San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-14


Copyright, 1898.
Essen. Feb. 14.-kaiser Nilnelms
life-size portrait in the Hotel Kaiser
hof here has looked down upon many
strange scenes, from coal barons sup
pers 10 the communist meetings when
the Spartacists held bssen for brfei
perioa, but -thet portrait heYer before
saw stranger SHUTS than. it witnessed
last night under The French occupa-
ton. The hotel was in almost com
hpletc darkness because the boycott
against the French includes light. The
electric light cable had been cut some
where and the French engineers and
also the neutral guests in the botel
were forced TO wander about with
candles and to attend their wants
as best they could.
The Pickering light of the candles
threw strangely shaped shadows on
the walls. There were officers IN
uniform and soldiers with fixed bayo-
nets guarding other soldiers pceling
potatoes for the next meal. Newspaper
conferences were held in the darkness
and news reported were intermingied
with orders from the French steward
TO the soldier cooks.
Kaiser's Picture Untouched.
But the kaiser never changes his
expression. He is safe for the French
have given strict orders that the por-
trait is not TO be touched. The French
have ordered the city authorities TO
Turn on the electric current under
penalty of shutting off the power
from the entire city. Possibly as in
the case Of Oberhsusen the mayor
will be arrested. General Fournier,
has issued an order to close all shops
refusing to sell TO the French and au
thorizjng the use of force. The sup
plies in the hotels and restaurants
have been requisitioned to permit the
French TO organize their own messes
In Recklinghausep the boycott has
been settled by the French agreeing
not TO purchase food or Other. neces-
sites except in small quantities. The
shops there are reopening.
The boycott in Essen began in earn
est yesterday morning when the res
taurnnts refused TO serve the French.
In one hotel the French took over the
entire plant. organized the kitchen
and closed the restaurant 10 Germans.
In the Hotel Kaiserhof, the French
headquarters, the entire personnel
walked out carrying away their be-
longings and also the silyerware and
linen. Even the barber packed up
bis tools and left the hotel. At noon
many who came TO the restaurant
went away hungry for the walters
had deserted early in the day. Final
" even the bell boys shook hands with
the manager and left -
Soldiers Cook Meals.
The hotel being left entirely in the
hands of the French they quickly
improvised kitchen. Soldiers brought
two taxieabs full of army bread and
van brought meat and timed
goods. Soldiers were detailed to pre-
pare the meals.
Trouble began Sunday night when
Germans molested French soldiers in
the cafes and restaurants. There were
several rows and finally. French sol
diers patrolled the streets and scat
tered the crowds. A number Of per-
sons were prodded with bayonets, but
no one was seriously hurt. At one
time two mounted German policemen
led detachment of French infantry
along the principal street Shots were
fired, but no one was hit. Last night
arniored cars with machine guns were
guarding the station square and the