Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-10
SIDELIGHTS
-ON-
European War

'ACNLE4AAE 10 " AAA ANAtaN NA mere
from Vienna. the Austrian public is
vaiting in dumb patience for some
definite news as 20 what is really hap
peuiug in Calicia and along the Ser
Wan frontier. Although there IS an
uneasy feeling that affairs are not go
fuS well for Austria. the mass OF the
people still pin their faith 10 Germany.
and are confident that no matter what
hsppens now. the Germans Will even
,ualIy save the situation
MANY others. however. Disguised
Nth the ambiguous and scanty re-
,orts from Official sources, are begin
-fnc 70 disregard the newspapers alto
re;her. Ever since IL became known
that Russia was making such startling
bsaduav in Galicia the Vienna news
,aper comments have been most
e-arded. The editorials deal chiefly
With the German campaign in west
al Europe. thus seeking TO divert
nublIc attention from the Austrian re-
verses a. Lemberg and along the Ser
Wan border. but the presence OF 10000
Polish refugees from GaIicia, added TO
the constant arrival OF train loads OF
wounded has considerably discounted
The ELeal~ "a AHal.t.-aAa AFl-N NAANN
Commerce and industry are par
sIvzed throughout the dual monarchy
and the stoppaEe OF exports threatens
10 ruin some o. the largest industries.
notably the sugar trade. Millions OF
hounds Of sugar are sent annually from
Austria 10 Great Britain. India and
other points abroad. Refners are anx-
fousIv endeavorinE TO find some means
~ getting their product 10 England
nv iudirect route. To relieve the
Stress OF the financial situation the
government has decided 70 organize
var credit bank capital OF 100000
besides a number OF loan institutions
FOR advancing money without interest
in order 10 carry on various industrial
enterprises.
Numerous suggestions have been
made for boycotting goods coming
from hostile countries. notably Eng
l-ud and France. but they have met
with scanty support in the most infiu-
entail commercial circles. The Prague
chamber Of commerce refused 10 en-
dorse such a proposal saying that II
would be quite useless at the present
moment besides being dangerous for
Austrian commercial interests later on.
Outside Vienna and Budapest the as
pect OF the whole country is lifeless
and apparently denuded Of active men.
and presents an appearance OF strange
and oppressive Quietness. Great fac
tories are completely shut down, fur
uaces are out. doors are locked and
Tot even a Waterman is visible IN the
streets. The small towns are deserted
save for a few children here and
there. and there are scarcely any work
ers in the fields. The few who may
be seen are chiefly women and occa-
sionally old men.
The women are now performing the
most laborious tasks even 10 the load
ing OF freight cars. Trains are run
ming on most lines On restricted sched-
ules. There are hardly any passengers
and solitary soldiers may be seen
guarding stations, bridges or tunnels
but bodies o. troops even IN small
numbers are rarely seen All have
gone 10 the front Red Cross stations
have been set up in the principal
towns and depots provided with vast
numbers OF stretchers are ready 70 re-
csive the wounded. The well meant
hospitality Of the public in supplying (
soldiers with food, delicacies and Gig
sretres Is said 70 have had an untor-
tunste effect on the peasant soldiers
who are not accustomed TO such fare /
They consumed everything given them f.
greedly and became sick in conse-
quence.
The question Of the unemployed IS I
assuming serious proportions. especiaI- ,
y in Vienna and Budapest Many .
hundreds have been gwen work IN the .
construction OF fortlficatiCns along the .
Danube in the ueighborhOOd OF vienna .
and hundreds mere have been sent t
from the towns into the country TO .
Work il the fields. The Austrian peas .
ants are displaying great ingenuity IN /
exploiting the state. They refuse 10 /
pay city workers any wages AZ all ana /
house and feed them miserably- For .
this they claim from the state four .
shillings for each worker per day Inc
government. however. declined 20 yield .
70 such eyor1itaut demands In Wen I
IA funds are being raised 20 ieed
the unemployed but the demand Il
constantly increasing since, besides
the unemployed, the city IS crowded
with GsHcians.
Life i1 Vienna pursues much the
same course as before the war Cafes
and restaurants are filed and some OF
the theatres are open The Imperial
Court .pera and the Court theatre VIII
be opened shortly four times weekly
the formers having finally agreed 10
accept reduced salaries for period OF
four months. Over half the street
rziway employees have been called IN
70 the army and in consequence the
service has been greatly reduced Nine
hundred men have been engaged, but
some time must elapse before they
are competent 70 run the trains.
large number Of police have also re-
Joined the army but the city Is per
fectiy quiet and orderly. SO Ear there
have been no demonstrations against
the embassies OF the allied powers
The prices Of food are not much above