Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1914 — 15,000 ARE STRANDED [ARTICLE]

15,000 ARE STRANDED

AMERICANS IN LONDON AND PARIS APPEAL TO U. S. Travelers in Paris Are in Panic, But Said to Be in No Danger—Ask Aid From Washington. Loudon, Aug. 4.—-The 15,000 Americans In London, largely tourists with means, are almost all stranded here, miserable and well-nigh hopeless. Most of them, who had spent nearly all their money and were expecting to sail for home in a few days, are now almost penniless because of the sudden rise in prices of food and transportation, and they see no prospect of getting back to America. Those who have a little money are not in much better condition, for maty of the hotels are closing because their waiters and cooks have fled to Europe and because rates are so high that few can pay them. Moreover, nobody will accept paper mouey, find it is almost impossible to get change even when one has the money to pay a bill. Another phantom which looms up before them is the possibility that the British liners may be taken off the ocean, as has already been done with the Russian, German and nearly all the French boats. In addition to a prolonged banishment from home, nearly all would be penniless in a few days more, and the problem of living at all would be serious.

Hundreds of Americans arrived on good trains from the interior, glad to ride as live stock just to get here. The Americans here have organized themselves into a committee, and demanded that their government help them. They got Ambassador Page to ask Washington for transportation, and they were greatly relieved to hear, through Mr. Page, that their congress has voted money for their relief. Paris, Aug. 4. —Many hundreds of Americans, largely toiirista, are panicstricken here at the prospect of being shut up in Paris during the war. Many of them are tourists with little money, and the situation is disheartening even for the wealthy ; for all trains to Boulogne have been stopped, nobody is allowed to leave the country without a special permit, and the only way now open—through Spain—is a long, dangerous and expensive trip. The leaders of the Americans have formed a committee and have taken up their troubles with Ambassador Myron T. Herrick and are urging him to influence their government to help them. Washington, Aug. 4.—For the purpose of relieving American tourists who are "stranded” in Europe because of the imposibility of cashing their checks or letters of credit. New York bankers have arranged with the state and treasury departments to send huge sums to Europe. Arrangements were completed last night, when it was said the shipments will total $3,500,000.