AT THE OUTBREAK OF WAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 721, 14 November 1914, Page 5

AT THE OUTBREAK OF WAR.

TE KUITIAN AT BERLIN,

DR ZOBEL'S EXPERIENCES,

Dr Zobel, of Te Kuiti, who has been on a visii to Europe for about twelve months, returned home on Monday accompanied by Mrs Zobel. An interesting account of his experiences in Germany and Swtzerland just before the outbreak of war, was given a representative by the doctor, who stated that they were in Berlin until the afternoon of July 31st. That day they saw the Kaiser and the Crown Prince arriving from Potsdam, "There was a tremendous crowd on the Unter den Linden chaering enthusiastically," said Dr Zobel., "but we did not know the cause. The Kaiser looked very eerious, but the Crown Prince wa3 absolutely jubilant, and We might have known from his face that something was going to happen. Soon afterwards, we saw notices put up all over the place stating that the country was in a state of danger of War and ordering mobilisation. In half an hour after that we Were home packing our things. We hurried off to the rilway station, fearing that we might be delayed in departing owing to the general mobilisation We waited three bourß for a train for Switzerland, the nearest neutral State When we reached the frontier every male who did not possess a passport was prevented from leaving Germany This precaution waß taken to prevent deserters from escaping Fortunately I had a passport from New Zealand which allowed me to get through to Switzerland. Had I not got through then I should not have go through at all, because four days later war was declared by Great Britain against Germany, and every male British subject "of military age was made a -: prisoner. ~/-j...; . .-^^2^_

"When 1 was in Germany the Germans were very polite to Englishmen, because they wanted to avoid a war with Britain. They were as sweet as could be with the English until war was declared, and then, as you know, they turned rcur.d and abused them When we cot to Switzerland that country as absolutely in a ferment. The Swiss Array was mobilised, and 400,000 men v. era on the Swiss frontier to yuard against it being violated.. Tha authorities prevented us from travelling, from Zurich to Lucerne for days. All British subjects had difficulty in regard to money. Nobody would cash bank nutes, and the 10.000 British subjects visitors in Switzerland wera put" to great trouble. Bank of England notes would not be accepted and people wera actually thrown on 'the mercy of the hotelkeepers. This 'state of things went on for about six days, until telegraphic communication was re-established with England. Very few people had S.vias money, but I had some German and English gold, which tidad me over. Gold was all right, and I had drawn mine about two days before from the Deutsche Bank." Dr Zobsl added that after an enforced stay of three weeks at Marseilles, they were able to get to Paris by travelling third-class. They had to endure inconvenience as the? had heavy luggage with them and frequenly had ts leave the train to make wßy for soldiers on the way to the front. They arrived at Paris when the Germans were about 5 0 miles away. "Paris was busy," said the doctor, "although there was nnt the usual amount of busings?. Toa French were bearing up bravely, even the woman. • But you could.sea despair in the faces of many cf the women, and it was terribla to see some of those who had relatives killed at the front. Tha Parisians were prepared for the worst, as most of them believed that the Germans would be inside the city within a few days. But they were determined to put up a strong defence." Dr Zobel said that after a considerable delay in Paris he and hia wife were able to take train to Dieppe and catch a refugee boat for England. At first the boat would not take them on board. . "It took us four days to make a journey of 22 hours/' he added, "but once we landed at Folkestone we were al' right and there was no mora trouble."