In Europe During the Crisis

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 9

In Europe During the Crisis

MR. AND MRS. L. SEIFERT, JUNR. RETURN A veritable kaleidoscope of old and new world memories has been brought back to Palmerston North by Mr. and Mrs. L. Seifert, Junr., who have just returned from a tour of England, the Continent and America lasting over a period of a year and eight months. They travelled extensively on bicycle during one stage and later by car, seeing much of Europe and its peoples, and also had the memorable experience of passing through tho crisis cf 1938 among the nations more vitally concerned as wellas the initial war days of this year. Mr. and Mrs. Seifert combined pleasure with study, tho former securing a position for a timo with a legal firm in London and Mrs. Seifert continuing her musical studies with violin and singing at the Royal College under Mr. Paul Beard, leader of tho 8.8. C. orchestra. They arrived in England in July of last year and a little later went across to Germahy for a course of study at the university in Berlin. They then set off south on bicycles to Munich and other large cities, and went back to Berlin along the Rhine. It was a most pleasant trip and they found the German people very hospitable. Then came the Czech crisis and they were obliged to get quickly back to London. When next they returned to Germany in June, 1939, this time by car, they discovered a subtle change in the attitude of the people toward Britishers. They were still courteous, yet not quite so free in their attitude. The Germans who had never been outsido their own country could not understand tho freedom of speech such was allowed in Britain and accepted what was taking place inside their own boundaries as typical of what transpired in other countries.

Crossing to Franco for this second tour, they stayed a fortnight in Paris aud then made through Switzerland to Vienna and Budapest. Turning south, they drove into Italy via Venice and continued down to Rome and back via the western route to Florence and Milan. Into France once more, the route lay through the Riviera to Grenobles, in the heart of the French Alps. At Grenobles a halt was made to study tho French language at the university there. Tho students comprised men and women of various nationalities and Mr. and Mrs. Seifert found that by these studies they were able to make contact with people and places that would have been denied them otherwise. Some of these students became close friends and later they were able to visit some of the Americans they met there in their homes in U.S.A. Such contacts proved invaluable. Unfortunately the international situation that developed cut short their stay, but, desiring to see more of Switzerland, they visited Geneva, Lucerne and Zurich, where the Swiss Exhibition wus iu progress. Tho next stopping place of importance was Berne, where they discovered that the frontier was likely to be closed. This news prompted them to leave within an hour for France and they were only two of hundreds who sought safety in sudden flight. At the first town over tho border they found the place full of people anxious to get home, and it was almost laughable to see an hotel j ard jammed full of cars at dusk but entirely empty early next morning. Back to Paris they went along with a rush and no difficulty was experienced in getting across the Channel, just a week before war actually broke out. Their Continental tour cut suddenly short, Mr. and Mrs. Seifert decided to spend the lost time in an extended American tour. This proved equally as fascinating, as they went everywhere by car. They crossed the States along a 4000 miles route that took them through some of the southern States and northwards again till San Francisco was reached. There Mrs. Seifert ’s mother joined them and they headed south to Texas and on into Mexiso, eventually reaching Mexico City. Five weeks passed all too quickly in that way. Mr. Seifert speaks highly of the facilities for travel afforded in all the countries they visited, Italy being outstanding in that respect. No difficulty was met anywhere. America, too, caters wonderfully for the motorist. London’s black-outs wero an experience all on their own, on a moonless night even the edges of the kerb being invisible. The people accepted the situation without complaint. They realised that there was a job to be done iu this war and that it could best bo achieved by being cheerful about the many inconveniences. The Americans were taking a great interest in the war but seemed keen to keep out of it if they could.