Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-17
GOLD VALUE IS
LOWER ABROAD,
SAY |SINGS
Returning Newarkers Tell of
Tourists Troubles in
Europe.

Money stringeney is so great in
England that even gold Is accepted
for only about four-fifths Of it's face
value, according to Mr.. and Mrs.
Oscar Using. of II Aston street, VINO
returned from abroad on the Laconia
last night. Americans in England
are not in actual want, although
forced to put up with many inconven-
fences, they say. The Laconia sailed
from Liverpool August s with nearly
1000 Americans.
The steerage of the liner was d.
vided into temporary cabins for the
convenience of returning travellers,
and everything possible was done for
their comfort Mr.. Using said. Fur
nishings were transferred from the
liner Aquitania, which was impressed
into war service by the British gov
eminent.
No war vessels were sighted by the
Laconia on the way over. The cap
tain was under strict orders to send
no wireless messages. An IS. o. s.
call was received on the night of
August 10, but was thought to be
ruse on the part of a German war
ship to locate English or French yes
sells. and was left unanswered.
The Laconia crawled cautiously
along the Jersey coast to avoid the
possibility of capture yesterday, and
steamed into New York harbor last
night with all lights out.
The money stringency in England
is very great, Mr.. Using said. Prac-
tically nothing but gold is negotiable,
and that is accepted for only about
four-fifths of its face value. 1t was
almost impossible to change q f5 note.
To meet the exigency the British gov
eminent has issued temporary FL
notes, plainly printed on white paper.
Mr.. Using brought one of these to
America with him, and will have it
framed as a souvenir of the war.
Americans abroad are very ready
to help stranded travellers Mr. Using
said, and not one is in actual want.
There is great difficulty in securing
passage on vessels coming to this
country, and it is not definitely
known when any liner will sail.
Mr.. Using described the enthusiasm
in London and Paris as intense On
the night that England declared war
several hundred persons crowded Ira
falgar square and cheered wildly, he
said. Americans in London seemed
as enthusiastic for the cause of the
allies as the English themselves, he
said, and Joined in the shouting.
Mr.. and Mrs. Using left Lucerne,
Switzerland, on the night of July 81,
just in time to escape being marooned
there. On the following day trains
into France were held up. After sew
eral delays they reached Paris, where
the excitement was already at great
height. Crowds were gathered around
the railway stations crying "On to
Berlini"
They had intended to leave France
for England by way of Calais, but
were forced to go to Boulogne. They
arrived in London. August 2, a Sum
day Hundreds of Americans in Lue
cerne had no idea that war was near,
Mr.. Using said. and laughed at him
When he left as being an "alarmist."
None of the English banks were
open and it was impossible to get
money, even small change for cab
fares and such expenses. An AmeTi-
can express company was finally
persuaded to open its doors and
cashed notes and checks up to ten
pounds for tourists.
The Americans We're able to secure
credit at the leading hotels.
Mrs. Sarah Caviezel, of As North
Sixteenth street, East Orange Is be-
lieved by her friends to be somewhere
in the war zone. She departed for a
tour through Europe July /, and has
not been heard from since war was
declared. 1t was known that she was
on her way to Switzerland. Mrs. Ca
viezel was with companions from
New York city.
Ms. e. Burd Grub. widow of the
late General e. Burd Grub, COM
mandant at the Soldiers Home,
Kearny. has been in Europe since
June. She toured the continent with
her six-year- daughter, Violet,
who has Travelled over the sea more
than once. Violet is the daughter OF
the Twenty-Third New Jersey Regi-
ment Volunteers. This regiment was
known as Grubbs Game Chickens.
Mrs. Grub has a palatial home at
Burlington. She is sister of Tom
Sopwith, the noted English aviator.
William V. Ambrose. court interpre-
ter at the First and Third Precinct
Courts. received cablegram today
from his daughter Miss Stella Am
brose. saying that she is safe in Lu-
cerne. Switzerland. with Mrs. Mar
garet Thompson. of 443 South Clinton
street East Orange.