[KAISER'S CLOSE CALL.]
Further details are now at hand of the Kaiser's narrow escape from death from bombs thrown by an airman attached to the allied army occupying the line from Nieuport to Ypres for five days. The Emperor was present at the operations on that front, and it was because of his presence that the enemy made such persistent and vigorous attacks on the Allies, regardless of the enormous sacrifice of life.
The Kaiser, with some of his aides, arrived by motor car at a tavern at Thielt about 5 p. m. Apartments had been reserved for the Emperor. Dinner was ready and his personal baggage had already been deposited in the bedroom prepared for him. He was in a hurry and did not dress for dinner, but immediately sat down to dine.
After the meal, instead of going to his room, he hurriedly left the tavern with two of his aides. He motored to the other end of the town, where fresh rooms were engaged. Twenty minutes after the Kaiser left the first tavern six bombs fell upon the building and the room where his baggage lay was destroyed. Two of his aides, who had remained in the tavern, were killed and the motor car in the yard wrecked.
[EXTRA! RUSSIA GOES DRY!]
The official bulletin of the Prefect of Petrograd published another addition to the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic drinks. Up to that date restaurants of the first class had the privilege of selling vodka and all other spirituous liquors in unlimited quantities. It was thought these establishments would only provide for the wealthier classes, and there was no danger of the common people being able to secure strong drink. It seems, however, that habitual topers even of the lower classes arrayed themselves in clothes finer than they had ever worn before in their lives and, putting up a bold front, have entered first class restaurants and got what they wanted.
The story goes that hatters and milliners had been doing a rushing business selling bowler hats to men and women who hitherto had worn caps and shawls. A bowler on a man and a hat on a woman being in Russia a mark of superiority, if not of intelligence, there was no ban on champagne for the wearers.
This reached the ears of the commander-in-chief of the army, who has absolute powers. He accordingly instructed prefects of police throughout Russia to prohibit the sale of vodka and strong drink of every description, even in first-class restaurants.