rivate field kitchen. But his life is too valuable to
be risked in that way, and his personal Adjutant, von Plessen, who
watches over his Majesty like a mother or a governess, won't let him go
to the front often. His Majesty loves his soldiers and would be among
them right up at the firing line if he were not constantly watched and
kept in check by his devoted von Plessen." However, the Kaiser sleeps
within earshot of the not very distant thunder of the German heavy
artillery pounding away at Rheims, plainly heard here at night when the
wind blows from the right direction.

Of barbarism or brutality the writer saw no signs, either here or at
other French villages occupied by the Germans. The behavior of the
common soldiers toward the natives is exemplary and in most cases
kindly. There are many touches of human interest. I saw about a hundred
of the most destitute hungry townsfolk, mostly women with little
children, hanging around one of the barracks at the outskirts of the
town until after supper the German soldiers came out and distributed the
remnants of their black bread rations to them. It is not an uncommon
sight to see staff officers as well as soldiers stopping on the streets
to hand out small alms to the begging women and children. Many of the
shops in town were closed and boarded up at the approach of the
Prussians, but small hotel keepers, cafe proprietors, and tradesmen who
had the nerve to remain and keep open are very well satisfied with the
German invasion in one way, for they never made so much money before in
their lives. Most of the German soldiers garrisoned here have picked up
a few useful words of French; all of them can, and do, call for wine,
white or red, in the vernacular. Moreover, they pay for all they
[Transcriber: original 'them'] consume. I was astonished to see even the
detectives paying real money for what they drank. Several tradesmen told
me they had suffered chiefly at the hands of the French soldiers
themselves, who had helped themselves freely to their stock before
retreating, without paying, saying it was no use to leave good wine, for
the Prussian swine.

I had not prowled around the Great Headquarters for many hours when the
Secret Field Police, patrolling all the streets, showed signs of
curiosity, and to forestall the orthodox arrest and march to
headquarters (already experienced [Transcriber: original 'experience']
once, in Cologne) waited upon Lieut. Col. von Hahnke, Military