The San Francisco call., 1897-01-03
BRILLIANT I EVENTS
IN THE FATHERLAND.
Diplomats Hold a Grand
Reception On New
Years Day.
Emperor William Delivers a
Characteristic Address to
the Generals.
Says the Armaments of Germany
Must Be Kept In Pace With
Other Nations.

BERLIN. GERMANY, Jan. 2.-The New
Years reception given by the diplomatic
corps yesterday was a brilliant event.
The reception was held in Marble Hall OF
the Schloss and was very largely attended,
nearly all of the Embassadors and Min
listers accredited to the German court be.
ing present. The Emperor was in ex-
cellent spirits and Immediately after he
entered the hall mingled vi, h the guests.
greeting them with cordial hand-shakings
and cheerful smiles. His Majesty was
especially agreeable to United States En-
bassador Uhl, with whom he conversed
for some time, inquiring as to President
Cleveland's health, asking how Mr.. Uhl
liked Berlin, etc. The Kaiser also spoke
admiringly of the growth and prosperity
of the United States and showed himself
10 be well informed upon the political
affairs and economic conditions OF the
American republic. Despite the depress-
ing weather which prevailed on Friday
the other court festivities proceeded with
the usual gayety.
Inter den Linden and adjacent streets
were thronged with people at day break,
many of those in the crowds having re-
mained in their places throughout the
night IN orGer to be in position to see the
official celebration of the day. At s
O'Clock in the morning all infantry of the
garrison marched from the Schloss to the
Brandenburg gate and back, each regiment
with its band playing popular airs.
At 10 o'clock religious services were held
in the chapel of the Schloss, lasting forty
minutes. The entire imperial family was
present. The Emperor entered the chapel
giving his arm to his mother, and the En-
press was escorted by Prince Arnolph of
Bavaria. After the services in the chapel
the Emperor and Empress held recep-
tion in the White Hall of the Schloss,
where their majesties received the con-
gratulahons OF the court. The military
officers wore parade uniforms. The EN-
peror next went 10 the Rittersaal (the
Hall of the Knights), where he delivered
brief address to the generals who had as
sembled to receive him.
Accounts vary as to the nature of his
Maiesty's speech, but it is asserted upon
good authority that he referred to the bill
before the Reichstag providing for the
augmentation of the artillery arm of the
military service, declaring that the arma-
those of other nations. The Emperor is
also quoted as saying that the year 1897
must see the task of increasing the
strength of the artillery service achieved.
Leaving the Rittersaal the Kaiser went
to the arsenal, here the officers of the
entire garrison of Berlin were Assem- bled.
To these he gave the watchword of the
day, and in the afternoon he made several
private visits. At 6 o'clock the Emperor
dined with his family. The approaches
to the SchIoss were crowded with sight
seers until long after dark.
The opposition of the German stock and
produce exchanges to the new Bourse law
prohibiting future transactions and i'm
posing other restrictions upon Bourse
trading was the subject of discussion a:
the special Ministerial council which was
held on Wednesday. The meeting was
called to order by DR.. Won Boetticher
e-prasident of the Council of Ministers,
who presided, when the Emperor sud-
denly made his appearance and took the
chair, which ne occupied for two hours.
On Tuesday another meeting was held,
with the Imperial Chancellor, Prince
Hohenlohe in the chair. The calling of
these TWO meetings, which occurred only
twenty-four hours apart is clearly indica-
tive OF the gravity of this trouble, as it is
regarded by the Ministry, and the discus
sion OF the subject by the Ministers was
in the direction of devising means to over
come it.
Nothing is known of the proceedings of
the council at which the Emperor pre-
sided, but it is known that the meeting
presided over by Prince Hohenlohe took
into consideration the effects of the resolu-
ton passed by the Berlin Produce Ex-
change declaring that that organization
would continue business under the new
law only in the capacity OF free assoca-