The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-18

so soon, he gave no hint of it.
 Saw Belgian Troops
 We next went to Weisbaden and from there took d boat up the Rhine to CS- logne. It was beautiful scenery, with the peasants appearing happy with not care in the world. From Cologne we went over to Brussels and by a fortunate chance I was enabled to see more than usual of the Belgian army that has since been so much in the eyes of the world
 Sunday, July 19, was some kind of a national holiday and the city gave itself over to celebration. The lord mayor of London was guest of the city and they had parade at least five miles long A large number of the troops were in the parade and I was greatly impressed with their appearance. The men are fine fel- lows, with first class equipment, kept spick and span. The esprit de corps of the men was very noticeable and I am not surprised that they have given the Germans such desperate battle.
 T was somewhat amused to see the general use of dogs in the army In Belgium the use of dogs as beasts of burden is almost as general as it is in Alaska. In the army they pull ammuni- ton wagons and little cassions with rapid tlrers mounted on them. In Belgium l6oO0o dogs are used to pull wagons and for other duties
 From Brussels we went to Amsterdam and after visiting several quaint old Dutch villages. sailed from the Hook of Holland for Harwich, and from there to London. The congress convened on July 27, and we had a very profitable session. Little talk of the war was heard, the Londoners going about their affairs as clamly as if nothing were brewing. On the last night of the congress we had big banquet and the meeting was al- most broken up by suffragette Incl dentally, I was in Westminster Abbey while in London and saw officers remove three. The London police are getting to be very expert in that kind of work.
 On Saturday. August l. came the lirst serious step of the government. They stopped cashing checks but about three hours before that step was taken had exchanged all my credits for gold. I don't know why I did it-iust a lucky hunch I suppose
 Motored to Liverpool
 "On the following Monday I left Lon don by motor for Liverpool where had engaged passage on the Celtic. did not see any of the exciting scenes In London as the trains did not come in from the continent until several days after I left We proceeded through the Shakespeare country and down the River Wye without observing any excitement until we reached Ches- ter,
 We reached that quaint old city and found it in a turmoil All the shops were closed. the soldiers were march Ing in the streets and the proclama tion of the King notifying the people of the declaration of war on Germany was posted. When we went to the hotel for something to eat they asked Us if we had British gold to pay for it. Sev. eral of the party had nothing but bank notes and were considerably em- barrassed. The proprietor gave as his reason for not accepting notes that he did not have the change but 1t was really because he wanted only sold We did not tarry long at Chester as we were anxious to get to Liverpool and find whether the Celtic was going to sail or not.
 "We reached Liverpool and found the town frantic. It was crowded with American tourists who were demand ing passage home at any price. In ad- dition to those who had been left in Liverpool by the cancellation of sail ings there were many who had missed the ships on which they had made reservations on account of delays or the continent. We went to the of fees of the White Star line and were lOiu IL WAS uncertdln WnelneT IHe 4eltlt would sail However, on August 6 the Celtic warped out of her dock ant sailed for New York.
 Ship Lights Shrouded We sailed just before dark as nc lights are allowed in the harbor ol river after dark for fear of the Ger mans. We had an uneventful voyage over. Of course, all the lights on tn, ship were shrouded. On deck there were uone at all anl in the staterooms tht windows were frosted and heavy cur tains placed over them. There were about 1900 people on the ship. In tho steerage were a number of people who had ample funds but preferred to com, CT in England.
 "It was a very cosmopolitan crowd Among the passengers were Mrs. Al bert Vanderbilt and her little son. MT Vanderbilt remained in London, it wa, said, to look after his horses. He oper- ates a stage line from London te Brighton and has SO very fine animals When the crisis came the governmen appropriated them and he is remain ing behind to look after them. Our wireless we got up the frs day out. The operator was on duty all the time but no messages were al lowed to be sent out as the sparl might betray our position to hostile vessel They say that the wireless O each ship has an individuality and i is well known to the transatlantic operators. The operator was prepared to communicate with a British cruise If we had gotten in trouble but thi was not necessary.
 Nearly Had Collision We went considerably out of ou course, going as far north as it i. possible to and avoid the banks. Thurs day morning at 8 o'clock we had ; very narrow escape from colliding witl another vessel which was also running without lights. We had been plungine through dense fog all day, beins scarcely able to see the length of thu ship During the night it grew worse and tlse two vessels narrowly escaped coming together. They were blowing the fog horn but much lower and al more infrequent intervals than ordi nary We arrived in New York with out other incident. The Atlantic i' pretty we'll clear of hostile ships a. the British cruisers are patrolling tht lanes and have chased away the Ger man vessels.
 I've had no social diversion on board but on the last night out they lighted up the deck and had a big dance.
 "The United States-and especially Birmingham--looks good to me"
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