America and The War - Sympathy with the Allies - Bernardhi’s Mission

An English resident in New York, writing to a member of the “Rushden Echo” staff, says:-

“The American people are on the side of the Allies and have sent many ship loads of clothes and food both to the soldiers fighting and to the hungry Belgians. There are a great many naturalised Americans of German parentage; even some of them sympathise with the Allies. But there is a great deal of advertising done here for the German side. For instance, General Von Bernardhi, with the permission of the Kaiser, is sending a series of articles on the war to the ‘Sun,’ a very moderate daily New York paper. This morning I see in big letters ‘England the Cause of the Outbreak. Victory for Germany.’ It is riling when one knows the truth to be otherwise. Of course, just now affairs in Mexico are very serious. Mr. Wilson is having a troublesome time as President. It was announced that for three weeks he would not receive any visitors, but was going to make a deep study of the political situation.”

Lights Out

Instructions were received last night by the Rushden Police by telephone at about 7 p.m. to notify the proprietors of all factories, and the most brilliantly lighted establishments in the town to be prepared to extinguish all lights at 15 minutes’ notice. As a precaution all the street lamps and principal shop lamps were extinguished by about 9.30 p.m. and the lights of Lord John Sanger’s circus were shaded. This order was probably due to the presence in Essex of hostile aircraft. The police authorities are gratified at the promptitude shown by the townsfolk generally in complying with the order.

Lord John Sanger’s circus and menagerie, which visited Rushden yesterday, was a decided attraction and proved to be a magnificent show. The tents were pitched yesterday morning in Bayes’ Field, Washbrook-road. There were two performances, at 2.30 and 8 p.m., and both were well patronised. The chief feature of the programme was the grand Cossack display, a realistic exhibition of the fine horsemanship of the Russian cavalry in war-time, and of the peculiar and fascinating way in which the Russian peasants dance. Other very interesting and original items were the four performing sea-lions, which executed a series of very clever and comical tricks, comprising balancing, tumbling, ball-spinning, etc.; the flying Danes, in a skilful aerial gymnastic display; the elephants’ gymnasium; and a clever exhibition of wire-walking, including Pimpo’s wire-walking elephant; and many other attractive features. An element of fun was introduced throughout the show by Pimpo, the equestrian comedian. He was quite a source of delight for the children and his comical antics provoked much mirth. A good programme of music was provided by the band, which was conducted by Mr. J. Perry. After each performance all the animals were exhibited and fed in the menagerie.