hysteria as a result of tn,
war and that Is considered good evi
dence OfSits essential soundness.