New-York tribune., 1921-11-27

~ occupy the "sanatorium" built
by William Hohenzollern in
~ 1902 and shelled by his sub
marines in 1916! How the gods must
laugh! Had the once German ruler
been exiled to the gliostly sanatorium
in Funchal, Madeira, the whole world
would have voted it demoniacal irony.
That the ex-Emperor of Austria is to
make his last home there is, however.
little short of that, for Charles can
scarce escape the gurgling mirth of
the weird spector that stalks. his steps
as he stumbles wore the protruding
cobblestones of his new home.
This old sanatoriunl was built
through far-f1ung intrigue--Gern
intrigue. was there and watched it's
huge, white walls go up. I was still
there when the money-spending Casino
habitues and the whole force Of Ger
man workmen from the architect down
we're conducted out Of the harbor of
Funchal by British gunboats.
( That was in 1909, German agents
came to Funchal and laid before the
Civil Governor of the islands of
Madeira, one Of the poor little posses
sions of bankrupt Portugal, PROPOSE
tion innocent looking and profit-shar-
ing. Germany was to be allowed to
purchase-oh, no, not Germany, but a
German syndicate--a tract of eighty
acres back against the sunny noun
tain side and thereon erect a huge
sanatorium for consumptives, Madeira
to have fifty of it's beds, with equal
care and medical attention in per-
, petuity. Sounded good, didn't it?
The German count who brought the
proposals entertained lavishly. He
played heavily at roulette and lost, in
gratiatingly, at the Casino The deeds
were made out, the building begun
Funchal, never prosperous--how could
she be?---was to feed, clothe and serve
the vast force needed for the enormous
enterprise.
Then Overconfident Count
Makes First False. Move
Then the count, with the usual Ger
man overconfidence, made his first sus
picious move. He purchased quarter.
mile strip of shore land between the
Loo Rock Fortress, at the harboY
mouth. and Reid's Palace Hotel. He
gave out that he would build q costly
villa, "quinta," rs they are called in
Portuguese. The sea front was to be
extended, private quay for his ocean
going yacht and anchorage for friends
he could promise as frequent visitors
The rich Funchalese put him up at
their clubs and regarded this new
spender as the best addition to their
set since the Prince of Monaco; few
years before had tried to put out OF
business this out Of the way place that
threatened his Monte Carlo. In fact
all Funchal frightened. The. news
leaked through the thatch Of the lowe st
hovel. Now, thought the dollar-a-
month laborer, perhaps he-w to have
meat oftener than Just at Christmas!
But when the counts foreign drafts
which he had given in payment for the
new purchases went through tho legal
counting house Of Blandy's to London
tor clearance susnicion was excited
that two such large German deals
should be made within relatively
short time. England, you know, has
been Portugars protector since thei,
King Charles married Katherine Of
Braganza. The London Foreign Office
communicated with it's l;eutenants il
Berlin. The German counts identity
was traced to the secret service depart
ment of his government.
England sent cabls to Gibraltar
its nearest naval base to Madeira
Within twenty-four hours feet Of
four war vessels steamed around tn.
Gabo de Garajoa, the huge promontory
east Of the town.
From my quinta In the gardens a
the Palace Hotel l saw them. Hurry.
ing to the carro-de-bois that eaci
morning came to my gate for my mar,
/ kfttng trip, Yfwas room joltsd cysk ths