IN THE WAR ZONE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 723, 21 November 1914, Page 2

IN THE WAR ZONE.

DOCTOR ZOBEL'S EXPEDIENCES

THE DASH FOR PARIS

I GERMAN MISCALCULATIONS. Doctor Zobel, who went to Europe fro,m Te Kuiti about twelve months ago N and returned last week, had some rather exciting, experiences at the outbreak of! the war. In an interview with a Chronicla representative Dr Zobel said he undertook the London for the purpose of gathering the latest work 'in hia profession. He had spent some time in Jhree of the London hospitals specialising in women's work, and subsequently had proceeded to Berlin where he was fcr soma time clinical assistant at the University. He had also visited Innsbruck, in th 9 Tyrol. He had found the Austrian people greatly interested in a visitor from the Antipodes. The Austrians knew little about the things outside their own country. When the war broke out Dr Zobel and Mrs Zobel were at Berlin. They made hurried preparations to get to Switzerland, but missed the first train they had intended to travel by. This was fortunate as the train was commandeered by the Government about five miles from Basle, on tlje Swibs border, and the passengers had to shift for themselves. Besides having to transport themselves and their -luggage a distance of five miles, the unfortunate travellers had to spend the nights in the open, an experiance not to be envied in Switzerland. Dr Zobel and Mrs Zobel got safely to Lucerne -by the next train, and when there received notice from the P. and 0. Company that their Bhip would not be calling at Marseilles, where they had intended to catch the boat. They set out immediately for England via Paris, and raced the German 'army to' the •French capital. At Geneva there was supreme confusion and the difficulties of getting passports vised were only overcome by - hustle and tact. The journey to Paris was an awful experiehc-i compared with the usual trip. Only a tbird-class compartment could be obtained, and so'diers were lying in all the corridors of the train. v Mahy of the passengers had .wounded relatives and signs of human suffering were visible on all Eides. At Paris there was a surprising calmness despite the fact that the German troop 3 ware only about forty mil< s distant. Nobody -knew when the enemy would be entering the capital, but the populace went about their ordinary avocations w|th a calm determination to face whatever eunfronted them. The travellers saw train loads of German prisoners arriving from the pxmt and it was interesting to ses the Belgian engines coupled together in fives bringing' refugees from that stricken coun try. At Paris Dr Zobel found it was impossible to get to Boulogne. They were told by the officials that the bridges had all been blown up. Ultimately they got to Dieppe and across to Folkestone, taking four days to accomplish a twenty-two hours' journey. Dr Zobel states there" is no doubt the French people expected the worst to happen, but it was part of the French commander's strategy to draw the enemy as far as possible from their case before attacking them in earnest. The gratitude of the French people towards the British was intense, and Britain's action will never, be forgotten in France. Commenting on the secrecy maintained in England concerning thte military operations, Dr Zobel said on the Continent they had to depend on the Italian papers for news, and really got more information in that manner than the people in England. Referring to Britain's preparedness for war, the doctor waß inlorraed by his brother, who was a colonel "of the 23rd Punjaubi Pioneers, a regiment now lighting in France, that ever since the naval review in June the Fleet had been prepared. It was understood the British authorities had received the warning from Italy. Colonel Zobel retired from the army about two years ago and is now waiting another command. Referring to the manner in which Continental refugees flocked 'to England, Dr Zobel stated that in Regent street, London, the language one heard was chiefly Frencb, and the shops had all put up notices and prices in French. Dr Zobel ban a good word to say I for the Indian troops, which , are well known to him through his long residence in India. Both Ghurkas and Sikhs are formidable foemen. The former ai-e wonderfully expert with tho kukri, a short curved sword which they can throw to kill at a distunes of twenty feet. The Germans wera confident a revolution in India was imminent. There were many German Bpies in India, even among the miEsionairie9,who endeavoured to sow the. s»eds of disaffection to England. Dr Zobel mentioned the case of a missionary in the far-off wilds of Assam, whi;h came personally under his knowledge, and there were doubtless many others. The tone of tho German presj3 concerning the war was calculated to deceive even unbiassed people. Only some of the Kaiser's telegrams concerning the pence negotiations were published, and ths English version was strictly censored. The German people had undoubtedly beon educated up to the war point by tho press