Some Historical Chess Tidbits

I came across a few entertaining items in the 1915 American Chess Bulletin, all reprinted from other sources, that I thought I'd pass on:

 "A problemist, says the Falkirk 'Herald,' has sent us the following extract from the London 'Evening News' of October 13, with a few impromptu lines suggested by this remarkable incident:
Checkmate.—When we captured the German trenches over the Aisne one of the strangest things we found was a chessboard, with the pieces arranged in the middle of a game and the two players lying dead ; beside it. They had been hit by fragments of shell, but the strange thing was that the board should not have been disturbed by the explosion. Near by were the bodies of other men who had probably been watching the game.
—A Private of the Royal Fusiliers at Nottingham."

"Blackburne tells a good story of Harrwitz, the celebrated chess player. The latter was playing a game at a London club, and his opponent had just attacked a Knight with a Pawn. Harrwitz saw that if the Knight were captured he could force a mate in four moves, but feared that if he abandoned the Knight suspicion would be aroused and his little scheme' frustrated. How was his opponent to be thrown off his guard? He hit upon the ingenious expedient of making a false move with the attacked Knight. His opponent, of course, claimed the usual penalty of compelling him to move his King. Remonstrances were in vain; the laws of the game must be adhered to, and with well simulated disgust at his own stupidity, Harrwitz replaced the Knight and moved his King. His opponent innocently snapped up the Knight, whereupon the shockingly wily German blandly announced his mate in four.
—Melbourne 'Leader.'"

"General Joffre and Chess. [Gen. Joffre was a WWI French general of Catalan origins who wn the first Battle of the Marne]
Paris is said to be smiling at a story which is going the rounds concerning General Joffre. During a visit to the trenches he came across two soldiers deep in a game of chess, a pastime at which, needless to say, the famous general is an adept. The men were absorbed in the game and failed to notice their distinguished spectator. Suddenly he broke out. 'Move that Pawn,' he ordered, and then, 'Push up that one.' The startled player looked up. What could he do but obey the orders of his commander-in-chief, which turned out to be the winning tactics.—'Glasgow Citizen.'"

Amusing and sad. Thanks, batgirl

The story of Blackburne reminds me of Fischer's comment on psychology in chess, that he didn't believe in it, he only believed in good moves.

I suppose if confronted with the whole story Fischer would give the 'King move' two exclamation points.

Fun stories, all.