The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-09-11
CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE
HAGUE, BERLIN AND PARIS
to Ocala Banner:

Special to Ocala Banner:
The Hague, August 21.-It is learn
ed on good authority that the publica-
tion of sensational stories which ap-
peared in German newspapers during
the first days of the war, such as the
report of a French physician trying
to infect a we'll in Alsace with typhoid
bacilli, were secured by the German
army officials with a view of bestir-
ing the people to watchfulness.
Stories like that OF the infected
well we're widely published. Lakes
all over the country were being pois-
oned. Russian automobiles carrying
a great quantity of gold were trying
to cross Germany from France. The
whole country was swarming with
spies.
The effect that these stories had,
for they were generally believed, led
to the shooting of many innocent per-
sons, including one German army cap
tain, and great Interruptions to the
progress of high army personages on
| important missions. The chief of po-
| lice in Stuttgart issued the following
official statement to his men, showing
the effect of these sensational stories.
"The populace is beginning to be-
some crazy. The streets are full of
old women of both sexes who conduct
themselves in an unworthy manner.
Everyone sees in his neighbor
French or Russian spy. and considers
it his duty to beat him, together with
the policeman who tries to protect
him, or at least, to cause a tremen-
dous crowd to collect and hand the
supposed spy over to the police.
Clouds are mistaken for aviators,
stars for airships, bicycle pumps for
bombs. Telephone and telegraph
wires in the middle of the city are be-
lieved to have been cut, bridges blown
up, spies shot and the water supply
poisoned. 1t is impossible to predict
what form these extravagances will
assume when the situation becomes
really more earnest. AS a matter of
fact, not single suspicious thing has
thus far occurred in Stuttgart.
Berlin, August 21.-One of the ac-
compartments of the European war
which would, under less serious con-
ditions, be a fair subject for amused
comment, is the sudden rage that has
manifested itself against everything
English, French and Russian. This
feeling has reached a pitch that
French and English pictures have
been withdrawn from public view at
the Berlin museums. In fact the
movement is being carried to such RI
diculous lengths that prominent news
papers are now declaring that the
Germans should stop saying "adieu"
upon parting, salutation that has
been in use since the eighteenth cen
tury.
Paris, Aug. 23.-Already women and
children in black are growing more
and more numerous on the streets of
Paris Today the official communjque
declares that while our losses lin al
certain engagement were heavy
those of the enemy were far greater" /
The inevitable toll of the war is being
paid.
Paris, Aug. 23.-One Of the notable
aspects of the war is the paralysis of
the commercialized vice in Paris,
whose agents in the Boulevard des
Capucines are so familiar to all Amer
lean tourists. The detestable wish
guide, mister?" is no longer poured
into the ears of the pedestrians in the
Place de POpera. Even the better
cafes are two-thirds closed and the
few remaining walters are sorry that
they are too old to be with the troops.
Mr.. Hugh Geiger spent Sunday in
| To nIconvif1a viaifino his hrofhar