As we strolled about I noticed the departure of the Royal train and the arrival of a munition train, including several trucks laden with Fokker monoplanes. I do not claim to any special knowledge of aeroplanes, but these new Fokkers struck me as having a very great wing expanse. For the purpose of railway transport the wings were fastened back and the engines carefully covered. A Fokker monoplane is so long that it occupies practically the whole of two large trucks. FOOTNOTE: [1] As I correct the proofs, February 15th, I read on the authority of the _Morning Post’s_ Athens correspondent, that some time ago three of the best Bulgarian divisions on the Doiran front were withdrawn to Sofia, where they were clothed as Germans, afterwards returning to their stations! CHAPTER X THE BANQUET AT NISH The Banqueting Hall--A Small Gathering--The Menu--The Kaiser and King Ferdinand--Von Falkenhayn--An Impressive Figure--The Kaiser’s Health--His Poor Appetite--Constant Coughing--King Ferdinand’s Triumph--The Bulgarian Princes--German Journalism--A Bombastic Oration--“Hail, Cæsar!”--The Kaiser’s Unspoken Reply--The Hour of “The Fox”--The End of an Historic Function--The Post Office Closed. The Banquet was held in the Town Hall of Nish. The banqueting-room was profusely decorated with the flags and the colours of the Germanic Powers, although Austria is not in great evidence at Nish, having apparently made Belgrade her headquarters. When I entered the room I was surprised to find that the function was to be a comparatively small one. There were not more than fifty covers, and several of the places were empty, the actual attendance being about forty. The band of the Life Guards, numbering about twenty, was ensconced behind palms, and played a programme of music which is here reproduced. [Illustration: Leib-Garde-Regiment Musik-Programm für die Königliche Mittagstafel am 18. Januar 1916 1. Polonaise Bubeck 2. Ruy Blas--Ouverture Mendelsohn 3. “Hussarenwalzer” Ziehrer 4. “Tannhäuser” Fantasie Wagner 5. “Die Zauber-Quelle” Atanassow 6. “Zigeunerfest” Lehar 7. “Meistersinger” Potpourri Wagner 8. “Valse brillante” Chopain 9. “Der fliegende Hollander” Wagner 10. Balkanmarsch Skordew PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AT THE NISH BANQUET] There were three tables, forming three sides of a square; or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, parallelogram. They were simply decorated with roses and early spring flowers, yellow being the predominating colour. The Banquet, of which simplicity was the predominating feature, was served by Bulgarian soldier servants. The menu card is reproduced here, and I append a translation. THE KAISER’S MENU. BALKAN DISHES. [_Translation._] NISH, JANUARY 18, 1916. ROYAL DINNER.