New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-10

many would be detected carelessness
and dilapidation. But no; everywhere,
as we spun along, everything looked in
its usual trim.
The indication of war came with the
Red Cross arm banded women, who
came along for collections at the few
stations where we stopped, and in every
station we're installations bearing the
Red Cross signal, from which hot
drinks could be served. And at the
one important station where we stopped
before Cologne, that is, at Crefcld,
there seemed to be an important es-
tablishment for the caring of wounded.
Red Cross volunteers, both men and
women, were about in plenty, but |
saw no wounded and, indeed, very few
soldiers until we reached Cologne.
German Women Less Buxom.
As my imagination was keyed up to
note every indication of war, ! thought
| saw a difference in the women who
got on and off the train. | observed
them carefully. They seemed less buxom
than of yore, and impressed me as
being more carefully dressed. That
is. the thought GLOW badly the women
dress" did not strike me this time. as
it always does on entering Germany.
But, more important. they impressed me
as being strangely silent. They sat in
the train with their minds where
/, was not difficult to guess.
About FIVE, the twin spires Of the
great Cologne cathedral launched them
selves into the sky and on the dot we
rolled into the huge. throbbing Cologne
station. Here, indeed, was a scene Of
activity, not of heavily laden, fast tour
list trains. but there were many soldiers
about, and also many German travel
lers.
On almost each Of the train platforms
had been arranged benches and tables,
with decorative bay trees placed about.
Here ! saw soldiers comfortably rest
ing, eating their lunch or writing post
cards home. Women with the ubiqui-
tous Red Cross symbol offered them tea
and bouillor. Months before this sta
ton must have been a frightful sight.
have been told by some Americans
who passed through in October that
one could hardly step for the wounded.
As ! followed my porter downstairs |
felt most uncomfortable. There are so
few foreipuerT that an "Auslanderin"
of any kind is Immediately spotted,
fnN, u tOulSts SuSptCltu. Olt :
clothes and luggage are telltale
enough but 70 open ones mouth is even
worse betrayal, so / tried to speak as
softly as possible. II one could only
allay suspicion by explaining that,
though one spoke English, or bad Ger
man with an English accent, one was
not English. but American. perfectly
neutral American, But such an explain
alton is not in order. since the Ger
mans. these days, are having hard work
10 choose the lesser of two evils, per-
sonified in English and American.
As passed out of the station ! met
the first of the hundreds of Iron Cross
es ! was 10 see in Germany. This was
great, handsome officer, young
giant. He had it of the first class,
which means that he could wear il over
the heart. believe you have TO be
real devilish to get the first class, de-
stroy a whole village, or kill nearly a
hundred men, or something like that.
This chap did not look deyilish enough
for all that. It's extraordinary how war
must change them.
Cologne, must say, was changed.
had nearly an hour to wait for my
Wiesbaden train. so decided TO visit
the Cathedral. You will remember how