“It was a unique sight,” says the Paris correspondent of the London
_Daily Chronicle_, “when the members of the foreign embassies and
legations quit Paris for Bordeaux. They left in the dead of night and
their only illumination was moonlight.
“There was Sir Francis Bertie, in a black suit and bowler hat, talking
to the Italian Ambassador, who, with Signor Tittoni, were
distinguishable figures in gray and with soft felt hats. Myron T.
Herrick, the American Ambassador, had come down with his wife to say
good-by to his confrères, and M. Isvolsky, the Czar’s envoy, was
chatting with the Spanish Ambassador, who, like Mr. Herrick, is
remaining in Paris to perform the duties of courtesy that fall upon
neutrals at such a time.
“The windows of each carriage of the special train were labeled with the
names of the countries whose representatives it was carrying off. There
was even an inscription for the more or less imaginary republic of San
Marino, but no one appeared to answer to this honorific name. There were
the Persian Minister and M. Romonos, a black-bearded Greek, and the
Russian military attaché, in uniform, and _les braves Belges_, and all
sorts of servants, including a Chinese nurse, who was feeding a yellow
baby that had coal black eyes.
“At last a horn was blown and the train rolled away.
“Say what you like, it is no pleasant thing to see the world’s delegates
pack up their traps and leave the splendid city of Paris to its fate.”
“GERMANS WENT MAD”
A priest of Termonde describing the destitution of that town to a
correspondent, said:
“When the Germans attacked the town we had no guns. Our gendarmes and
soldiers fought at two or three places and drove the Germans back for
the moment, but with their numbers and equipment they could not help but
win. Our men retired in good order and blew up the bridges as they
retired. Nearly all the inhabitants left ahead of the troops. Some,
including myself, stayed and crossed the river in boats yesterday.
“The Germans had entered in the night and set the town afire. The German
soldiers seemed to go mad. They ran about setting the houses alight and
shouting, ‘This is how we will burn Antwerp in three days!’ Nobody
seemed to be in command, but I suppose that the burning was ordered.”