The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-24
GERMANS AFTER NAVAL GLORY
THE COLONIAL SOCIETY WANTS A
MONSTER FLEET.

Berlin, Feb. 23-The emperor favored |
the nation with two of his characteristic |
oratOrical performances last week. The
first and most notable one was given on
Thursday upon the occasion Of the annual
dinner given by the governor OF Bran
denburg to the members of the Branden-
burg Diet, a function which his majesty
always graces with his presence and plati-
tudes. On this occasion a proposal of the
silver jubilee of the empire. the kaiser
after making flowery and sentimental ref
erences TO heavens special grace TO the
empire and the imperial house, proceed
ed to inculcate in the minds of his hear
ers the lesson OF the duty OF the nation In
the future.
What we have Witnessed" said his ma
jesty. "and what has been effected. we
owe solely to the great Emperor VIII
liam and his trust in God. The entire
celebrations in commemoration OF the VIC
tories of the German armies, which were
held IN 1895, eliminated in the glorihca-
ton OF his personality, which has be-
come nothing less than holy to us. 1t is
our sacred duty to preserve his person
ality and hallowed memory against all
comers."
The kaiser's adulation of his grand
rather has never run to greater lengths
tnan upon this occasion, nor has his ex-
ciusion of all reference to Prince Ris-
marck and the eX-chancellor's co-Work-
ers in the foundation of the empire been
more marked. Nevertheless his majestys
utterances We're dutifully and farVently
acclaimed.
The address delivered by the emperor
upon the occasion of his swearing I'M Of
the naval recruits at Wilhelmshaven on
FRIDAY was modelled after his remarks up-
on similar occasions I'm the past. Speak
ing OF the German navy. the kaiser said
~ a
with the navies of some of the other pow
ers, IL was still In progress Of growth The
absence from his remarks OF anything
niore encouraging to the hopes of the
Chauvinists than the foregoing utterance
caused great disappointment. especially
10 those who are eXerting every nossibla
EFFORT 10 extend the colonial possessions of
Germany. Those standing foremost i'm the
endeavor to forward Germany's colonial
interests, led by DR. Peters, the African
explorer, have entered into an agitation
Tor an unlimited increase Of the German
The annual meeting of the Berlin branch
or the German Colonial Association has
just elected DIR. Peters president of the as
Sociation, ousting Prince Arenberg whose
loyalty TO the colonial cause. combined
| with his moderation. has commanded gem
eral respect for him. The expanding fer
! yor of the colonial enthusiasts. however,
uenlanded a more energetic and pushing
| leader and their views have found an ex-
/ ponent in DR.. Peters, who is a fanatical
! advocate of a greater Germany and "a DOl-
/
auction in the reichstag of a navy bill de-
I manding large increase of ships, men
/ and guns, and il is widely believed that his
| course is prompted. at least indirectly, by
! the emperor. Some of the speakers
/ IN the budget committee which was deal
ing with the colonial estimates last week
/ strongly condemned the attitude assumed
| by DR.. Peters. His defenders in the COM
| mittee attempted to explain some of the
| objections made to him, but they were
met with criticisms which they could not
combat. Some of the Doctors critics re-
minded his defenders that the government
| was paying DR.. Peters 5000 marks a year
| for doing nothing while he was spending
| his leisure time in agitating a policy to
| which the ministers of state were nomi-
| nally opposed. On the evening following
| this discussion In the committee DR.. Pc
| ters addressing the Berlin branch of the
| German Colonial Association, Justified his
| attitude and declared that he had been
| prompted i'm his course by Duke John of
| Mecklenburgh-Schw the president OF
| the German Colonial Society, who he said
| had informed him that since the society
| had thrown its whole energy into the
| Transvaal question 1t was bound TO sup
| port the emperor in his efforts to strength
! en- the power of the nation beyond the
seas. Therefore. he said the central COM
mittee would make the question of increas-
ing the navy the leading plank in their
| platform.
The National Zeitung in an article on the
| subject warns the colonial agitators 20
leave the question of increasing the navy
| to the Reichstag, where II belongs.
The Boersen Zeitung asserts that the CO.
| lonial department of foreign affairs has
written to DR.. Peters pointedly, direct
ing his attention to his duties as an inn
perial officer on half pay.
Whatever may be the private aspira-
| tiOnS of the emperor and his ministers,
| there is little prospect that the agitation
of he colonial party will be successful
in moving the public, which at present
continues TO be satisfied that they are
| sufficiently taxed to meet the expendi-
| lures involved in maintaining the army.
Even If extensive shipbuilding were med
Z sl,a ha
yards would be unable to undertake the
work. as they are already fully occupied
with work, which will keep them going
at their full capacity for two years TO
branch of the German Colonial So
ciety was inaugurated in Hamburg on
Feb. q with great eclat. Duke John of
ecklenburg-Schwerin presided, and res
olutions were passed declaring that an
| Increase or the number OF German cruls-
ers was tmperatively necessary. Hun
dreds of applications for membership
were received at the meeting.
Prince Bismarck received at Friedrichs-
ruhe on Saturday a deputation of con-
servatives and others styling themselves
| the parties Of law and order, from the
his usual health and in reply to an adj
dress presented by the deputation, re-
viewed the events Of the Franco-Prussian
conflict, an epoch he said, which was
unavoidable as paving the way for ul-
terror achievements. He was rejoiced, he
said to see that the parties represent
the government to complete what had
been gained by the war of 1870, instead of
forming into separate factions.
The lack of generosity on the part of
the former friends of Baron Won Hammer
stein, the former conservative leader and
editor-in-chief of the Kreuz Zeitung, who
is now in Jail here under charges Of for
gerry and ernbezzlement, is being severe
iy criticised. They have not even paid
into the court the trifing sum whicn
would enable him to obtain his meals from
a common restaurant pending his trial,
and in consequence, he has been compelled
to eat the ordinary prison fare. An ex-
French officer, who, while a prisoner OF
war in 1870, came into contact with Baron
Won Hammerstein, has interested him.
self in behalf of Baron Won Hammerstein
and his family. He has provided Baron
Won Hammerstein's wife and children
with quarters and has also supplied them
with food and money. He also paid into
the court the sum of 200 marks for the
purpose of Furnishing Baron Won Hammer
stein with meals from a restaurant out
side the prison, and in a letter accom-
panying the money mentions his grateful
memory of the kindness he received at
the hands of Baron Won Hammerstein and
others while ne was prisoner in the
hands Of the Germans.
rrt,-a. cnofalfef r.auara dac1ara that 10 he