The Washington times., 1919-03-16

Just what reply given to these letters was never
made public but it is known that they the subject Of
little correspondence between the American State De-
partment and the foreign offices of France and England
At any rate former Rough Riders were Forthcoming
for the Saharan army and Lebaudy reluctantly forced
offer his commissions to retired British army officers
All this time Lebaudy's preparations for establishing
empire went with amazing rapdty thanks to his
unfaggng zeal and his great wealth He had every
position in the imperial government filed from Prime
Minister down the humbles Of solutions in the palace
kitchen
One day visitor to the imperial suite in the Hotel
Savoy declined an invitation to accompany Lebaudy
African the ground that all the offices in the Saharan
Empire suitable for of his experience and ability
had already been filed.
Lebaudy had evidently not thought of that for he
seemed quite nonpussed for minute. Then suddenly he
clapped his hands and shouted:
II have it, will appoint you Minister without Port.
foliol"
"But not, I hope" said the visitor who was, like
many of those who focked to the Emperors standard
true soldier of fortune, without remuneration
Although abundanty supplied with money Lebaudy
continually involved in disputes with London trades
bills for goods and services rendered Usually
the amounts involved rdiculouSly small for it
lifelong popularity of Lebaudys to pay out large
of money without the slightest question and to make
mcredlOle amount OF 1uSS over trivial payment
Once English baf had been trying unsuccessfully
for several weeks to Lebaudy with papers in suit
over bill involving only few dollars At last he took
matters into his hands and forced his way directly
into the throne of the imperial suite at the Savoy
Hotel
The Emperor, indignant this lack of respect for his
imperial majesty fastened adjoining room, threw
few personal belongings into travelling bag and fed to
another hotel
But the English bailf-as determined as some Amer-
shers and process servers-was not be cheated
of his prey easily He calmly settled down in the throne
room and positively declined leave until the
settled After he had lived in royal style there for several
days defyng all the efforts of ebaudy hunkeys eject
him, the Emperor finally word to his imperial treas
to pay the bill.
Lebaudy never tired of being aluted by his hired
tanners and he hugely enjoyed being called by his self
assumed title of Emperor
But what Lebaudy chiefly craved was some official
recognition OF his imperial title by established gov
ernment His native France he thought had treated
him very shabbily The lack of respect shown the En-
perors flag and sovereignty he attributed personal
jealousy on the part of the officials of France
While Lebaudy did not despair of eventually bringing
the French government to its senses he thought that the
quickest way would be to obtain official recognition from
other nations crowned heads which were not hostile
The United States Government and the Russian Gov.
eminent were two widely different soveregnties and it
seemed to him that ne might win recognition from one or
both OF these nations Thus it was that Lebaudy ad-
dressed communication the United States Government