The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-11-05
Leo Tecktonius Returned
From Europe Talks Inter-
estingly Of Conditions.
LONDON NO LONGER IN FEAR
Business in English Capital Goes on
Just as if Nothing is Happening and
People Are Gay Regardless of Great
Loss of Life on the Battlefelds.

That the German army's entrance
| into France was only effected through
the treachery of a French general was
the startling statement made here to-
day by Leo Teektonius, world famed
pianist, and brother in law of H. e.
Barden of this city, who has just re-
turned from six years residence in
Paris, the French capital In an inter
view on the war situation in Europe,
Mr.. Tecktonius said that in all prob
| ability the Germans would have had
harder time gaining foothold on
French soil had it not been for the I'M
loyalty of great French general.
This man, former high government
official, trusted by all, was in charge of
the troops posted along the frontier of
France. He was warned by the war
Office that the Germans were advancing
and was ordered to meet them and keep
them out of France. His wife was a
| German while he was evidently in the
employ of the Kaiser as he secreted
his orders, held them for thirty-six
hours without acting upon them, and
allowed the Germans to entrench
themselves in a strong position in
| France.
General French, the English comman-
der, hearing of the action of the gem
eral, gave him twentyfour hours time
in which to make away with himself.
He shot himself with a high power
magazine pistol. This traitor was a
former governor of Lille. All accounts
OF his treachery were suppressed by
officials but Mr.. Tecktonius, being in
the confidence of many high officials,
| heard of it.
Kitchener Demands Cabinet Resign.
Another significant incident in the
war which has been guarded as great
secret and kept from the press is the
fact that England s war lord, Lord
Kitchener was responsible for the res
ignation OF the complete French cabi-
net. The entire world was startled by
the resignation of the French presi-
dent s cabinet and no good explana-
| ton was ever made for the radical
change. Mr.. Tecktonius, however, ok
| plains it in the following manner:
Lord Kitchener, knowing that the old
French cabinet was inefficient and that
some of it's members would not act for
the best interests of the allies, boarded
4 torpedo boat just previous to the out
| break of war and arrived in Paris in
four hours time. He ordered the
resignation of the complete cabinet,
| saying that if the demand was refused
England would not join France in the
war against Germany. His demand
was complied with.
/ Mr.. Tecktonius has been in France
for the past six years. He is well in
formed as to the progress made so far
| il the great world war and can throw
interesting sidelights on conditions in
| Paris and London, both Of which cities
he is intimately acquainted with.
was in Paris at the time the
French cabinet declared war upon Ger
many" said Mr.. Tecktonius. "AI
through these trying days, the French
people have conducted themselves in
an admirable manner. There were
many tears and much sadness, but
every one takes the war philosophical
| ly. All are brave in the face of a
threatening German invation.
French Shops Closed.
Conditions in France are quiet,
commercially speaking. All of the big
shops are closed, their massive fronts
are boarded up, and business is at a
standstii. The nights are pitch dark
as all electric street lights are shut off
The only rays of light one sees are the
hundreds of powerful searchlights
which rake the sky for aeroplanes.
These aeroplanes and Zeppelins of
Paris. Three weeks ago today had a
narrow escape from death as a bomb
dropped from a German war dove
fell near my apartments, killing two
pedestrians. My entire home was
shaken, windows were broken and for
time I thought that the world had
| come to an end.
"My friends in Paris wanted me to
| join the Red Cross and work at the
american hospital. This I will prob
ably do later on as my several concert
tours booked for this season have been
necessarily cancelled on account of the
/ war; but first I wanted to come to Ra-
cine and allay the anxiety of my
parents.
81 have lost nearly 100000 on ae-
count of this war. One of my tours
| alone would have Melted me $4,000
and I also lost through several invest
rnents. But this ism It the worst part of
| the war to me. / have many dear
friends In all the warning nations, and
| they are fighting against each other.
/ love France, but / love my own
country more and | have not mixed up
| in this war because l believe that as