Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-09-05
UNITED STATES
WILL REAP GREAT
benefits FROM WAR
Former Senator Watson Dis
cusses Situation Upon His
Return Home
HAD DIFFICULTY
IN GETTING MONEY

FaIrmont Statesman Tells of His E;;1
opean Trip-Had Many Thrilling
-Experisnces-Disc the Differ
ent Armies in Europe and Predicts
That the United States Will be 2
Winner at the End.
That the United States will reap great
commercial benefits from the Euro
peah war; that most of the commerce
so established will become perma-
n"nt; that the efforts of European or
Aslatlc nations, and perhaps both. to
regain the commerce which the Unit
ed States has gained, may make it
necessary for the United States to
defend its newly acquired commerce
by force OF arms: and that the Unit
ed States should prepare itself for
a2y emergency that may arise from
such contingency by increasing it's
army and navy, improving it's physi-
cal equipment and training it's young
mon in the art of war, are conclusions
reached by former Senator Clarence
w. Watson, who has just returned
from Europe. where he was travelling
when the war began
Senator Watson, who was accom-
panied by Mrs. Watson and two
nieces, Misses Maize Sipe and Helen
Miller, Of Fairmont, was motoring
through Europe when the war broke
out. He was in Austria when war
was declared there. With his party
he fastened to Germany and wa
there when war was declared by Ger
many. He went successfully to Be-
GUM, Holland and England and viii
Of those countries. Outside his no
tel in Frankfort, Germany, machine
guns kept up an almost constant fir
ing for several nights, in the belief
that there were aeroplane warships
Of the enemy overhead. He had sew
eral thrilling experiences and reach
ed the point where he had but eighty
francs, or about $16 in his possession.
American gold certificates were not
accepted, letters Of credit were turn
ed down and even the passports OF
the American State Department were
not recognized in all cases. Senator
Watson. unable to get money from the
United States by cable, wired to the
Italian representative Of corporation
in which he is an official, and OBJ
tanned money for his homeward trip
in that way.
In Germany, after the declaration
Of war, Senator Watson and his party
experienced their greatest annoy
ance. They were at Frankfort and
intended to motor through to Belgium
and Holland, to get out Of the war
zone, but the gasoline gave out and
none could be purchased in Frank
fort, because Of an imperial order.
Believing that the order had not
reached a small town a few miles
out of Frankfort, the senator started
to this place in an attempt to get
gasoline. The war spirit was high In
the little town and the senator was
travelling in an English automobile.
The result was that he was surround
ed by an excited populace and was
at first charged with speeding, but lat
er was informed that he was suspect
ed of being an English spy. He show
ed his passports, signed by William
j. Bryan, secretary Of state, but that
was one place where the fame or
William J. Bryan had not reached,
and the senator was hustled back by
rail to Frankfort, where he soon prov
ed his identity, losing only few
hours because of the affair. The au-
tomobile had to be abandoned, now
ever, and the party got out OF Ger
many as passengers on a small steam
boat. For several nights they had
,itle sleep, but always managed to
obtain food although in some Of the
hotels, where the help had all left
Cor the war, they had to cook it for