Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-02-15
The Kaiser's War-Chest.

n
] German army no detail has been forgot
ten. AS part OF its almost perfect prep
aration for possible war there is the Reich
skriegschatz the Imperial War Fund,
which is kept in the Julius Tower at
Spandau. This fund, which was reser-
we'd from the French indemnity payment,
and which, says the Belfast News, has
lately been doubled in size, now amounts
to sixty million dollars.
This sum is kept entirely out of circu-
lation. and costs the community in lost
interest alone at least six hundred thous-
and pounds year. The war treasure is
entirely in gold, silver and currency, and
may be used only to pay the expenses Of
the army after war has broken out II is
truly blood-money
The Julius Tower is .':e center of the
Citadel of Spandau, the chief fortification
of Berlin. Spandau has repeatedly fallen
into the hands of an enemy. During the
Seven Years War it was taken by the
Russians. From October 25, 1906, until
April 26, 1873, the French under Napo-
leon held the fortress. Germans feel
sure, however, that to-day their army is
too powerful to make such calamity pos
sible.
The Julius Tower is built OF solid blocks
of baSalt Its foundations 90 ten feet
lower than the bed OF the river Spree.
According to tradition, the tower was
begun by Julius Caesar.
The money is kept in iron boxes, la
beled with the names and addresses OF
commanders OF army corps and admiralS
OF fleets. These packages would be i'm
medlately despatched to the commanders
named at the outbreak OF war. Special
sums are provided for commanders on
the frontier where war has broken out.
Sums are also provided for special pur-
poses, such as secret service and the
work OF spies. The greater part of the
treasure consists of German twenty and
ten-mark gold pieces. There are, how
ever, quantities of coins of all the great
powers of the world, but principally OF
France, England and Russia.
For use on the Russian frontier silver
is provided.
All these parcels of money are opened,
weighed and counted at irregular inter
walls, but at least five times every year,
by army officers appointed by the Kaiser,
and drawn from a parts of The country.
These officers have TO give their word OF
honor, when assembled, that they do not
know each other. Although the Julius
Tower funds are in charge of special
curator, that functionary is not always
advised OF the proceedings beforehand,
and only when The Kaiser's special dep
uties have finished their work is He called
in 10 check up the accounts.
The Fourth Guard Grenadier Regiment
and battery OF the Third Guard Grena-
dierS look after the defense OF the Julius
Tower. The Third Train Battalion, sta
toned within the citadel, is ready at
moments notice to conduct the war
treasures to the various destinations. In
the tower itself no gas or electric light is
permitted. II is lighted entirely from the
outside.
At irregular hours of the night the in
side of the tower is searched for thieves
or burglars by means of ladders brought
from the citadel and manned by engineers,
who use swinging lamps to light the in
terror. While the search is in progress,
the regular lower gaTisons and seItinels
hold their rifles in readiness to shoot any
suspected person. There is guard
room at the very bottom, on the water
level, to prevent possible burglars from
gaining entrance to the secret crypts by
tunneling. A second guard-room is es-
tablished behind the only entrance door.
Its purpose is to defend the entrance and
the only staircase leading to the vaults.
Before each of the vaults sentinels are
stationed, and sentnelS are constantly
passing up and down the staircase A
third guard-room is established under
the roof, with lookouts in all directions.