Thursday, August 20
Nineteenth day of mobilization. Ideal summer weather. Light northerly breezes. Temperature at five P.M. 16 degrees centigrade.
Good news of further French advances in Upper Alsace and the recapture of Mülhausen make Parisians cheerful. The death of the Pope during the present tension is scarcely noticed. All thoughts and expectations are centered on Belgium, where the great battle is impending.
It is announced at the Ministry of War that it was not the Tenth but the First Battalion of Chasseurs-à-Pied that captured the German regimental flag now hung in the Invalides. The French tobacco factories are working night and day to supply the armies with tobacco, for in all countries soldiers and sailors are ardent devotees to “My Lady Nicotine.” In honor of the Belgians, a special cigarette, La Liégeoise, has been produced, which is naturally tipped with cork (liége). The stock of “Virginia” has run short for supply to the British soldiers. The “Virginia,” being slightly scented, is known in France as tabac à la confiture, but large quantities are being imported from Liverpool expressly to satisfy Tommy Atkins.
I met at the War Office, M. Pégoud, inventor of “looping the loop,” who was being congratulated by M. Messimy, Minister of War. He came here to get a new aeroplane, his own having been riddled through the wings by ninety-seven bullets and two shells when he was making a raid of one hundred and eighty miles into German territory. He naturally did not tell me where he went, but simply said he crossed the Rhine with an official observer and blew up, by means of bombs, two German convoys. “Captain Fink,” he stated, “destroyed the Frascati airship shed near Metz, where there was a Zeppelin which was wrecked. He also destroyed three Taube aeroplanes, which were also in the shed.”
General Bonnal, formerly professor of strategy at the Ecole Militaire, says: “The greatest piece of good fortune for France that can be expected, is that Emperor William will take personal command of all the German armies. This is now an accomplished fact, and it gives us all immense encouragement.”