Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-02
TRY" COBB, HOME
FROM WAR, WEARS
A WRIST WATCH
Humorist Talks Nonchalant-
ly of "Ronitz" (Rheims)
and Other Places Average
Paducah Citizen Cannot
Pronounce.

irwin Cobb, war correspondent for the
Saturday Evening Post who went look
ing for war in a taxicab, found the war
and lost the taxi. his overcoat and some
weight, reached Philadelphia today. He
arrived back home" from Europe last
Saturday on the Lusltanla.
In addition to a fine coat of tan, Mr..
Cobb brought back from war-ridden Eu-
rope list of proper pronunciatlons. His
tongue hesitates at nothing, but he was
not asked to pronounce Przemysl
Il am the only man from Paducab
KY" said Mr.. Cobb, who wears a
wrist watch and can pronounce Rontz."
'Rontz," he explained, is Rheims. The
story OF how Mr.. Cobb and party of
American war correspondents. Including
John I. McCutcheon, and James O'Don-
nell Bennett, OF the Chicago Tribune. set
out from Antwerp in n taxicab has baen
told in the humorist's inimitable wav i'm
the Saturday Evening Post. In the cur
rent issue OF that publication he told of
reaching AiN-la-Chapelle.
Since that time Cobb, McCutcheon Ron
nett and Robert j. Thompson. United
States Consul at Aix-la-ChapelIe cs
corted by Captain Alfred Monnesman Of
the German army, have been to the actual
firing line, on the German side, ana have
tlau opportunity to witness the German
war machine in action
The party was taken to France and
Belgium, through special passports issued
by the Kaiser, and had opportunity to
witness the artillery duel along the River
Aisne. From there Mr. Cobb went IN
Antwerp and thence to England. Ho
spent about 10 days at London and then
sailed for home.
According TO Mr.. Cobb, all the nations
of Europe engaged in the war are conf
dent except Belgium. That little country
is too busy fighting to express opinions.
So far 1t has suffered most in the war.
LoNDONERs ARE TRANQUIL.
London is dark and gloomy at night
Mr.. Cobb says, lights being extinguished
because Of the fear of Zeppelin raids
hut the people of the city are apparently
as tranquil as those of Philadelphia. They
expect to win and do not hesitate to
say so.
The ruin wrought at Louvain, accord
Ing to the correspondent. has not been
overestimated. The entire city has noy
been destroyed. the Germans having
trained their big guns on the principal
streets and buildings, About one-hfth of
the total area of the city has been ruined,
but this is the most valuable section
When the war started Cobb was fishing
in Canada, He left this country August
7 and eight days later was seeking action
in a taXicab. He said today the taxicab
to him is one Of the mysteries of the
war Although he returned to Antwerp
he failed to find it.
Much OF the weight he lost, which was
not considerable, was due to toting huge
quantities Of gold about Europe, Cobb
declared today
Mr.. Cobb explained that the statement
to which his name and those of other
American war correspondents was signed,
sent out more than month ago and de-
claring the signers had witnessed no
atrocities by the Germans, was made at
AK La Chappelle because those who
signed IL thought the Germans had not
been getting fair treatment in stories of
the conflict. said they were not un-
der stress when the statement was made.
The German system OF discipline, ac-
cording to the humOrlst, Is applied TO
| German soldiers with the same severity
| as to nOn-combatants whom the Germans
accuse OF sniping The soldier breaking
| a rule has no more chance than the
| sniper, he declared. He cannot use pull"
| OF any kind to save himself.
After leaving AK La Chappelle as the
| guest OF the German army, Cobb and his
| companions had no more trouble about
| getting plenty TO eat. The correspondents,
In the words of Cobb, late with the
| generals"
He added that German food becomes
| tiresome when one gets too much OF IT,
| but otherwise the correspondents had no
| objection 10 make.