The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-06-02
OUR WAR SHIPS ABROAD.
.courfesies which Their Commander
show To Foreign P~otsntates.

.-ourfesies Which Their commander
show To Foreign P~otsntatss.
Most OF the nations represented by
war vessels in the naval parades here
and at Norfolk are only returning cour
tesies repeatedly shown them BY the
navy Of the United States. This gov.
ernnent pays its respects to foreign ma.
tons not only by means of diplomatic
service, but through the ships Of the
navy. and every officer fifteen years in
the service has taken part in Uncle
sans proxy visits all over the world.
The slip bearing our card Of good viii
10 foreign nations conveys the as.
surance of Uncle Sans distin.
ruishcd consideration la a dozen
lands in the course of "a three-years
voyage. II aseaport visited happenst to
be a capital. the captain. with as many
OF the officers ms can be spared. the
ships music and n guard of n dozer
marines. goes 10 call upon the sovereign.
These friendly demonstrations are not
confined to the sovereigns Of great ma
tons. but are often accorded to petty
potentates to whom the United states
sends no diplomatic representatives.
The sultan of the Comoro islands. q
black polygamist Of '~slave-catching in
~stincts. was honored with a visit from
an American man-of-war a few Years
ago. and the monarch's return call was
made while his own ~gunboats were on
the other side of the ship selling fruit
t. the sailors. Ii WAS the almost-naked
sovereign of a Pacific group that beg
ged an earthen scup-ladle from the
ward-room of an American man-of-war
upon one ceremonious visit, and upon
his next cali wore the ladle fan.
tastically as a part of his scant cos
tune. The proxy who transacts public
business of ceremonious nature for the
king Of Siam received the officers OF az
American man-of-wsr with great pomr
and m%oinentarily embarrassed the cap
tain by causing cigars to be passed
round. As the proxy kingdid not take
II the captain was in doubt whether
10 smoke in so august "A presence unit
the young officer in attendance struck
a light. when everybody followed h,
example. and ease was restored.
When a seaport visited is not n CAPT
tai, the ship sometimes pays Uncle
Sans respects 10 the mayor. In that
case the captain gDes 10 the city hal.
with one or two officers as aides anc
listens To whatever polite speeches the
mayor may have TO make. Mayors US
ually return these visits in person. anc
are asked 10 drinb with the captain
~Sovereigns send n proxy. who is re
ceived with the presidents salute Of
", rty-one guns and served with as
me liquor as he can hold.
: i in the Mediterranean. the great
ports of China and Japan. and at Mon
teviico and Rio Janeiro that the ships
of the United States navy encounter
those of other nations. and the ex.
change of courtesics is often lively.
There are growing out of these hospi
t~alities odd stories of revenge. not be
cause 81 physical attack. but in return
for : .cccs>ful assaults upon the sobricty
of s~hipmates. The proverbial drinking
capacity of the Russians is true even OF
their chaplains. but a ward room yarns
are to be trusted. even Russian officers
have been forced TO quit the table by
Uncle Sans men. As to English Off.
GERS. they have succumbed again and
again ~ the Yankees, and been sent ur
over the sides of their ships in a condi-
ton rejecting small credit upon her
majes.y's scrvicc.-N. y. sun.