Evening star., 1939-10-15
Paris-to-Rotterdam
Trip Approaches
A War on Nerves.
Being Stranded Between
Red Tape Of Two
Motions Is Prospect
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,
Star Stan Correspondent.

star Stan correspondent.
THE HAGUE (By MaiD The
steel strings which bound Western
Europe are cut In many pieces by
the sharp ak of war.
This applies not only to the ma
tions actually at war, but to the
neighboring neutrals. It can be IL
lustrated by 14-hour journey be-
tween Paris and Rotterdam through
Belgium-ordinarily covered in about
eight hours by fast express. Now
only q few trains are running and
these mostly slow locals.
Leaving the Care du Nord, the
train proceeds without incident to
the French border town Of Feignies.
There 1t is held up for an hour or
more while passports are examined,
money counted to the centime, bag
gage searched methodically to see
that no contraband is being taken
out Of France. Another 10 miles
and the train is in the Belgian bor-
der town of Quevy. There follows
another systematic examination of
passports and baggage. They don't
bother about money.
Soldiers Of Both at Work.
At both towns there Is no leeway.
Those without proper exit permits
are removed from the train by. the
French soldiers, and left disconso-
lately on the platform to make the
best of it. Those without proper
Belgian visas are taken off by the
Belgian soldiers. Both permits to
enter Belgium and permits to leave
France have been required only three
weeks and many still are ignorant
Of them.
What happens to person taken
on the train at Quevy is a prob
lem. Such an unfortunate has q
permit to leave France, but not to
enter it. He cannot go on. He is
doomed, 1t would seem, to a long,
disconsolate wait in the narrow strip
between the two customs stations.
Then all is peace and quiet as far
as the Care du Midi in Brussels.
There the train stops and it Is neces-
sary to transfer to the Care du Nord
across the city. 1t is quite a prob
lem for Americans making their way
to Holland with heavy baggage.
Ordinarily Brussels taxi drivers will
take French money. Now, realizing
the fluctuations of exchange with
the fortunes of war, they demand
about triple their ordinary fares.
Many Examinations.
From the Care du Nord one can
get as far as Antwerp. There is
take one as far as the Belgian bor-
der town of Esschen. where there is
another examination of passports
and baggage. Then still another
train transports one a few miles to
the Netherlands border town of |
Roosendal, where passports and bag
gage again are examined systemat-
ically. They no longer are exam
ined on the train. All must be taken
into the customs sheds. From
Roosendal still another train goes
as far as Delft. From there, If too
much time hasn't been lost. the pas
senger can get still another train
to Rotterdam.
But to the Americans, Dutch and
Scandinavians on board, condemned
for weeks to nights of total black
ness, the brilliant lights of Rotter-
dam, with towering Office buildings
lit from roof to cellar and advertis-
ing signs flashing from every direc-
ton, are most welcome sight.
Bayonets Fixed.
Through France and Belgium the
trip has been past station platforms
patrolled by soldiers with fixed bayo-
nets. Drawn up on the French sid
ings are long lines of the familiar
box cars of World War days with
the words, "Hommes 40 Chevaux, en-
Tongue, g."
Once across the Dutch frontier
there is no decrease in the number
of soldiers. They are everywhere
with their neat blue-green uniforms.
But the bayonets have disappeared,
and one has passed out Of the night
mare of war.