The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1914-12-31
ENGLISH DRINK
IS NOT POPULAR
Kansas Photographer Says lis
l'usafe TO Order Whisky
and Soda.
HAS MILE OF MOVIE FILM

one Of the interesting characters
Of the war IL Donald Thompson, the
kansas photographer, who has at
times supplied exclusive photographs.
Recently he returned 10 the continent
ufter n visit to London. He was
arrested by the Germans, but even this
did not deter him from getting the
pictures he went after. Mr. Thomp
son again is In London, from where
he has sent the dispatch which ap-
pears below.
London, Dec 3l.--"l have just spent
three weeks IN Germany, As a result Of
which have obtained 700 photo.
graphs Of German troops In the field
aud 5000 feet Of cinematograph
film.
Movies In my possession show the
kaiser On the battlefield In East Prus'
sia aud Poland, the crown prince di
rccting His army In France aud other
phases " the war never before re
yeuled
THAT | was permitted to obtain
these pictures ls another Indication
II how eager Germany is to lay her
side ~ the argument before ia"
American people, | went through u
good denl Of trouble before | achieved
my object. For instance on my arriV-
al on Belgian soil after my trip from
England through Holland, was
promptly arrested and with another
American newspaper man VINO was
travelling with me. | was taken to
Antwerp In a special car.
Didn't Like Stories.
The German agitation about me
was due 10 stories printed In English
newspapers some timc before, In which
/ was quoted as having made rather
caustic comments on the kaiser's sol
diery. They marched us through the
streets at Antwerp between a double
file OF grenudiers, who Indicated
Willingness to shoot Us At slight provo
cation.
Friends who had known me when
/ lived IN Antwerp during the bonn
bardment, reported my plight to Con
sun General Diederich, but before he
had a chance to intervene l managed
TO lay my passports before the com
manding general. Among them was
letter from Count Won Bernstorff,
German ambassador at Washington, TO
Field Marshall Won der Golts, and this
finally obtained me my release.
set out for Brussels In hack
pulled by a horse that would be shot
at sight In Kansas, owing TO Its great
age and decrepitude At Malines l
had the honor OF being received In
audience by Cardinal Mercier, head Of
the Roman Catholic church In Bel
GUM. He showed Inc how badly his
palace had been damaged by German
shells and told me how narrowly Ma.
lines had escaped destruction when
one German officer and seyen priyates
hsd been found nurderet by peessnts.
The cardinal himreif intefceded
with the commanding officers at Ma
lines and although orders already had
been given to burn part Of the town
they were withdrawn on condition
that the cardinal promise there
would bs no further attacks on sol
dierS.
incidentally II IL not generally
known that Cardinal Mercier not onl!
went through the bombardment o
Malines but ALSO that Of Antwerp an'
has resisted all appeals Tor him 4
seek safety In England or France
What he is doing for his people a
Malines will make history all by II
self.
Arrested Again.
IL remained two days In Brussel
and then at the suggestion OF tn
German headquarters moved on Il
Berlin. Won der goltz, Of course, ha'
already gone TO Constantinople, fac
which ] was unaware till l reaches
Brussels. On the train between All
Ia .Chapelle and Berlin found mysel
under arrest but ] got out Of this pre-
! dicament as soon M reached my des
tination.
my principal trouble at Berlin wa
English made clothes which gained m
eyiable notoriety for me, Once wa
forced to leave a cafe on Unter De
Linden because Of them and becaus
I ordered whisky and soda, which II
unsafe to ask for In Germany nov
adays
ut Is impossible for me to 90 int
details about the arrangements l mad
with the German war office, but ca
say they treated me with the utmos
courtesy and gave me every opportun
" Of taking all the photographs
wanted Of operations on the Faster
aud Western fronts.
"As q photographer | am not permi
: ted TO write much about what l saw
Had I been a correspondent l Nigh
not have been pss aitted to 80 wher
did.
: 'The most interesting thing | dii
! covered In Berlin was how an Amer
. can can live there practically withor
spending a cent Of his own none!
When. you 20 to Berlin carry nothin
hut American gold, you can sell II {
profit OF 90 marks or SIS for ever
500. Thus on $1,000 I cleared SIT
1 ard came near paying for my who
, trip out Of It.
"Then when you want to leave yo
lust 20 TO the American consul and
. changes your German money into An
! erican money dollar for dollar, ! col
template setting down In Berlin 4
the rest Of the war ON this basis"
WHITE GAPING" CHARGEs