The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-29

~ NE of the most curious episodes OF
the present war in Europe is the
charge that the German Crown
Prince, eldest son of the Kaiser, personally
pillaged the Chateau de Baye in France
At first sight it seems absurd to suggest
that the heir to a great Empire, who en-
joys vast revenues. would stop to plumber
the house of private nobleman.
The charge, however, derives Importance
from the fact that it is made by the wife
of the owner of the chateau, the Baroness
de Baye In letter to Paris newspaper,
the Matin, she describes just how the
Crown Prince visited her chateau and what
he took Her letter is printed in full else
where on this page.
1t was at the time the victorious Ger.
man movement toward Paris was at it's
height that this incident occurred. The
Crown Prince Frederick William was then
in command of the German army of the
centre, and undoubtedly the forward move
ment of the army toward the River Marine
brought him into the vicinity of the
Chateau de Baye.
This chateau would naturally be an OBJ
ject of attraction to a person bent on pill
lage. It's contents are noted among col
lectors and archaeologists throughout Eu-
rope. 1t contains the finest collection of
Russian art objects owned by anybody in
Western Europe. The present Baron de
Baye has spent twenty-eight years travel
ling in Russia and collecting Russian art
Among these specimens are many ikons
or sacred Russian images, vases and other
beautiful examples of metal work for which
Russia is noted. Many of these objects
are of solid gold Some of the finest of
them were given to Baron de Baye by the
present and the late Car. The Baron is
now travelling in Russia.
Baron Joseph de Baye is distinguished
archaelogist. Before he made a speciality
of Russian subjects he gained reputation
as an authority on Anglo-Saxon art.
The Chateau de Baye is very ancient, like
many others in France, but enjoys the I'M
usual distinction of having been occupied
by the same family from the beginning. 1t
is near the village of Champaubert and the
nearest town of any size is Chalons-sur
Marine, which is celebrated in history as
the place where the Romans defeated Attila
the Hun. These places are in the Cham.
payne country
The Baroness de Baye, who makes the
charges against the Crown Prince, was by
birth an Oppenheim, a member of the noted
family of bankers. Her father was the late
Herman Oppenheim of Paris, formerly of
Frankfort. Her mother was a Mile. de
Chabert, member of the French aristoc-
racy. The Baroness is a Catholic and so
is one of her brothers.
The Oppenheims are we'll known DIN finan-
cial circles in New York. A friend of the
family in New York furnished these details
concerning the Chateau and the family
that owns it.:
THE Chateau de Baye near Champaubert
dates from the fifteenth century, and has
been in the family of the Baron de Baye
ever since. 1t has different wings, the last
structure having been erected in 1854. It
is famous for its collection of arms, jewels,
medals, etc, dating from the fourteenth
century. The great gallery is noted for
its Flemish tapestries This gallery also
contains famous collection of archaeo-
logical treasures. This is evidently the
room to which the Baroness de Baye refers
particularly as having been pillaged by the
Grown Prince.
'aThe Baron de Baye carried on explora.
ltions in the Caucasus for twenty EIGHT
.-~ears and brought back many old .ikons,
statues and other relics from that part of
Russia. He is personal friend of the
Car and the Czarina.
''The chateau is also famous for it's EN-.
pire collection, but the Baroness has a still
larger collection of Empire furniture in her
Paris mansion, 81 Avenue de IL Grande.
krmee.