Mumm's Champagne Business on Offer The French Government are now advertising for sale by auction the huge stocks of champagne and the trade niarks formerly belonging to the well-known firm of Mumm & Cov., of Rheims, which were placed under sequestration at the beginning of war as the proof enemy subjects. The Stumm, and one of his brothers, of the business, Baron de
were officers in the German Army, and succeeded in escaping across the frontier just before the war broke out in order to serve in the enemy forces. A third brother was ted and sent to a concentra-camp in France. comprise about eight million bot-ties of champagne sand over 540,000 litres in barrels. The rest of the property includes large buildings at Rheims and other places in. the Champagne district, together with over 100 acres vineyards jin full growth.
The sale of the property was expected to take place at the Law Courts in ruined Rheims on July 28 in a single lot. It has been reported that British, French, American, and mixed syndicates had been uiaking efforts to purchase the property by private treaty. One of these, it is understood, was prepared to offer £5,- 000,000 sterling for it. By far the greater part of the wine is from prewar vintages. The Germans occupied Rheims for about a fortnight in 1914, but felt so sure of victory that they left the cham-Pagne stocks alone, temporarily as they thought. Their unexpected retreat after the battle of the Marne deprived them of—this plunder for ever Tue "Times of India's" London correspondent says:—It is unlike-Jy that any announcement of the new Viveroy will be made for several months. It may well be that the Prime Minister will seek to avoid the further controversy which might be aroused were he to recommend Mr. Montagu for the Vicercyalty by the nomination of another er who has been brought in fairly close contact with Indian affairs and who has shown in many ways sympathy for and an insight into Indian aspirations and who has grace and a literary touch in speech which recalls Lord Morley." The correspondent refers. to Mr. Herbert Fisher, one of the candidates for the Ambassadorship in Washington, The others names mentioned are those of Lord Wim-bourne, brother of Lady Chelmsford, and the Earl of Athlone, but in any case Lord Chelmsford will remain in India until April.
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