The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-19
CLOSED IN BY AN ARENA.
Citizens and Troops Thronged
to the Scene of the
Festival.
DEDICATED BY THE EMPEROR.
Thousands From Other Countries
Witnessed the Imposing
Ceremony.

BERLIN, GERMANY, Aug. 18.-The
foundation of the monument to
Emperor William I was laid to-day by his
grandson, Emperor William II, with the
most impressive ceremonies. The former
Schloss Freiheit, where the monument is
to be erected, was converted into a closed
arena for the occupancy of the many
guests who had been invited to attend the
ceremony. Huge galleries for privileged.
spectators fanked the north and south
sides of the arena, while on the west side,
which borders the River Spree, high
wooden board fence had been erected,
draped with the German and Prussian
colors. Four pillars surmounted by mighty
golden eagles divided this draped wallinto
three spaces. Before the center space there
was erected a spacious tent for the use of
the Emperor. This tent was decorated
with crimson velvet, hon heads, iron
crosses and oak and laurel wreaths. From
the imperial tent a broad stairway
descended to the spot where the stand was
placed within a semi-circle of Venetian
masts, trimmed with bunting and banners
and connected with festoons of live oak.
The whole fest platz was surrounded by
soldiers, who kept the great crowds back
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the use of the Emperor and his guests.
The weather was splendid. At an early
hour the streets were alive with throngs
of citizens and with troops marching to
the place of the festival. All the infantry
and cavalry regiments had their standards
decorated with oak wreaths and the guns
of the artillery were also appropriately
decorated. A vast crowd surged along
Inter den Linden, all anxious to secure
points of vantage from which they could
view the ceremonies. Thousands of people
from other cities were in Berlin and vet
erans from all parts of the empire and
from other countries, notably America,
could be observed everywhere. Strings Of
carriages passed along the streets, officers
in them wearing glittering uniforms, while
the lady occupants were attired in brilliant
toilets. Count Herbert Bismarck was
much observed and was heartily greeted
by those who recognized him.
At haf-past o'clock the royal person
ages assembled in the pavilion of the EN-
peror. There were alo present the men,
bers of the Bundesrath and Reichstag,
who had been invited to tap the stone.
All had to wait for considerable time the
coming of the Emperor.
AS his Majesty emerged from the third
gate of the palace he was greeted with
flourish of trumpets. AS he came out and
stood by the stone Chancellor Won Hohen-
lohe rendered him an address, which his
Majesty read. After he had read little
time the bells in the churches in the
vicinity struck the hour of 9 and this
drowned part of the text.
The address read: "In the name of the
soyereigns and free cities of the empire we
lay the foundations of the memorial
to Emperor William the Great, which was
voted unanimously by the Reichstag.' He,
to whom it was reserved to fight for the
liberation of Germany from foreign oppres-
sion, gave to the German tribes their long
yearned-for unity and powerful position
in the states of the world. He gave to
Germany not only her army and navy, but
her trade, commerce, arts and sciences
also. To his enlightened initiative Ger
many owes the first step toward the prac-
tical furtherance of the interests of the