Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-11-10
AMERICANS HAVE FINE
CHANCE TO PURCHASE
EX-KAISER'S PALACES

BERLIN, Nov. 6 P)--Americans
have chance to buy up from ten TO
a dozen former Hohenzollern castles
in Prussia. AS consequence of
the financial indemnification of and
property settlement agreement with
the former kaiser and his family,
the Prussian state finds itself in
legal possession of SO castles and
palaces and eight hunting lodges.
Officials admit that in a sense they
took number of white elephants
off the ex-kaisers hands. TO avoid
the expense Of maintenance some
of the palaces will be sold by the
staff. Few persons in Germany or
Europe have the means to buy the
elaborate residences. and it would
cause no surprise If many of them
eventually were sold to Americans.
Among those on the market is Castle
Bellevue in Berlin. 1t is valued at
81, 100000. There is no thought of
selling historical treasures like Sans
Scuci in Potsdam and the old palace
in Berlin, which like most others
will be maintained as public museums.
General Hans Won Seeckt, former
commander in chief of the German
army, will retire to secluded estate
in bavaria to write his memoirs.
His absence will nowhere De more
keenly felt than in Berlin society
circles The Won Seeckt mansion was
famous as a rendezvous of the city5
smart set
Frau Dorothea Won Seeckt, popu-
larIy known as "Dodel Seeckt," pre-
sided over a salon in which one
could find not only the leading lights
of the army and navy, but poets,
painters and musicians as well. The
general is credited with being one
of the most cultured and well read
men in Germany.
His friends refuse to believe that
his retirement from public life will
be permanent. He already is being
mentioned for the ambassadorship to
thes court of st. James, as it is
claimed his military career commands
respect at the British court, while
| his enthusiasm for sports would be
another valuable asset.
The rapid increase in passenger
air transportation has induced
hotel company to undertake the con-
struction Of 300-room hotel for
air travellers near Templehof field
of the German Air Service. All planes
of the IS national and international
lines arrive and depart from there.
The flying field is about 20 min
utes ride from the heart of the
city, and it is believed passengers
who arrive at night or wish to
depart early in the morning will
find it more convenient to live close
to the field
Nine thousand miles of improved
highways are to be built in Germany
during the next five or silk years.
The government has sanctioned a
road building project which will cost
about $2O,OOO,OOO. The highways win
criss-cross Germany from north to
south and east to west, connecting
every city Of Importance.
Karl Rutsch, dean of Berlin's host
of beer cellar owners and probably
the best known of the old type of
publican in the city, celebrated his
s0th birthday by coming down as
usual to his little saloon and res-
i taurant and putting in full day
in the active direction of his thriving
business. Karl is the oldest saloon
keeper in Berlin. His birthday was
just an ordinary days work for him.
He is still liberal, but not intem-
perate consumer of his own main
commodity-a brand of Berlin's best
brew.