The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07

~ rUEN the war broke ont sud-
A/ denly las, August thousands
w OF American tourists and
health seekers fed from the
bellirerent countries. leaving behind
them trunks and. other property worth
several millions OF dollars.
In France practically everything has
been recovered The same may be
said Of Switzerland, and. in a less de-
free Of Austria.
In Germany, whore the abandoned
stun probably passed the million and
a half mark in value the flight was
precipitous, conditions rigorous. the
Germans themselves in n whirl, and
Americans trusted their luggage to
what agencies they Could-hotels,
boarding houses. volunteers. &c. Part
Of Il has been recovered through the
agency OF German Americans, and the
Berlin police are said To be hunting
for the rest
In a different category are the auto
mobiles owned by Americans which
were TNuulNlllbllFl WI liFil ~ NV us
posal Of the European armies.
Numbers II Americans than
ever before-had brought their home
built cars to Europe for touring, and
hundreds. starting on pleasure tours
were stopped short 10y the war In
France It depended on their dire, ton.
Those moving south were not even
stopped and no ears We're seized.
France was rich in automobiles. and
besides there seems to have been a
prejudice against making seizures in
such cases
In Switzerland. for moment. the
army direction lost it's head. The Gov
eminent rcuuisitioned the German
dirlGIbles and aeroplanes at the Bern
exposition. The same happened to the
French and English aeropianes. As to
automobiles 1t was helterskolter.
devil take the hindmost. was per-
sonally instrumental IN getting a mem
her Of the Dewey family OF New York
INTO the free zone" of France, at
Divonnc. with a brand new 1914. -
horsepower Panhard. which was safe
here Two days later that lonely
Swiss road had a Swiss squad at the
;-5a;icr. No GSurc: hcvc got been
given out, hut Fletcher Dexter. Ameri-
can consular ageLt in charge al
Nevey. assures me that he has secured
already the return Of every car rcqui-
stioned from Americans In the dis
trict.
! will not guarantee the condition in
which the owners found their ma.
hines. or the sat!sfaCturinCss u the
sums allowed by the Swiss military
authorities FOR rent. repairs. &c :
nrand new touring car that haa.s po-
tstoes. oil stoves and muddy tent pole,
yer military mounA n roads, in rn!r
AID slush, may soon get the worse
FOR wear. A patriotic Swiss owner
who has not got his machine back
ellis me that the maximum cumpen'
sation Is calculated at | franc per l0t
ldlos per day, or. say SO per day foi
a new $4,000 car
In Germany, where. literally. hun
dreds OF Americans had their auto
mobiles requisi;ioned for military u.s.
or the scrap heap--the question o.
compensation will be entered into af,c'
the war. except where German friends
OF influence may obtain eHceptona
treatment for the owners.
The experience Of members OF thu
Dreer family Of Philadelphia wss typl
cal Mrs. Dreer with a party OF wOmeI
guests, in two automobiles, wa
stopped somewhere before the Sw!s!
frontier near Lake Constance. As II
the Scripture, one was taken and tn,
other was left. | refer to the auto
mobiles. How the party crowded int
the remaining one. you can imagine
hut the Germans had lightened 1t .
il. cushions, rugs. o.lsklNs. tools. de
tached parts, lamps, hraG luggage
portable clock, smelling SALT, &C.. Wit
an iron hand, not in a velvet glove