Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-07
my Tweluen1onth
at Krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineer amazing Story
OF Starvation and Cruelty
IN Essen
by VAN DER LINDEN
Copyright. 1917. international News
Bureau.
Frau Krupp Won Bohlen flushed
slightly and bowed. while the Sultan


Tosether the two Kings stool talking
with the Lady OF Essen for some little
Time. but ] was not able TO hear the
conversation. | heard tho Kaiser laugh
harshly. and In doing so he turned
slightly. catching sight of Won Bohlen.
who up to this time 1ah not been pre-
scented. The omission was. However.
soon made good. and then Ito .uur OF
Tho works began.
ImprfSEing tie Sultan
Tho program OF the tour mad been
we'll considered. and the special won
der which the Kaiser wantct, t. show
his guest was a NUMBER % huge guns.
stated 10 be OF tw'nty-inch cAliber.
which he Intended 10 present to him
for the use OF the Turkish forces.
These monsters were the pride OF
Essen. and wero believed 10y the Ger
mans TO be the biggest thing ever at
tempted I'm tho way nf artillery.
The kaisers plan was to show first
of all TO Mohammed the various pro,
ccsacs Of the guns in the making. First
lie was shown the gigantic blocks OF
steel, Weighing many tons. Which arc
handled and lifted with such apparent
cast by the cranes and carried TO the
llas' furnaces.
Next the Sultan was taken into the
marvellous workshops containing the
hht furnaces, and nearby tho NAM
moth hydraulic hammers. At the APP
preach OF tho two monarchs there wac
y great outburst OF activity on the
part OF the workers. who In the terrific
neat were laboring stripped to their
waist. Even the Sultan. used as he Is
10 hot climate. was somewhat op-
pressed by the great heat.
Evidently 10 prepare his guest fer the
wonders. tho Kaiser talked voluhly
with the Sultan. with "A sweep Of his
hand. he turned 10 him and said:
There. amid the flames. when the
doors OF the furnace arc opened, you
VIII see the huge mass of white hot
steel from which will be fashioned one
of the monster guns that will out
range any weapon yet made With
krupps behind US. we can beat the
world"
Then turning to Krupp Won Bohlcn.
the kaiser's chosen head of the great
works. who was accompanying them,
he said: rs that not 30. herr?"
Won Bohlen. OF course. agreed with
the all highest. as he was In the plot
to impress their Eastern puppet.
Fear OF the Furnace.
The Sultan grinned as he lit another
cigarette, and stood with a look of
amazement on his broad features.
awaiting the opening OF the furnace
doors. But the look gave place TO ono
OF fear when. almost silently. the doors
rolled back and the glare of the fur
mace lit up the shop. The heat was
terrific, and the light SO brilliant that
the Sultan shaded his eyes with his
hands and stepped back several PAGES
lie was specchless with amazement
Then. as the huge block of white
hot steel was taken from the furnace
and placed on the bed of the hammer.
his excitement was intense. Wonder
fui. wondcrfui.' he exclaimed in Ger
man. clutchinS the Kaiser by the arm
The War Lord was obviously pleased
with the effect which the spectacle had
upon his guest heard the Kaiser
telling him that the shop in which they
were was only one OF "A score OF such
shops. where all the energies OF the
workers were being concentrated upon
the making OF twenty-inch guns, and
that In each shop thousands of tons OF
metal were daily being prepared in
this way.
The Sultan himself was allowed to
set in motion the mammoth hammer
which began to beat and mold with
blows. each OF which was equivalent
10 100 tons, this scorching mass Of
metal
Before he left this shop little fur
ther amusement was provided for him.
lie was taken to another huge hammer
which at the moment was not in use,
and !as told by the Kaiser that SO
exact was the adjustment that tho
striking force would DO regulated to
the fraction of an ounce. While the
greatest force was 100 tons. yet It could
strike so gently as to just crack the
sholl OF = nut.
kaiser's Little Joke.
Come" said the Kaiser. you shall
test this for yourself. Place your hand
under the hammer"
The roosal startled the Sultan. who
could not be induced to try the ex-
periment unless tho Kaiser partici-
pated
With evident amusement. the Kaiser
placed his hand under the hammer, and
yifh
fancy, followed suit. The hammer was
adjusted and descended with rapld
stroke.
The Sultan WINGED, but the hammer
flew upwards again. after barely tap
ping the backs OF the two monarchs'
hands.
Now" said tho Kaiser. when the
laughter had subsidized "we will see the
turning and boring of some of the
smaller guns"
The shop was OF enormous size. and
was spanned by glass roof. This was
painted dark blue color. which cast
strange blue light over the place,
giving most curious effect. The busy
workers all appeared to have blue
skins, and the Sultan appeared some
what startled
The noise of the thousands of lathes
drilling. the roar of the engines. and
the hum of motors was terrific. I had
never experienced anything like it. and
judged by my own feelings that the |
Sultan would be greatly impressed. 1t
vas impossible to hear ones voice in
the continual din, but l could see that
Wilhelm was doing his best to make
himself heard by his guest. He led
the Sultan hitler and thither about the
shop. pointing out this or that feature.
which he thought would assist in Great
ing an impression.
The Queer Glue Tint.
hut Mahommed was i'll at ease. for
tho noise was worrying him.
Frankly, ] don't think that the visi-
tor was so interested In the wonders
Of the drilling and turning shop as he
was in tho curious blue tint which wns
over everything. Every few moments
he would glance at the glass roof. and
then at the Kaiscr's face, which looked
almost uncanny in that peculiar tint. |
Wilhelm soon observed that his guest |
was not too interested, and SO cut the
tour short.
Once outside in the open saw the
Sultan look closely at the iaiser's face. |
and then heard him ask: why is It |
that we have changed color AGAIN.
i.~~ -. 80.