Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-05
WOMAN DESCRIBES
WAR C[OUDBURST
American at Munich Relates
the Awful Suspense Before
Conflict Started.
TELLS OF TROOPS OFF
TO FACE THE ENEMY
Mastering of Horses Into the Army
a Notable Event-All Given
Up to- Government.

The almost incredible rapidity Of the
progress of the war cloud over Europe,
the anxious wait for the cloud to
break. especially the last twenty-four
hours before the answer of Russia to
the German u1timatum became known;
the growth of the war sentiment, the
fine display of patriotism on the part
of the Germans and the first effects of
the war in their country, are all vivid
ly set forth in the following "ffary
letter.. written by an American wom-
an living in Munich, Bavaria. and re-
Gently received by friends in this city:
August 2, 1871 don't know when
l shall be able to send you letter. I
wrote you a week ago. but fear that it
Will never reach you, as all mails the
past week have been irregular Yes
terday I sent you a postcard. written
IN German and carefully worded, as
That is the order here now-no sealed
letters can cross the German border
and all communications must be writ
ten in German.
we are in the midst of an appalling
calamity and entirely cut Off from
friends and country! ] shall write you
something each day and at the first
opportunity will send the letter, This
terrible whirlwind of war has come
so quickly, so suddenly, that it is al
most unbelievable and more like a
nightmare than a reality
when the Crown Prince of Austria was
assassinated at the end of June. people
looked very grave, and many said: This
Is the beginning of serious trouble y
About the first week in July one began
to hear the word war Then more
and more war talk followed, and there
was a spirit of unrest and uneasiness
how
sonally felt apprehensive, for you must
remember that during the six years we
have lived here there have been two
serious war Scares.
A week ago yesterday the full serious
ness of the situation came upon US. There
were demonstrations in the streets and
cafes the entire day. Patriotic songs
were heard everywhere. and speeches
were made in the public squares Great
sympathy for Austria was expressed on
all sides.
The Breathless Wait.
Through this past week events have
followed each other with incredible rapid
ity: First. the mobilization of Austria,
then the GREATNESS wait for Servia's
answer to Austria's ultimatum, every one
hoping against hope that at the eleventh
hour peace could be made. Then Servia 8
declaration of war came, then the anxious
waiting for Russia's reply and the prepa-
ration Of the German army.
No answer from Russia! And then
the order for the mobilization Of Ger
many. Again terrible wait Of twenty
four hours for Russia's answer to the
German ultimatum-war declared: Oh,
what the excitement has been this last
week no words can express.
For two days the food supply ran
short with us. All mails are cut Off; we
have not had letter for more than a
cations can be sent without official per-
mission, and then they must be written
in German. All letters sent sealed are
opened and read and returned to the
sender. TIE banks are crowded with
people waiting to draw out all the money
they have deposited. All trains are In
use for the transportation OF the soldiers.
One cannot get out of Munich for love
or money! Soldiers are marching to the
bahnhof (station) day and night. Every
20. Our baker, our butcher. our haus-
meister-every one has gone to fight Oh,
the heart-breaking leavetakings one sees
on all sides! There is not German per-
son we know-servants, tradespeopie OF
friends-who has not had to part with a
father, or husband, or brother. or rela-
tives.
Germany is caught in a vise-Russia
on one SIDE France on the other. and
England threatening. Never has such a
universal war threatened, and how
strange it is that we should be here In
the midst of it? In the meantime there
is nothing for US to do but stay here and
await events and pray that the horrible
war storm will pass over. Many Ameri-
cans. transient visitors. are caught here.
There were 200 at the American church
today for the morning service. A litany
service is to be held daily at the Amert-
can church now.
Face Terrors Of War.
August 3-We are indeed beginning to
face the terrors of war! Early this morn
ing we were officially warned not to drink
the city water or even make tea and cof-
fee with it, because the water supply has
been found to contain poison. We are
drinking mineral water today. There are
many, many Russians and Servians and
French mere, which is a great menace to
public safety. Two Russian men, disguis-
ed as nuns, were found igniting bomb
some place near Kauflngerstrasse last
evening They were shot at sunrise this
morning. Today Russian woman was
discovered in the bahnhof carrying a
bomb under her cloak. There is also a
report that q bomb was dropped from a
French aeroplane in Nuremburg yester-
day. Uuremburg is not far away! When
will this nightmare end?