prevents the mind’s eye from observing and noticing things in a normal way.  This accounts, perhaps, for some blank spaces in my memory.  Besides, I went out completely resigned to my fate, without much thought for the future.  It never occurred to me that I might ever want to write my experiences, and consequently I failed to take notes or to establish certain mnemo-technical landmarks by the aid of which I might now be able to reconstruct all details.  I am, therefore, reduced to present an incoherent and rather piecemeal narrative of such episodes as forcibly impressed themselves upon my mind and left an ineradicable mark upon my memory.

The outbreak of the war found my wife and me in Switzerland, where we were taking a cure.  On the 31st of July, on opening the paper, I read that the Third Army Corps, to which my regiment (which is stationed in Graz) belonged, had received an order for mobilization.

Although I had resigned my commission as an officer two years before, I immediately left Switzerland, accompanied by my wife, in order to report for duty.  As it happened, a wire reached me a day later calling me to the colors.

We went by way of Munich.  It was the first day of the declaration of the state of war in Germany.  Intense excitement prevailed.  In Munich all traffic was stopped; no trains were running except for military purposes.  It was only due to the fact that I revealed my intention of rejoining my regiment in Austria that I was able to pass through at all, but by both the civil and military authorities in Bavaria I was shown the greatest possible consideration and passed through as soon as possible.

We reached Vienna on August first.  A startling change had come over the city since I had left it only a few weeks before.  Feverish activity everywhere prevailed.  Reservists streamed in by thousands from all parts of the country to report at headquarters.  Autos filled with officers whizzed past.  Dense crowds surged up and down the streets.  Bulletins and extra editions of newspapers passed from hand to hand.  Immediately it was evident what a great leveler war is.  Differences in rank and social distinctions had practically ceased.  All barriers seemed to have fallen; everybody addressed everybody else.

I saw the crowds stop officers of high rank and well-known members of the aristocracy and clergy, also state officials and court functionaries of high rank, in quest of information, which was imparted cheerfully and patiently.  The imperial princes could frequently be seen on the Ring Strasse surrounded by cheering crowds or mingling with the public unceremoniously at the cafes, talking to everybody.  Of course, the army was idolized.  Wherever the troops marched the public broke into cheers and every uniform was the center of an ovation.