The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-30

fighting. Mr.. Strauss in talking to a
representative Of The Item told of
scenes which he had witnessed and of
the stirring patriotic spirit which
seemed everywhere dominant in the
French and English hearts.
"Thc Marseillais," the French nat
ional air, Is heard sung and whistled
everywhere in Paris said Mr.. Strauss,
who was in that country when the war
broke out. "The sadness which seems
to prevail over the city, the closed
station to take the trains for the front,
amid the fearful farewell of wives and
children, are the indications that
France is at war in fearful struggle
for existence" he went on in telling
about the scenes off from the zones
in which fighting is going on. Back
ut home the people know very little
of what their men are doing. All
press dispatches are suppressed except
those which tell Of the success of their
armies. The only messages which the
soldiers are allowed to send home are
post cards on which is written II am
well' or IL am not WELL" Place, date
Of fighting and movements cannot be
stated in letters home.
In London the only difference Is
that the soldiers are not forced into
the army by cOnscriptions. The gov
ernment calls for volunteers and ev-
erywhere big placards bearing the
statement Your King and Country
Needs You" can be seen. The Mar
scillaise and God Save the King" are
being whistled and sung and are heard
everywhere on all the streets, as
some popular air is heard on all sides
on the streets Of an American city.
The spirit Of the people seems opti-
mistic and they seem confident Of
success.
Mr.. and Mrs. Strauss left here last
juno for u six months trip through
north Africa and Europe. They went
from New York direct to Algicrs
where they spent about a month. They
also visited Tunis and other cOun-
tries. Mr.. Strauss states that the
roads in these northern countries of
Africa are all paved and just as good
MS our paved streets. After a pleas
ant stay here in seeing the sights, they
went to Marsailles. Here they mnda "a
short stay. going on to Paris. At Par
Is they first heard talk Of the war.
They expected to visit Berlin after a
stay here. but their visit to Berlin
never materialized. A few days after
their arrival in Paris the war clouds,
which were lowering over the country,
bi okc and the war came.
For days the chief excitement was
seeing the soldiers march by to
the stations. whore they were cntrain-
od to depart for the border. Many sad
and touching scenes were here wit
messed. as the mother with her baby
in her arms and a child hanging on
to- her dress, waved their hands and
told the husband and father goodbye
as nc left them for-they knew not
what. Possibly they would never sec
him again.
In a few days many of the stores
were closed and sign placed on the
door indicated to the visitor that the
owner and his clerks had all gone to
the front. The stores and cafes which
were kept open during the day were
all closed by 0 o'clock at night and
tho streets were deserted. During the
two weeks that they stayed in Paris
after the war broke out, Mr.. Strauss
says that they met with little incon-
venience on account OF the war. The
American Express company cashed
checks. but money could not be had
from any of the banks or exchanges
anywhere. The banks stcadfastly re-
fused to let loose any Of their money.
They had to secure permits from the
authorities to stay i'm the city, but as
Trey were American citizens, they
were not further mUlestcd. Persons
"l other nationalitics had to leave i'm
mediately after war was declared
They had no news from the front nor
did they see any of the wounded sol
diers during their two weeks stay. rs
these were always brought i'm at night
and people were not allowed to COM
municatew ith them. The only news
from the front was all from the pa
pcrs ana these told only or the sue
Ccsses of the French and nothing cX-
Ccpt what the ccnsurs would allow
them to publish.