The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-24
IS
KINGS REFUGE

Geneva, Feb. 5.-Switzerland has be-
come since the armistice the refuge
of royalty. There are probably more
ex- kings ex-princes and ex-nobility in
Switzerland than in any other country
in the world.
Former Emperor Karl of Austria
Hungary has been residing at the
beautiful chateau near Geneva, since
a few days after the armistice when,
accompanied by British officers, he
was rushed across the frontier. The
lives of the imperial family were be-
lieved to be in danger in Vienna at
the time. The chateau at Prangins
belongs to Mrs. Helen Clarke of New
York. and was formerly the property
of Prince Jerome Bonaparte.
Karl spends most of his time shoot
ing, fishing and boating. His wife.
the former Empress Zita, has much to
do looking after the welfare of her five
children, one of the young archdukeS'
being in rather feeble health.
The Associated Press correspondent
met the formerly imperial couple a
few days ago. Dressed as ordinary
tourists they had come here from
Prangins on a shopping tour when the
correspondent ran across them in the
flower market. They We're unaccom-
panied and Karl was loaded with par
cells. No one took notice of the cou-
pie.
Karl greatly embarrassed the Swiss
president recently. The former en-
peror sent President Ador a message
announcing the birth of a SON. adding
''he was happy and proud to feel that
he had a son born in Switzerland, the
cradle Of the House of Hapsburgs."
The ruins Of the original chateau of
the Hapsburgs built in 1920 still exist
in the Canton of Argovie but it is said
that, owing to the fact that for more
than a century the Austrians have
been considered as hereditary enemies
of the Swiss, the Swiss president
thought the message from the former
emperor was in doubtful taste.
The former king of Bavaria, Ludwig
III, who celebrated his 18TH birthday
a few days ago with all the members
of his family, resides at Locarno. He
crossed the Swiss border a few days
after the armistice and has not re-
turned to Germany since. He spends
most of his time reading books on
the late war and motoring around the
beautiful lake Of Lugano. 1t has been
stated that he has shown signs of in
sanity, hereditary in his family and he
is always accompanied by a Munich
mental expert.
His nephew, former Crown Prince
of Bavaria, makes frequent
visits to Davos travelling more or less
His name was on the list of
Germans wanted by the allies for war
crimes and he is reported to be pre-
pairing his case in the event of extradi-
ton being granted. He is charged with
heiug the first German general to en-
ploy poisonous gas.
The grand duke and grand duchess
of Hesse came to Switzerland during
the German revolution and have been
residing here since.
The grand duchess of Mecklenburg
who has spent most of her
time in Geneva since the beginning
OF the war, recently told the CORE
spondent that, in the past five years,
she had received very few letters from
her daughter, the former Crown Prime
ess Cecilie of Germany, and attributed
the fact to the influence of the for
ner German emperor, with whom the
grand duchess smilingly acknowledged
she was persona non grata." She de-
MED, however, the report that her
iaughtes. intended TO seek a separa- |
lion from the former Crown Prince |
Frederick.
There are several other ex-princes |
n Switzerland whose chief pre- occu- |
patton is the depreciation of the mark |
and calculation how to make both |
ends meet.
All of the foregoing have been living |
quietly and have not attempted to /
Freak the rule of the Swiss govern J