Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-02
A TALK WITH THE GERMAN EN-.
PEROR.

PEROR.
fairs-Tributes % the soldier ana
Generals - he War.
Poultney BiReloW, who some fifteen years ago
was Q schoolmate OF Emperor William, sent to the
New York World Of sunday an account Of an In
terview he had with the German monarch during
. long ride recently. Mr.. Bigelow says that the
most striking feature OF the conversation was the
emperor's accurate knowledge OF American affairs
and the history OF this country. he inquired par
ticuiarly about President Clevelands attitude on
the fisheries question, and followed with apprecia-
ton al that was told him about American poll
tics and campaign tactics. "In discussing the
nsheries quarrel says Mr.. Bigelow, "of course the
emperor was too diplomatic to take any side as
between England and the United States Per-
sonaiiy judged from my conversation with him
Mn, MS Is symPathies were strongly with the
The emperor inquired about the condition of the
regular army, and was intensely interested when
told OF the thoroughness OF its organization In
spite OF the smallness OF It's numbers When told
OF the efficiency OF the militia the emperor said:
Eyes, l know what an enormous number Of
troops you kept In the held during your civil war.
tempt serious ATTACK upoS y you he 20 a-
the highest manner the ieass Of our soldiers in the
civil war. Not only did he seem to care about the
subject but he showed that he knew more about
It than most young Americans OF this generation
l asked him how II was possible for him to know
80 much about the details OF q war which took
place 1900 miles away when he was a mere child.
'Wel1' said the emperor, 4 listened TO q long
course OF lectures on the principal battles of your
wal. Not only that, but every winter German on
GERS gave SIMILAR lectures which attended. We
are constantly going back to the examples set by
your generals for illustrations OF what should be
done Tor our soldiers Your army has led the way
In great many OF the most important features Of
modern warfare, and can hardly exaggerate the
debt OF gratitude Germany owes to your country
In this PARTICULAR Incidentally the emperor de-
clared That Count Moltke with whose opinions he
was familiar, could never have said that the ar.
mics in the civil war were armed mobS
"Your war;" said the emperor, gave splendid
examples OF great marching power The skill
which your troops showed In rapidly throwing
up earthworks as soon as they reached the end OF
their days march before turning In Tor the night
was remarkable. The rough-and-ready manner
In which your men jumped right into the tight as
soon as they reached the ground, not waiting for
anything, but going at the enemy wherever he
could De found, even though at the end OF long
days march--that was splendid, You had two
careers have read with much intereSt-I IDean
Lee and Stuart-while on the Northern side Sheri-
dan was the general whose work as q cavalry
omcer Is OF the greatest service to us. Your
cavalry operations In my judgment, are the most
remarkable features or your great war, owing
largely to the brlliancy of Stuart and Sheridan. |"
Mr.. Blgel0w says that the emperor'S left arm is
strong enough TO hold the reins of his horse, and
with IT strapped to his side he could thrash most
men or his age, and the trouble OF the ear from
WINCH ne suffers has been greatly exaggerated