Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-26

WlCn LdSC1cI HI NAAC midst of mobilizing troops. with rail- way communications almost cut off, with Austrfans and Germans ordered to leave the country within 24 hours under pain of arrest or even death, with all the turmof1e and upheaval of all around him.
 Told at Dinner Party.
 His recital of a whole series of un- usual incidents in getting into the war, zone and then getting out again to the executives of the Norwich plant of the Thernos company at a dinner party at the Wauregan House Tuesday evening, kept MT. DeVries' auditors at a fever heat, almost, of 'scapes followed upon the discussion of this excellent menu:
 Cherry Stone Clans
 Cream of French Potatoes
 Broiled Blue Fish, Maitre de Hotel
 Julienne Potatoes
 Roast Vermont Turkey
 Giblet Sauce
 Potatoes en Surprisee
 Native Corn on Cob Lettuce and Tomatoes. French Dressing Neapolitan Ice Cream Fancy Cakes
 Demi Tasse
 Ten Eventful Days In Brussels. When the cigars were passed and, quite appropriately, La Hollande cig- arettes, MT. DeVries launched into his narrative. in which he combined, with irrepressible humcr, some incidents others that might easily have been embarrassing. After a pleasant nine days ocean trip he reached Rotter- dam on July 23 and at once went to Amsterdam where he spent three 6ays with his. father and mother and the other members of his family. The l first day he landed his mothers sis ter died, he said, and that seemed to inaugurate a whole series of un- lucky events. From Amsterdam he l journeyed to Brussels and there his stay lasted ten eventful days. When he arrived, fighting was going on at Liege, three hours distant, end he made up his mind that he would mt go there this year, as on former trips. Two days later, war was de- clared, on August 2. At first in Brus- sells the populace didn't think much about it. But that night. the news reached a party of frienGS of whom MT. DeVries was one that the Germans had stopped all through trains on the frontier and he went to the station to find out his prospects of getting out of the country. At the station he AOhAA0 dDOul AtNC nS thinks. mobiliZing and blocking up all the approaches so that he could hardly make his way in. He was relieved to find that all the trains back to Hol- land were running just the same and so his return passage, engaged on the Rotterdam for Aug. 29 looked as- sured As a matter of fact, he event. ually left on the Noorddam, on August 14. But that will come later.
 From his headquarters at the Pal ace hotel, oposite the railroad station, MT. DeVries had a fine chance to see the troops departing for the front. They were the dirtiest looking soldiers he ever saw. The Belgian uniform includes white trousers and the fact that campaigning had somewhat soil ed these was one reason for their ap- pearance. They were fighters. though. Rabid Against Germans, It was four or five days before the people of Brussels got really excited. Then they would march through tile avenues and everything that bore a German sign was stoned. All the houses were befagged and those who were not thus periodically adorned were stoned. Pilsener and Munchner beer signs were too German to be tol- erated and they were torn down ev- anywhere. The great Tietz department store, as big as any in New York, had dAA llb us ptdI6 grass Nil1uOHS Oll luS first two floors smashed because its owner was a German. The smashing stopped and the building was saved only when it was offered for the use Of the Red Cross society.
 Foreigners Left All Possessions Behind.
 MT. De Vries' brother who is in the diamond business, knew many of the wealthy foreigners, the majority of them Austrians, who were ordered f<> 4HA %,-xyf fvS q who did leave, without a cent and with all their possessions behind them. Three Austrian brothers, whom they knew, every one of them worth a mill lion francs MT. De Vries said, re- mained contrary to orders over the 24 hour limit. Promptly they were thrown into Jail and their wives and children were placed in another prison. One guard was heard to say by one of the prisoners that the three would be shot as spies. Eventually one of the brothers got free through a lawyer, DeVries talked with him in Schevenin- gen, Hollands famous bathing resort, before he left. The two other broth CTS were still locked up.
 False Report of Water Poisoned. One of the most dismaying experi- ences was one night two days before he left Brussels the authorities sent
 
 automobiles filled with soldiers to pro- claim the tidings that the drinking water had been poisoned by the ene- my. Everybody piled out into the streets to find out what was going on and there was general confusion At ' o'clock word was. sent around that the poisoning was a false alarm and as proof of 1t pailfuls of water were car- ffed ont into the middle of the streets and the soldiers drank.
 Mopoy that Was No Use. Mir. De Vries had the experience of having several thousand francs in his pocket and yet not being able to buy a meal. The smallest bank note is 20 francs and change was at such q premium that If francs in species were exchanged for 20 franc note. MT. De Yries told how he got free meal. He went into a restaurant and ate the five franc dinner and then of fered the proprietor one of his notes. -5't,- ra..-Fr.-s @hnrra a-S ff +f