Valdez daily prospector., 1914-10-09
SP0|LS 0F WAR
 REACH PARIS
Much War Material and Guns Secured By the French When Germans
 Fell Back From Marne.

A correspondent of the London Standard, in Paris, writing under date of September 20th from that city, tells the following story of the arriv- al in the French capital of the spells of war captured by the allies when the Germans fell back from the po- sitions on the Marne river between the 9th and 18th of September. The story follows:
 During the last few days there has been a succession of trains bear ing the spells of war to Paris, and since yesterday morning alone twen- ty-three such trains have been count ed. The astonishing quantity of this ill-assorted booty is powerful testi- mony to the rapidity of the German retreat. There are cannon, gun car riages, mitrailleuses, motor 1orries, truck loads of arms and ammunition; in fact, it is estimated that since the beginning of last week about sixty cannon, thirty mitrailleuses, and forty gun carriages have arrived here, while the amount of ammunition cap tured will considerably augment the reported lack of this commodity in the German armies.
 "A wounded artillery quartermaster at the station disdainfully regarded one of these trains, and said, All these are not worth one of our good seventy-ives.'
 "The cannon seem to be very pre- tentious and massive by the side of the trim little French weapons. While these latter are perfectly plain, the former are usually engraved with garlands of laurel or oak leaves en- circling some motto such as 'Ultimao Ratio Regum,' or Pro Patria ct Pa trio.' One inscription of Deutschland uber Alles' had been altered by a facetious soldier to Deutschland unter Alles.' The pieces are stamped with the imperial eagle and the number of the corps or with an imperial crown surmounted by a symbol. Essential parts usually had been taken away before capture.
 "The officers sabres that have been brought here as trophies also are very much criticised for their showy ap- pearance, which is out of all propor- tion to the apparent use of the weap. on. The ornate handle of wrought copper is usually more remarkable for the painstaking labor involved in it's making than for artistic effect. The lacework design and thong with it's gorgeous tassel of silver silk threads do not compensate Tor the narrow thin blade, often of inferior metal. not easily bending or regaining its form readily when once bent.
 "All souvenirs of the battlefield are eagerly sought here. fact that has been taken advantage of by one in genious street vendor. This man is well dressed and has a mysterious air, which makes him easily notice able to easily interested habitues of cafes of the boulevards, with whom he gradually enters into conversation. He gives circumstantial details of re- cent battles which he has been al- lowed to witness by his influential relations on the battlefield, and then hints to a large and interested crowd that he has many sabres, casques, etc., that he is willing to dispose of for a small sum. His sales have been so numerous that the matter at last came to the notice of the police, who found his precious trophies were all taken in 1870.
 Some interesting facts are coming to light about the battles in Belgium. At Brussels three regiments of French infantry and the Third Zouaves fought seven hours with only four cannon between them. Their Losses were enormous and the Zouaves had flag taken from them by the Germans. These plucky soldiers were. however, determined not to suffer this dis. grace, and, leaving the cannon. they charged with their bayonets and push, ed the Germans back for the dis tance of . mile. They regained their standard but at terrible cost, for on ly 300 of the regiment returned with the prize."
 LOCAL BREvlTIEs.