Evening star., 1914-10-11
BRITAIN PRAISES
KA|SER'S ARMIES
Efficiency in Conduct Of the
War Is a Subject of
Comment.
TRAVELLER GIVES VIEWS
EXPRESSED IN LONDON
Says German Dirigibles Are Disap-
pointing-Attitude of United
States Fleases England.

| The Star last night official England is
| profoundly surprised at and cannot help
admiring what is described as the
wonderfully efficient organization of
| the German armies in their conduct of
the war
| This first word of praise-believed to
be the first recorded by any of the op-
! ponents in the great struggle for their
| enemies-was obtained from a trav-
eler who arrived in Washington last
night direct from London, and who has
been engaged in certain official consul
| tations in London with the war Office.
| which makes what he says of great i'm
po-tance.
Because of his position, this traveller
could not permit himself to be quoted
for publication, but during the course
OF conversation with reporter for
eral aspects of the war in relation to
| which cabled news dispatches have
been silent. One Of these, in addition
eagt IN ona, nErudgng mi
| manys war organization, had to do
with the efficiency of the Zeppelin diri-
gibles. whose visits are reported to be
daily expected in London.
Inefhciency, perhaps, would be the
better word, in the case of the Zeppelins
Says Dirigibles Are Disappointing.
'In London" The Star was informed,
'the dirigibles of the. Germans are
great disappointment, from military
point of view. They have not done
anything like what had been expect
ed of them, and they are not now so
greatly feared in official London. The
Germans have not succeeded in drop
ping bombs from these dirigibles upon
Paris Cr on the firing lines 1t was a
great surprise to find that they had as
many as 400 of them-twice as many
as the allies have. They have been
know that-but they have been value
less for offensive purposes"
The Stars informant declared that Eng
land is tremendously pleased with the at
titude of the United States in the war,
land particularly pleased with President
Wilson's strong efforts for strict neutral
ity in both the letter and the spirit, as
it is felt that the President OF the United
States is likely to have a very big voice
in the final settlement.
Kitchener he continued, sis not pop
| ular in England. He is very able, very
ambitious and constantly trying to ad-
fond of him, and neither are his associ-
ates, for if any one around him shows
the least sign of failure out he goes
and Kitchener gets some one else.
unteers to the front. especially such
companies as the London Scottish and
the Ancient and Honorable ARTILLERY
the so-called crack companies. He
sent them to Salisbury Plain and else
where, where there are training camps,
and some to Egypt, to relieve the reg
ulars whom he did send to the front.
These crack companies protested they
wanted to go to the front. kitchener's
reply was:
".Egypt or disband'
These crack companies have been
very popular. especially the killed or
tish. They decided to form a new
battalion of this organization, and they
have 5000 applications in one day.
although the fact is that the only pre-
tension to being Scotch that 900 out
of 1000 of them have is that they could
eat oatmeal if one gave them sugar
enough
Lord Roberts Popular.
Lord Roberts is an entirely different
man. and highly popular. He is most un-
selfish. They were raising new troops
and wanted field glasses for the officers,
but they were not to be had in London
for money. as all had been bought up
'Bobs' sent letter to the London news
| papers asking sportsmen and others who
had glasses for them, and he got all he
| a diHculty about saddlery. Not enough
saddles and harness could be bought in
London 'Bobs' sent another letter to
the newspapers and he had thousands
or saddles within week.
The stories of German espionage are
| true. There is high public official
| in London, on the civil side. who was
visited a few days after the war be-
asked him did he have any Germans
| In his employ. He said no. and they
told him to think again. and then it
occurred to him that there was a
governess who had been with the
family for fifteen years. Her mother
and father were German. She had
married an Englishman, however, and
was widow. The secret service men
arranged for her to be gotten out of
the house the following day for an
hour, and when they visited her room
| they found underneath a carpet a small
| trap door. and there was receptacle,
Brsb they sha al sorts %a
been a German spy all those years
| in that family. When arrested when
| she came into the house she roared
with laughter, and said the English
were stupid, and declared she was
| proud Of how she had served her
| country.
Pigeons as Message Bearers.
| Another case of such German es-
pionage was that Of an Australian
military officer. walking along in the
suburbs one day, who saw a pigeon.
tired, settle on a window. He wouldn't
have troubled further about it, but
he saw hand come up behind the
window and draw the pigeon in, and
that fixed his attention and aroused
his suspicion. He sent police to the
front and rear of the house. and a
/
searched the place and found four
more pigeons, carriers, with messages