Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-11
NXIII

w back into the plush seats Of that
Swiss train. We were travelling In nrst-
GLASS carriages. just as though we had
paid our fare. 4 very nice Swiss OIL
Ger, followed by several stretcher-be ,r-
ers, came through to see that we were
all comfortable and asked us If there
was anything we wanted. The only
thing we could think of was large
brick TO hurl at the Germans standing
on the stltion platform. but We did not
tell him this. We acted just as though
We were dining with wealthy friends
whom we hardly knew. =.
on the train we're Ala English Toni
mics and twenty officers. There was a
comfortable seat for every man who
could sit up. and there were hospital
cars for the stretcher cases. doubt
II in the whole world at that moment
there were n happier lot OF men. But
there wasn't a cheer or anv other sign
Of Joy. We were still on German terri
tory. and before we crossed the border
a wheel might come off the engine or
there night be an earthquake. We were
taking no chances!
IN SWITZERLAND
Just after the train pulled out Of the
station We entered Switzerland. We
were out of the hands of the Huns at
last We looked out OF the windows
and saw women and children standing
IN the snow outside their doors. waving
handke-chiefs ard shouting "Vive
/ pAngleterre." A spontaneous cheer went
up from every man. 1t was the most
thrilling time, of our lives.
As we we've whirled on through the
night the cheering and waving con-
tinued until the tr ,.n made Its first stop
q lflfl0n nlQyYOrm
was packed with people. who crowded to
the car windows and showered us with
flowers chocolate cigarettes and cigars.
This was carried out not only by
the girls In their smart Red Cross uni
FORMS but many civililns made private
donations as well.
As the train pulled out of the station
the men hung out Of the windows cheer
ing and waving the Swiss flags that had
been given them. 1t was wonderful
sensation to feel that we were really
welcome in Switzerland. The person II
element had recently 30 absolutely dis
appeared from our lives that this sud
den show of enthusiasm brought Jumps
to our throats
LONDON PAPERS
A British Government o'ficial had
3. boarded the train and brought with him
an armful Of London papers. With the
exception OF the Continental Times, q
pro-German paper published in Germany
and distributed free among the prisoners
in order to try to discourage them. we
had, not seen newspaper printed III
English since we had been captured. He
also produced several pads of cable
forms Imagine being able to send
cable to some one and have II arrive
II seems to me that We wrote cables to
!. almost every person whose first name
we knew. My cable home to Canada ar
rived in FIVE hours. thanks to the con-
sideration OF the censors. and was tht
FIRST information my family had thai
there was even a possibility Of my gosns
to Switzerland. My letters and post
cards suggesting a move had peen
held up.
At every station where the train stop
ped our reception was just as enthusi'
( astic until at ~ o'clock, when we ar
: rived at Berne, the climax was reached
: Here we were met by several Engisi
staff officers, members Of the British
y Legation, and a crowd Of charming Eng
lish and American ladies, who escorted
US to the station restaurant 70 reg,
ular banquet. All these months We had
dreamed of a meal like this, and. at las
our dreams were to be realized. The
UP the meat for those OF US VINO nae
game" arms. and then sat and talked
to us-but not about the war. thanN
goodness.
Before leaving Constance tag indi
eating our final destination In Switzer
land had been tied on each OF us. Thos'
who were to go to Chateau dock lef
at 8 a. m.--Barnes was included In THU
party. The rest of us left at 6 q. m. fo
Murren. and a large number OF thos'
kind ladies' stayed In the station unit
4 We had all gone.
Tho Murren party consisted or mint
onicers and about 200 men. We we're ac
companied by some of the officers VIII
were already stationed in Murren. AM
Captain Llopart, the Swiss medical OF
ncer in charge Of the interned at tina
place. who had come to Berne to NEE
US.
As We ran along the shores OF LAX
Thun the Jungfrau Mountain was point
cd out, and we were told that II wa
directly opposite our new home. A
lnterlaken we took another train which
crossing and recrossing a mountain
stream. wound It's way slowly up val
Lauterbrunnen. a little village nestiinl
IN the bottom of q. valley whose wall
lowered up almost perpendiculariy ol
both sides.
A SWISS BREAKFAST
Hare we were given q real Swis
1<oAkfsst Of coffee, rolls, butter an
"a NV Not TAR away yes eoA|