The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-23
Moving Picture People Take Ad-
vantage of Weakness of
King Nicholas.
ny IA MARoUIsE DE FoNTENOY.

III la MAHQCISE DE F0NTENOY.
HNE of the most extraordinary
episodes in the war in the Bal
kans has only just become
in Europe. through the indiscretion
OF certain foreign military attaches
assigned by their respective govern
ments to watch the operations of the
Montenegrin army. especially in con-
ncction with its hitherto unsuccess-
fui siege OF Scutar. 1t seems that
King Nicholas. who has always been
known to the initiated as a terrible
poseur and braggart. is extremely
fond OF figuring in cinematographs.
Aware OF this weakness on his part,
certain enterprisng French and Ital
ian moving picture concerns Dispatch
cd some OF their cleverest operators to
Montenegro. for the purpose OF obtain
ing films of actual warfare.
They were most cordially welcomed
by the King, who treated them with
the greatest consideration and hospi
tally: far more, indeed, than he eX-
tended 20 the military attaches He
posed for them in every possible fash
ion. and finally arranged n sham fight
for their particular benefit in the
ncishborhood of Scutari. but. natural
~. beyond the range os the latter's
guns. The rocks in the vicinity of
the MontencSrin camp OF Gruda were
most artistcally arranged for the pur-
lcSe with old and new guns broken
down supply wagons. camp fires. and
officers equipped with field glasses.
Several regiments were novel litner
and thither. as is taking part in a vio-
lent assault upon the Turkish lines,
and, of course. King Nicholas was
lendins ITEM on horseba.k. hr;;nG:sh.
i,s his salre in the most ner,ic lash
ION. All Ills took place on Dcccm-
b.r :.
Unfortunately, the King had neg
lected TO warn Ria Bey, the heroic
defender @! Scutari. win had been
holding the fortress for the Turks
ever since the beginning OF tl.e war
last autumn, that the operations were
merely fog the benefit OF the ciuc-
matograph people. and not a bona
fide attack upon the enemy. For just
as tho moving picture people were
working for all they were worth,
rceling off most successful and realis-
tic films the Turks suddenly appeared
upon the scene. and converted the
mimic battle into a real one.
The Montenegrins were not pre-
pared for this and bolted wildly. So
too did the moving picture people.
having tho presence IF niad, h1wGNc..
TO carry their instruments Will: them.
Nicholas himself dismounting in or
der to get under cover and ever the
rocks more quickly. In fact, ne mar
rowly escaped capture.
The Montenegrin troops concerned
in the affair were so much disguised
at having been subjected TO ignomini-
Gus defeat for the mere sake Of cine
matograph operations, that they mutt
MED. and were only appeased by a
large payment on account of their ar
rears. The moving picture people
wore overwhelmed with orders or
knighthood and decorations, with the
object of keeping their mouths closed
as to 6he dcnouement of the mimic
battle of Gruda on December =
last. So if any of my readers see
these pictures, which are certain to be
brought to this side of the water for
exhibition, they will realize that the
story of the battle, as portrayed, is
only half told
The people who derived the most
enjoyment from the affair were the
foreign military attaches. who do not
hesitate TO express privately their
complete disillusion about King Nicho-
las rs n warrior, and their profound
contempt for his vanity, his theatrical
posturings. and for his character in
general. They also insist that the
diers have been vastly overratcd, and
point out that whereas the Greeks
have taken Salonica and Janina, and
the Bulsarians have taken Adrianoplc,
while even the Servians have captured
Monastir and Uskub, the Montencgrins
have accomplished absolutely nothing
since the beginning OF the war, some
seven months ago, and have not suo-
ceeded as yet even in taking Scutari;
certainly n far more difficult place -
defend than either Adrianople or
Jahina.
Lord Hawke. who is arriving to-
day in New York from Liverpool, on
board the Oceanic. in connection with
tho organization on this side of the
Atlantic of Il land credit banking
institution, on the same lines as those
of France and Germany. is more wide
ly known as a great crickcter than as
1nanoier. In fact, he has been over
here .on several occasions as captain
of cricket elevens, whom he has also
taken to other parts of the world. no
tably to Australia and South Africa.
He makes his home at Wighill Park,
near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, which is
full OF trophies OF the chase. At the
entrance huge unow- white bear, shot
by Lord Hawke, in Nepaul extends a
tray to receive visiting cards. while
the walls Of the staircase are. hung
with the skins OF five huge tigers
which have fallen to his gun In the
more southern repions NJ India There