The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-27
WAR ECHOES

The weekly magazine L'opinion publishes
 an account of Won Kluck's stay at Coul-
 ommers on September and 6. written Ky an eyewitness. from which 1t appears that very trifling cause perhaps con- tributed most materially to the allies victory on the Marne. On arriving, says
 the writer, the German commander was very cheerful and consumed a huge meal, drinking a good deal of champagne. He talked freely with the inhabitants. in- forming them that he expected to dine in Paris in four days, as the battle was nearly won, the French were retreating southward, and the British were being
 pursued to the southwest He assured
 all who pleased him that they would
 benefit by his favor when they became
 Germans a5 they soon would. Next day
 Q military band gave a concert after
 luncheon. Gen. Won Kluclk remarking
 that It's next performance would be on
 the boulevards.
 Toward evening his cheerfulness dirnin-
 lshed The news arrived that the French
 retreat had been stopped, while the Brit
 ish were turning on their pursuers. The
 German headquarters became unusually
 busy-almost agitated. Suddenly, at a
 time when the arrival of messengers was
 incesssnt and the activity the greatest
 of all, the lights were extinguished. A tremendous uproar followed. A German
 major rushed out, uttering fearful threats
 of what he would do unless. the gas was immediately turned on; but it was soon found that the gasometers were quite empty, that the fires were out, and that their engineers had fled.
 For nearly 30 minutes, at the most crit ical point of the battle. the German headquarters were in absolute darkness. The members of the staff were unable to re ad messages consult their maps un- til candles had been obtained, and even then it was hard to follow the maps by tho flickering light.
 Early the next morning General yon KlucS departed hastily, without break fast, cursing and obviously worried. Soon afterward the allies occupied the town. London Dispatch in the Philadelphia Public Ledger: Rowing before the storm Of objections, the company which con trols the Savoy hotel, the Berkeley ho-
 tel and Cartridges has made a public
 statement that it has no German or Austrian employees.
 We are chemically pure now,'' com Iany officia, said yesterday. We have no alien enemy employees, and God Save
 the King is played at the beginning and end of lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper"
 There has recently been a good deal of comment because the national anthem was not played more. At the Ritz and the Carlton British subjects have re-
 placed managers with German names. The Vienna cafe on Oxford street, which was raided Saturday and 10 of whose former walters are now detained
 cn suspicion of being spies, has reopened with English -waitresses. In summer it
 has many American customers, residing in the British Museum district. Another mob tried to wreck German
 shops in the borough of Deptford last night. but a large force of special po- lice dispersed it Many German shoplSeep-
 CTS, fearing attack. strongly barricaded their places of business. A police judge refused bail in the case of 30 rioters arrested Sunday night Amsterdam Dispatch in the New York World The World correspondent today received information from an authentic source regarding Germany's aerial plans which throws a new light on the action Of the London authorities in doing away
 with all brilliant illumination and sweep ing the skies at night with many search- lights. These precautions are apparently thoroughly justified, though a bit pre- mature.
 While occasional minor raids may be made on London sooner if Germany gets a foothold on the channel, the grand aerial armada will not be launched
 against England until February at the
 earliest, according to this information. for Germany will not be ready till then. we are building 200 aeroplanes espe- oially for the attack on London. These are of a new and extra large type, capa- ble of carrying 1000 pounds one of the pest known or the younger Cerman aVla- tors said to the correspondent. T am training the flyers now at special avia- ton camps. The government wouldn't let me go to the front at the outbreak of the war. saying | was of more use l here as flying instructor. Yes, I have been often in London. I flying in ] England aa recently as last spring" An American refugee from Roumania who reached London six weeks ago via Austria, Germany and Holland said at the tune that at the flying field in Berlin he had seen at least 300 aeroplanes and J0 Zeppelins in their sheds.
 When the young German aviator was asked if there was any truth in the statement that Germany had 50 zeppelins six weeks ago he replied frankly: That is nonsense. But we are work ing on new Zeppelins night and day, and by February we shall have 4e." TAI19NG THINGS EASY From the Youths Companion.