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CHAPTER XVIII
TO BAPAUME
MYnotes do not contain much concerning the 27th of
October. In the first place I had a good long sleep
and the rest of the day was mostly taken up by
" attending to private business," completing my sketches and
plans and writing letters. While I was sitting in the hotel
over my late breakfast, a fine-looking officer came straight up
to my table. He smiled humorously, wondering whether I
would recognise him. Certainly I did ! In fact I called out
his name before he had time to utter a word :
" Duke Adolf
Friedrich of Mecklenburg !
"
The Duke had been a friend of mine for several years. In
the geographical world he bears a great and famous name,
thanks to his travels in Africa, which had been conscientiously
planned, most skilfully carried out and ably and entertain-
ingly described. He was now Governor of Togoland, but hap-
pened to be in Germany on leave when the war broke out.
Under these circumstances, in Germany’s great hour of
destiny, he simply could not return to Africa, and since, in
his capacity as governor of a colony, he held no military
command in the home country, he volunteered for service as
intelligence officer, and was appointed to his old army corps.
The Duke seemed glad to see me, and we sat and talked
until it was time for him to return to his duties. The upshot
was that I faithfully promised to accept his kind offer to come
to Bapaume and spend a few days with him. He said I should
not want for anything ; he himself lived in a small house,
but he would find accommodation for me near by. We were
to take trips in various directions, as just now he had plenty
of spare time ; no large operations seemed to be in prospect,
I might come whenever it suited me ; I should always be
welcome. And so we parted for the present.
I had supper with Field-marshal General von der Goltz.
296
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