La Junta tribune., 1914-10-24
WHEN ALL AMERICANS FLED.
Mildred Meadelsoa Tells Interesting
Story Of Her Escape froa lie
War Zone of Europe.

Nl0ed Meade3s0A Tells lntexesting
Story Of Her Escape from Tie
War Zoae of Europe.
After Just having paid . visit to
the beautiful palace Of peace In The
Hague. Holland. was doubly
shocked when the news reached u
that Austria had declared war upon
servia. Although there were some
rumors abroad that Germany might
take the stand with Austria. did not
stop TO think what the results might
be. and 30 left Holland July 3Oth on
my way to Lausanne. Switzerland.
After we had journeyed along for 4
few hours and crossed the border
line into Germany, We received word
that we might be stopped any time
and held in Germany. as she was
making plans to declare war. Al
though having ordered my berth. I
made no attempt to sleep that night.
but sat up In the coupee. with five
other travelling companions. We
were 4 sorry sight indeed. Haddled
in our steamer rugs. we would dcze
off for Q few minutes. and then wake
up and try and peer into the dark.
meas to see what was going on about
US. Fortunately We were not de-
tanned. and at nine the next day
arrived In Basel. the border line be-
tween Germany and Switzerland. As
soon ~ I had changed cars and was
safely on my way to Lausanne. l
heaved sigh Of relief. because l
knew there was no danger OF being
held back now.
Hardly had I got settled in the
pension in Lausanne when Germany
declared war upon France aud Rus
sia. and England declared war upon
Germany. Switzerland Immediately
began TO mobolixe. and rush her SOL
diers to the border. 40 as TO be pre-
pared for any invasion that might
occur. The banks. taking their clns
from the action Of the government.
refused to cash checks. drafts. or rec
ogniss lsttsrs of credit. Gold aed
s1lver vas' s'acceptasas. but Vapsr Aen-
~ &C the outbrsak of he war Vas
almost useless. ] had arrived with
nothing but French paper money. and
my difficulties began at once. !
was able 10 pay my room and board
With paper moaey. but vas informed
that unless ! had silver ] would be
unable 70 buy anything. because the
hanks refused 70 change the bills. ]
was In need OF various articles. and
the smallest bill had was 80 francs.
20 started out with the intention Of
getting that changed BY hook or
crook. passed store after store.
and finally. on sssins . large drug
store. ! took courage aad catered. !
asked the clsrk u 10 spoke English.
aad he assured Ne. In perfect Eng
lish, that 10 dld. ] thea asked hin
Tor Q bar Of soae u franc. 50 csa-
tinss. He gave 4 70 ne and ! bold
" pst dowa NJ 80 frasc bali. He
sasA. sIlavsa't Jos any ehaass?" asd
answered. me" He hssatatsd .
esv ninutes. aaA thea wsst into .
~ .seso. -. ssessasd with ~
eAAaoe. Asog thaakias hin ! ~
tusus1 - ~ Dsas1ss aaA every oas
vas saOse - knsw 4 I ~ 0sstsa ~
IN eAaneed. I ~ ~ that I hsd.
but ~ - dAsw ~ ~ osasy 10
eeAse = Deovs Il - ~. II . few
Aays ~ baak lssus1 ~ yaose bilis,
. thsss oe % vhe ~ 0sesy eosld
readily ~ ie ehaaos1.
The S1sa thae n vssll - - vlss
see - - say y owitsss1aal. - hat
esujA ~ lsave VIA ! wanted y.
~ nevse satsse1 NJ DsaA uattl ~
~ ~ heeo tAsso . wooe. ~
Anssleaas h Lausasae ealle1 . nsee-
Nd. q eomooay Win - Aoss5eaa
laly, ! ae1ea1o1 ~ 0eee1Ag. ~ Due.
pese g whseA ~ - Olaa ways -
osealng ~ A0esloans bask - -
Unioe1 ooaAes. 4 eeo0leeee se0-
poeol q pso0lasae AoesBeaA ~.
vho ha0oooe1 - - = ow1esessaal
q tAat o10A ~ eogDo1s 80 ~
0ibeso 1seesl vas leee1e1 upea -
ous 0eeelae D1oeo. 4 book ~
neouGhs boeeh = W1ogo ovogy A0os5s
- peuseas d0no1 lAeoB oo0eA ehsls
on1g0ns = oWtoDog1no1. 80 ~
~ Anesleaa o1lgDoA Ne ~
o11ouDDo1 - 0ooe oDn1o - oooo -
- oonn111ss ~ - g.
o. ssessslas y ~ seea ! =.