The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-11
Representatives of United States
in Europe Are Measuring
Up to High Standard.
KEPT BUSY DAY AND NIGHT
In Addition to Official Tasks,
They Are Caring for Thou
sands of Refugees.


war, he is called upon to do SO many
things that only man Of the coolest
disposition and finest ability could
make Roadway against the floor OF re-
quests. His duties range all the way
from telling distracted tourist where
She can find a doctor for a crying baby
to serving as means of -communica-
ton between two Of the great warning
powers.
From every capital In Europe come
grateful appropriations of the splendid
work done by the American represen-
tafives In. this chaotic summer OF 1914.
Take, Ter instance, the case of NIyron
L. Herrlck. ambassador to France. On
Augusta. when the German ambassador
to France received his passports, Mr..
and Mrs. Herrick were sitting in their
dismantled mansion In the Rue. Fran
co.'s Premier.tTheir trunks were packed
and MT. gHerrick was.ready, to hand
ever his papers to his successor. Mr..
Sharp. - ~
They had had a. pleasant. stay in
Paris. 1t had cost AIR. Herrick some
thing like $4,000 the first year at his
post when he had to purchase his fur
niture and about $4,000 a month the
,aecond year. Still they had met many
interesting persons and no rude story
about the. crudity Of American diplo-
macy had filtered back to America.
SUDDENLY, AVALANCHE
t- Or' WAR FALLS UPON VHEM
Suddenly. the avalanche fell upon
them. Thousands OF letters, kilograms
and cables swept into Mr.. Herrick's Of
fee every day. There Were x panic
stricken tourists wishing to get 'home
by express train, where there were no
express trains. and there were anxious
friends In the United States insistcnt
for immediate news OF their friends or
relatives. q Eo. 81
! Besides the pleasure-seekers besieg-
Ing him night and day. there were the
resident colony'to be thought Of. Sthous >
ands Of them craving, a private Inter
view and advice about the best way TO
manage their affairs with the sudden
threat of a siege. 4..--.
From Switzerland and from Northern
Italy the cohorts poured into Paris.
They must be given care until they
could be got down to the ,seaports and
shipped across the atlantic. Ships
clam Of NJ ambSssaaeF Is eaSie
sssssseSesggS the 8 se sas q
!tress We're the clever crooks "a nd, con-
fdence men and women, who took the
opportunity to renp golden harvest
Then too. there were many instances
Of base ingratitude., Women ACCUSE
toned, to luxury cried curses on the
ambassadoi's head for failing to keep
them from slight hardships
soon there came; even graver duties
for the hard pressed amba ssador. The
United States took over the interests
in Paris OF Austria anu Germany.
This was delicate business. enough in
itself to keep. an envoy. at his wits
ends. Frightened women and children
of nations hostile to France must BE
protected. or at least were convinced
that they must be. Then there were
questions Of state to- be handledA
Mr.. Herrick Immediately took adj
vantage OF offers of assistance from
American friends in Paris. and organ
lied large force as, best he could.
Several committees were formed for
relief work, He and Mrs Eerriclx
worked day and night. They placed
their motor cars in service. They
and here. they gave the homeless lodg-
ing and supplied food to many. They
used large amounts OF their own money
in their work. Both fell ILL.,, but kent
on working. Finally Mr. derrick re-
NAMED the only ambassador in Paris.
HERRICk'S NAME WILL LIVE
WITH THAT OF wAsHBURNE
Mr.. Sharp and Robert Bacon,
FORMER United states ambas sador,
luckily arrived in time to be of assist
ance. But Mr.. Herrick did the prin-
cipal work, and his name will figure
in history with that OF Washburne.
American envoy Of 1sTl-1s72. the only
diplomatist OF Importance to brave the
terrors of the Paris siege.
The story, OF Mr.. Herricks work in
Paris is largely that OF Walter FL
Page here and OF James w. Gerard in
Berlin London ably handled the
largest number of tourists Forty-fire
thousands of Americans sailed for
homo from British ports between Au-
gust and August 90 alone. Probably
100000 have left Europe for America
by now.
Mr.. Gerard had especial difficulties
to contend with. When he took up his
duties in Berlin and rented the
Schwabach Palace, at $4,000 a year,
besides spending several thousands
more in refttiHg. undoubtedly he had
little thought for other than magnifi-
cent receptions and dinners, the usual
things Uncle Sam always expects his
diplomatists to do and to pay for
out OF their own pockets
But the month Of August found this
same magnificent home filed with
mob of angry. complaining, frightened
tourists. unreasonably demanding rho
Impossible. Mr.. Gerard met them with
calm patience. He stood in his ONCE
day and night constantly, it seemed.
giving words, of advice and cheer. Sew
eral times he even accompanied train.
loads of Americans to Rotterdam Jus.
to see that they got through all right.
In addition. to these duties he had
charge Of the interests of England, Rus.
sin, Japan, FRANCE, Belgium, Scrvia
and Montenegro. -
His efforts were misunderstood by :.
section OF the German press, which sa..
in his assiduity in getting American.
home the threat of war by the United
States against Germany.
Yet the bulk of Germans watched
American efficiency with admiration.
and Mr. Gerard was acclaimed as q
worthy representative of a; great neu-.
trail country.
In. Belgium, Brand Whitlock, United
States minister. found himself in the
actual theatre Of !, war operations,
First hc{ had Ito meet a swarm CT
frightened persons caught in the rapid
advance OF the German army and cs-
.cort them to, Antwerp. Then came tho
occupation of the Belgian capital. I'm
doubtedls Mr.. Whitlock should have.
:.tcontinued on: Fifth Page.l s.