The Washington herald., 1915-02-28

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more or less trouble and inconvenience.
Would you be willing to grant us an
interview and let US know what you
think of this sort Of thing?" Most po-
litely his answer came. Il must beg 10
decline" and out Of the cabin We filed.
In a minute or two the British officers
emerged, and as they came on to the
boat deck. Lieut.. Wadsworth raised his
hand to his cap In a salute, which 1
promptly returned. It was a graceful
act from one who doubtless regretted
that such work had beeh turned over
to him to perfonR. As we gained head
way. / stood watching the boat rowing
back to the Caronia through the gather
Ing twilight. The Union Jack was hang
ing down. as hardly a breath OF air was
stirring. Again II was hard to realize
that We were within sight OF New York.
l did not forget to hand the paper to
the British signal man: 1t must be
lonely life on board the Caronia. On
the way back to the purser's office with
my passport. ] met one OF the officers Of
the boat and ASKED him. why should We
be held up here. when We will be held up
any way by the British in the Downs?"
With a slightly quizzcal look the answer
came. Because the British want the lit
tie Dutchman to know that Britannia
rules the waves even within sight Of
New York"
The Trip Across.
The trip across was the usual thing in
the way Of amusements but underneath
1t all there was a clear and distinct re-
alization In every ones mind that We
were headed toward the greatest war
in history. It wa, interesting to realize
that the line by which We were travel
ing was the only transatlantic line rum
ming into the North Sea. Before reach
ing the English Channel. all passengers
were assigned places in boats. which
were fully provisioned. This was of par
ticular importance on account of the
fact that We were going through the mine
fields.
There were many interesting passen-
gers on board. There were no tourists.
every one was bent on serious business.
Besides the newspaper men already men,
toned. there was Gerald Morgan, Of New
York. representing the Metropolitan
Magazine. Mr.. Morgan had already been
at Rheims in the earlier stages Of the
war. He also went through the Man.
churian campaign In the Russian-Japa.
nese war. Then there was Mr.. Guild, Of
Boston. a cousin Of Curtis Guild. ex-
governor of Massachusetts and exam
bassador to Russia. Mr.. Guild is In the
importing and exporting business and is
going to Holland. Germany. Russia and
France. Then there was Henry Hill
meyer of New'Yo on his way to Ger
many to settle his fathers estate. Very
little had MrsHillmeyer to say about the
war. His really notable remark was.
IF the German lawyers get as much out
Of me as the American lawyers did they
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member Of the firm of N. Silverynan d
Son, OF Philadelphia, was on his way to
Germany. Switzerland, France and Eng
land. Mr.. Koffler said that they were
getting satisfactory deliveries in Ger
many. but that they were hampered as
to transportation. Conditions In France.
he said. were bad. no merchandise COM
ing out from the northern part and mills
in the southern part are crippled for
good. In Switzerland conditions are very
bad owing to the mobilization. Incl
dentally I would state that 1t was the
opinion Of all the American business men
on board that neutral shipping should
not be interfered with. that the high seas
should be open to the neutral commerce.
Of the world. and they were heartily in
favor Of an extension Of the American
Mercantile Marine along any feasible
lines
Bound for the Front.
There were several very nice young
fellows on board. among them Regi-
maid Rowland, Of Plainfield, N. j., son
Of the president OF the Butchers and
Drovers' National Bank, Of New York.
and Thomas X. Melvy, Of New York,
Harvard '15. who takes his degree this
year. Young Rowland Ia going to
Berlin on business and Melvy 10 going
to see what he can. IL possible on the
front, on the German lines and may
do some writing. Both are clear
eyed. clean-cut chaps. who look a.
though they would acquit themselves
with credit In a hard.fought game of
tennis or in q football scrimmage
They are just the sort that Uncle
Sam il glad to put his brand on. The
Baroness A. Won Schenck su Schweins-
burg was on board, returning to Ger
many after 4 visit to the United
States. We were all much interested
In Mrs. H. W. Boehm. Of Portland,
Greg. who 10 taking her two young
sons. Carl and Hans. to Berlin. Their
grandparents have never seen them
The old grandfather 10 Ill and cabled
to ask that his grandchildren might
be brought on for him to see. Mrs.
Boehm 10 an American girl. married to
q Characterization. The children are
most interesting and have been the
pets Of the boat. They left their
homo before Christmas. and % had no
celebration and no Christniss tree, but
they Az to have both when they
reach Berlin and the old grandparents
waiting to zee them and their Amsrt-
can daughter-tn-law ~ well, whom
they have also never seen. Then
there was Lamar Fleming, r., q
bright young man from Oklahoma
City. going to Germany for 4 cotton
house. and others too numerous 10
mention; in an there were forty-thres
In the arst cabin. 1osty.twe In the