Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-01-23
ROTARY HEARS
ABOUT EUROPE
Colby Dill Tells Club About
His Recent Trip Abroad
Visited BattIefieIdS

Rotarians were given an interest
ing talk at their luncheon today by
Colby Dill, one of the members of
the local club who has recently re-
turned from a trip abroad. Mr..
Dill, accompanied by his wife. spent
about three months in Germany.
France. Switzerland and England
last fall. They landed. at Bremen
and visited Berlin, Frankfort. Mum
ich. Constance, Lucerne, Paris and
London.
Mr.. Dill prefaced his remarks
with some words of praise for the
American steamship line. Mr.. and
Mrs. Dill were passengers on the
George Washington of the United
States Lines, both going over and
returning. and Mr.. Dill declared that
anyone who had any idea that the
United States does not know how to
run a steamship ought to make the
trip. He declared that the accom-
modations and treatment of passen-
gers were SO fine that many of those
who were coming to this side made
arrangements to return by the same
line, so pleased were they with the
ship
The thing that impresses one most
in Germany, Mr.. Dill said, was the
depreciation of the currency. A pas
senger going over with him on the
George Washington had taken the
precaution to secure some German
marks in New York. He got five
dollars worth, thinking to have some
German change in his pocket when
he landed. By the time the ship had
reached Germany, however, the
mark had deprecated to such an ex-
tent that the five dollars worth of
marks would not buy a single post
card. He told of sending a suit of
clothes to a. tailor's to be pressed.
When he got his bill it was for eigh-
teen million marks. Workmen who
agreed to work for certain sum for
a week found that by the time they
got their money and went to buy
something it was worth only one
fifth of its value when they had
agreed to do the work. Finally the
fixed the value at which
goods should be sold for. and as the
could not replace their
stock for anywhere near the same
price. so rapid was the fall in the
value of the mark they simply had
to sell out their stock and then shut
up shop.
In France the battlefields were
the most impressive things seen.
They visited Rheims. Verdon, the
Argonne and other principal battle-
fields where Americans fought. This
is all hallowed ground to the French.
The ground is still in much the same
conditj N as when the battles were
fought, and Mr. Dill decCred it was
an object lesson to any pacifist who
did not believe in preparation for
war. The trip to Verdon and the
Argonne, he said, was worth the
entire trip. At Verdon, it was stat
ed. it is estimated that oHs rtillion
and fifty thousand men lost their
lives. OF these three-fourths have
never been recovered. being blown
to pieces by shell fire.
In England the greatest trouble is
When Mr.. Dill was
there about 100000 were out of
work. In proportion TO population
this would equal about two and
half million men in this country. He
believed this situation to have been
the main cause of the overthrow of
the Baldwin government and the in
stituting of the first labor govern
ment Great Britain has ever had.
One new member was introduced
at the meeting today. Harry Germs
becomes a Rotarian. representing the
Fords Stone Arts works.
A request was made that as large
a delegation as possible attend the
bridge meeting in st. George Friday
night.