Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06

which are constantly arriving from the
front supplementing the many cipher
messages from the commanders of the
army and navy. The king insists on
going into everything and seeing to 1t
that the needs of the various services
are grappled with by the business
heads of the various departments.
And. in addition. he gives daily audi
ences to the great ministers of tho
crown. Mr.. Asqulth. Lord Kitchener.
Winston Churchill and the others.
One of the most striking features o.
Buckingham Palace at present, how
ever. is the almost perfect system by
which the disposition of the troops and
the fleet can be seen at "A glance BY
means of elaborate plans and maps. as
well by models large saloon Is
especially set apart for the purpose.
and to this none has access but the
king, his chief private secretary, LORD
Stamfordham. and the civil and active
heads of the army and navy.
The double doors of this apartment
are kept locked. and, with the corridor
approach. are guarded night and DAY
The exact position OF all war craft.
with names of vessels and gun compile
ment and other details. is shown on
one plan, while another shows the seat
of war. with trenches, forts. towns and
disposition of all troops. both British
and those of the allies. clearly desie-
mated.
The kings intimate knowledge OF
matters in the firing line and to the
OlSpOSltlOn OF even small ccntllSelttS
of the military and naval forces has
amazed most of the wounded men
whom he has visited in hospital. He is
said to be extremely solicitous as to
the creature comforts of his fighting
men and makes continual inquiries as
to the supply of food, clothes and all
the little extras that go to the MAIN
tenance of their health and spirits.
Here is the latest funny war story
from France. In the marketpiaee AT
Abort. the other morning, number OF
fat pigs had come UP for auction. and
for one of them the auctioneer started
the bidding at 100 francs; "l05," ITO"
came the bidding. and "130.' and then.
to the amazement of the company. a
stentorian voice shouted 1900" Every
one held his breath. and then came
from the same voice, Fire. 1t was
the officer at the adjoining barracks in
structing a squad of artillery recruits
in range-finding.
How a British soldier in France gave
his life for 4 postcard is told in let
ter from one of his comrades at the
front.
I'm the retreat from Mons" writes
this Tommy" who belongs to the Roy
al Irish Regiment. II heard of 4 chap
who stepped into shop to buy a pic
ture postcard for his little girl He
Germans had been following us very
closely. and he had to fight when he
came out There Were too MANY of
them and the Red Cross people buried
him next day with his card.
There was a sergeant of the Essex
Regiment who stopped for only Sec
ond one day to pick up a German hell
met that he had promised to send to
his little boy. A German shell burst at
his side and he was blown to pieces.
I'm the retreat from Mons one of the
Middlesex left his great coat behind
on the other side of the river. and the
loss was only discovered when the
bridge had been broken down He
swan across to find it. and was swim
ming back with it when he was struck
by bullet and sank almost at once.
never to rise again, though some of his
chums hung about under fire for hours
to see if they could be Of assistance to
him" E. L. HEITkAMP.