Good news of further French advances in Upper Alsace and the recapture of Muelhausen 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-a-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 Liegeoise_, has been produced, which is naturally tipped with cork (_liege_). The stock of "Virginia" has run short for supply to the British soldiers. The "Virginia," being slightly scented, is known in France as _tabac a la confiture_, but large quantities are being imported from Liverpool expressly to satisfy Tommy Atkins. I met at the War Office, M. Pegoud, 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." [Illustration: From _L'Illustration._ Flag of the 132nd German Infantry Regiment. Captured at Saint-Blaise by the 1st Battalion of Chasseurs a Pied (riflemen) and exhibited at a window of the Ministry of War.] _Friday, August 21._ Twentieth day of mobilization. Threatening weather with overcast sky. Northwesterly wind. Temperature at five P.M. 19 degrees centigrade. No clouds prevented the eclipse of the sun from being seen in Paris. Most people however were profoundly indifferent to the celestial phenomena.