The Washington times., 1919-02-16

low and his idea in getting Lebaudy to establish king
dom in Sahara to eventually install himself as con-
fdental advisor to Emperor jacques in which capacity
he could advise the king to spend money in way that
would benefit Langerman s financial position.
Lebaudy at first rather cold to the proposition It
seemed too chimericaL The very idea of taking
vast tract of valuable land and by simple of seizure
owning and ruling and its people seemed too much
like fiction But every doubling question Lebaudy raised
Langerman answered cOnvincngly. The more Lebaudy
thought of it the more feasible il seemed and he and
Langerman began to work out the project in detail
AS Langerman drew the picture, the country was
vertabe land of promise rich in unmned precious stones
and minerals and undevelOped vegetation upon
of untold wealth and pOSsibties-of such was the
Empire of Sahara Hence any expense entailed In the
project would be negligible compared to the increment
derived little outlay would be necessary, to be sure,
but that nothing compared with what would be
gained. The country there, simply waiting to be
taken Why, it simplicity itself! The only reason
no one had taken il before he explained because
they didn't know about it, but he knew about it Because
he had been there
And so Lebaudy decided to renounce private life and
become a selfmade Emperor The plan really not
crazy Lebaudy very clear headed analysis Of
the opportunity and his efforts to grasp it plausible
The hardheaded business men Of the Standard Oil Com
pany have backed projects more hazardous
1t sixteen years ago that Lebaudys secretly
planned expedition landed the desert coast of Africa
and set up his claim of empire clash with native
tribe of Moors convinced him that military conquest
would be necessary; he withdrew, went to England
and began to recruit army, navy and royal court
crown, throne robes, court officials musicians painters
and ladies of the court.
Having established himself in the imperial suite at
the Hotel Savoy Lebaudy busted himself for several
months with these manifold details of empire
He then declared himself Emperor of the Sahara
under the title Of jacques L. and announced to all the
European that he the sovereign of this
unoccuped territory 1t consisted principally of desert
sand Five Of his sailors whom he left behind spot
captured by desert tribe and rescued with great
difficulty by the French waTship Galee. He had many
other difficulties and also disputes with govern
ments but in spite Of these he proceeded with the CStab
hment of his empire He selected the site Of his capital
the desert which he called TrOJa evidently III memory
of ancient Troy.
Lebaudy made several trips TO France, converting a
very large amount Of property into ready money and
then settled down at the Savoy with his imperial rctanerS
to the serious business Of empire building No detail
seems to have been overlooked
His Majesty procured the most complete and splendid
rcgala and insignia Of empire court and government In
the first place there his throne, which was of beautl
fully carved ivory with purple velvet seat Into the
design of the throne the palm leaf emblemac of his
African empire, worked repeatedly
lie also ordered and received a golden crown from
the first cwccr of the Rue de la Paix 1t was closed
crown surm0uned by a cross, and Splenddiy adorned
with pearls diamonds and rbeS The jewels were mcaSed
in the bends He also ordered imperial robes closely
modelled from those worn by Napoleon at his coronation
The Emperor designed two flags which he began to
being his personal imperial flag and the
other the flag Of his infant navy. His personal flag bore
three golden bees upon field of violet above them being
the imperial crown The bees evidently borrowed
from the NapolcOnic cscucheOn> lie had had beauti
fully finished gulllOne bearing his escucheOn made
France with which to execute offenders and make his
name respected in his African domains.