The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-04

finest and best, as all between the
ages OF Is and go, who has no physi-
cal or mental disability. are re-
quired to serve. Box ears have
been turned into dining and bunk
cars, others for the cavalry men
and horses in the same car. Most
of them tsoldiers} try to keep their
spirits up, singing and laughing.
Two trains passed us, decorated in
quite a festive manner, the front of
the engine and the doorways of
box-cars being hung with flowers
and foliage. Trains made up of
engines, twelve in succession, others
loaded with their artillery wagons
and light cannons, passed us as did
many autoes and Red Cross auto
mobile. At each station the whole
town had turned out, and such
shouting and waving to the soldiers,
Even every country house or road
furnished some one to greet them.
Even in the rain they kept up
their enthusiasm. -
spy Disguised as Woman.
When it grew too dark to see,
we stayed in the compartment, and
the girls who understood German
translated the stories told by our
three companions, all of course re-
lating to the war. We gathered
such news, IL we may call IL such,
that a Russian spy was captured
in Berlin and shot. He had been
there for over a week. disguised
as a woman, taking pictures, writ
ing letters, drawing plans, etc.
Again, a French aeroplane, contain
ing people disguised as monks and
nuns. had been captured and shot
as they were about 10 drop a bomb
in th2 Vicinity of Wurtemburg,
tcwn. We had passed through that
day.
At Frankfort at 1910 p. m, we
came TO the "alles aussteigen" (get
out.) We lost no time, and piled
out, each Juggling on one or more
successes. Now, il I ever do this
again, I'll travel with toothbrush
and handkerchief as my sole and only
Luggage. Walked down stairs and
stairs, through the tunnel and up
and up stairs, only to be told to
go down again and up second
stairway beyond Arrived and walk.
ed another mile 90 until q CON-
partment was found We soon were
settled and the train started. Each
/ was trying for n little nap in vari-
GUS uncomfortable positions, but
again came the cry "alles ausstei-
gen" (change cars.) This time II
was Mainz. Another hike, porters
were scarcer than hens teeth, and
in the confusion we did not dare
to let suit cases out of. our hands.
The train we were Ito, take was
already "besitzt" (filledl,
We got In and sat = on our suit
cases in tn" sestibu.e. Such crowd
ing OF cars / never saw. Men. on
their way to join their regiments.
filed the greater part OF the car,
even being stretched fullIength on
the floor Of aisles. Our next dump
was at Bingenbrieck at 1880 a. IN.
You understand each time we we're
made to get out It was because
they needed the cars for the SOL
diers. This stop was quite cheer
full, dark as dark could be, except
near the lights on the, platform and
1t was sprinkling now and then to
add to the general comfort. II had
been raining hard several stations
back, when a lot of baggage. trunks
and suit cases checked through, and
bundles of all sorts and sizes had
been dumped, the car being need
ed. and were left lying in the rain.
August 29 TEN
We were told no train left Until 5 a.
m. for Coblenz, and that was only
one we might take. We began to
for the soldiers, but at 1880 a. m WAS
think our sporting chance" as the
consul put it, was rather, slim, but
all were making the best OF things.
Diary Reused Suspicious.
Marie thought 1t a good time to
write out her diary, so she pulled
out her fountain pen and went to
work. The rest OF us sat talking.
Soon an officer with gun, sword.
bayonet and all the equipment
necessary to sustain his position,
dignity. etc.. came up to us. reach,
ed out his hand for the book, say
ing, "Wass schreiben sie?"' Marie
was fearful for moment as we
all were that her diary, over which
she had labored so faithfully, was to
be conflscated and all its innermost
secrets laid bare to the German gov.
ernment. Really, all joking aside,
1t was serious, and only our Amcri-
can passport saved the day.
Jessie, Marie and l., the three
hungry mortals, went on a search
for some eats, 2:45 a. m. Had to
go out and down under tracks and
up on the other side of the station,
where we each had a cup OF coffee
and were leisurely making our way
back when an officer called out
a train for Coblenz. Grass never
grew under our feet and when we
reached suit cases and Susan, we
found her most desperate, as She
could not leave all of our valuables
A. a.