IN SOUTH AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2345, 30 December 1914, Page 6

IN SOUTH AMERICA

HOW THE GERMANS BEHAVED "A VERY NERVY CONDITION" As soon as war was deolared by Austria against Servia, the Austrian Consuls called on all the Austrian subjects in' South America to return to Austria, writes "Onlooker" in the "Westminster Gazette." The appeal was answered in a most miserable fashion. In one particular district which 1 knew very well, Antofagasta, and in which there were estimated to be about 2000 Anstrians, only seven reported;. themselves, and wero started on their journey to Europe by the Austrian Consul. The caso was different with the Germans. They presented themselves- almost to a man beforo their Consuls in order to receive their instructions. The instructions given were that they wero to hold themselves ready for instant departure. I found that all those,that 1 knew personally had actually packed 'thoir trunks, and l I was told by them that all tho othor Germans in the different towns w'ere.fullv prepared to move if they wero called upon to.do so. All those I met seemed to be in a very nervy condition, many had' completely lost their heads with fright and excitement, and from the stait there wore nothing but white faces to be seen overywhere._ They appeared to look on the whole situation, as far as they woro concerned, _as completely hopeless after England joined in. tho war. A. few days later they were all advised that it would be useless thoir making any attempt to get back to Germany, and it would not lie oxpected of them to try to return. Though I hoard regrets expressed,, the news seemed to act as a tonic to most of thom.

Tho next step tho'Germ an a made was', to purchase controlling interests' in/ almost all the South American newspapers (this remark applies especially to Chile). They then held a complete control on the news, and besides .(as there was' an enormous "circulation of all the .. newspapers after the war broke ou"t), the investments", were distinctly, profitable.' All tho news .published appeared .to favour the Germans, and a hopeless situation was made out for the Allies. False reports were printed,. and a continual stream of telegrams, nil advising "that the Germans wcro quickly marching on Paris." ... .■ The Germans have been very well looked after by their Consuls, and as soon as. the Consul received any news he immediately took steps to privately adviso all the Germans. : ' \;" . As the war progressed, the .Germans found "that they were unable to get their .bills discounted anywhere, and consequently could obtain no funds, the result being that in almost all the German offioes salaries have been completely ; stopped, and -the firms have only paid their employees' mess bills and nothing more, while many ' Germana have. lost, their employment. . As the Germans abroad are notoriously fast living, many of them are.hopelessly in debt. - : I spoke to one German I knew quite well, and who had been dismissed, and asked him what he intended to do. He told me he was heavily in debt, but had in his, pocket the equivalent of about £20. He said he was-going to upend it recklessly in a night's-carouse and then 6hoot himself. . I laughed at him, but'the next morning I found lie had carried out his plan, He was the first I heard of, but many others followed his footsteps. ,In one particular district, .where there were about two'hundred Germans (Antofagas.fca), twelve committed suicide within a little _ over two months from the' war breaking out. The situation is hopeless for them. In most places there is no work for the Germans, and no money, and nowhere else for. them to go.: They are fast becoming a wandering nation. r

A German relief fund has been started- in South America, into which all the Germans that can pay do so every month, but that cannot go on for long. I would here mention that the German. bankß in South America were fully Eapared; and prepared in 6uoh a way sceptional_ bullion reserves, etc., in uth America itself). that one is forced to believe that they could only have been advised of what was. going to happen months before it occurred. The Germans out there admit themselves that the banks had obviously had special warning. The Germans appear to be very united, partly, I suppose, because nobody will have anything'to do with them publicly, and consequently they are driven into their own company entirely, I heard the "Marseillaise played several times in the public bandstands in different towns, but hot once a German anthem. . '<