The New York herald., 1921-05-01
TRAVEL TO VIENNA
OFTEN A HARDSHIP
Many Complaints Of Difficult
ties at Czecho-Slovak From
tier Are Made.
Special Correspondence to The NEW YoRE

Special Correspondence to The NEW YoRr:
HERALD.
VIENNA, April 15.-Although Vienna Is
no longer an unpleasant place for foreign
visitors with their own money, it is not
always an agreeable diversion to arrive
there. because of the amazing and
usually inexplicable difficulties at the
frontier.
The only trains approaching those Of
the good old times in comfort and re-
liability are the so-called Entente trains,
international expresses with certain priv
ileges. But their number is limited and
they may only be used by official author
ization, which. although not very difficult
to get, still causes unnecessary trouble.
Travelling by motor is usually deemed
more advisable. although the roads and
highways are not In a good state.
International. air connections with
Vienna are as yet impossible. tho inter-
allied military control mission having
resolved to destroy all Austrian air
planes and not to allow travel by Ger
man planes. Three German passenger
flying machines which came here from
Munich and were to maintain q regular
service. were seized by the mission and
released only after long negotiations.
The peace treaty of st. Germain al
lows the opening of air routes six
months after the ratification OF the
treaty. 1t is believed here that the
difficulties will be removed by next
summer at the latest so that then Vienna
will be connected with the rest Of Eu-
rope by regular flights.
Many complaints are made Of the
Czecho- -SlovalSian frontiers, and the fol-
lowing experience of a foreigner is only
one of many Of the same tenor. He
came with the Oderberg- Vienna express
and should have arrived In Vienna at
s o'clock at night. after having passed
the Czech-Austrian frontier at Lunden-
burg at 4 80 in the afternoon.
When the train arrived at Lunden-
burg. nearly on time. he was told to
leave his compartment with his lug
gage. which he had to carry himself.
as there were no porters. He and his
fellow travellers formed a long queue
outside the depot. 1t was bitterly cold.
The entrance to the station was closed.
Nobody showed any interest in the wait
ing passengers. among whom were aged
people and mothers carrying their
babies.
After some time protest was made
without effect. The foreigner collared
a man in uniform and asked what It all
meant. The man did not understand.
At last an official turned up and told
them that the luggage would not be ex-
amined before the next morning. as the
train would not continue its journey.
No explanation was given. The sta
ton master did not hold 1t worth while
to explain. He merely shrugged his
shoulders. The only information he vol
unteered was that the next train would
leave at 5 o'clock In the morning. This
was at o'clock in the afternoon. with
Vienna only thirty-five miles distant.
The passengers tried to find rooms for
the night, but in vain. Every corner in
the small town was occupied. So they
settled down In the station restaurant
and got permission to stay there for the
night At in the morning they had
TO form a new queue in the open air
Meanwhile the temperature had gone be-
low freezing. They could see the Czech
custom house officials walking up and
down quietly in the lighted and heated
custom office, but nobody opened. Wher
somebody knocked at the window, ar
official appeared at the window and
looked out-that was all.
At last the examination began, under
the guard OF soldiers with pointed bayo
nets When the authorities had finished
the passengers were crowded into ar
Austrian workmen's train, and arrived
in Vienna at 3 in the morning, instead
NJ & or tho nravious might.