The San Francisco call., 1899-10-08
APATHY At THE
BERLIN CONGRESS
American Geographers
Are Criticized.
Copyrighted. 1898, by the Associated Press,

BERLIN, Oct. 7.-PubHc opinion has
been much more deeply engrossed this
week in following the proceedings of the
International Geographical Congress and
the sensational developments of the trial
of the persons accused Of gambling at the
Club der Harmlosen than with the Trans
vaal situation, although South African
affairs are being followed by keen solicit
tude by the Government and political
men. There was considerable comment
among the delegates to the Congress, as
well as on the part Of the public, during
the sitdngs regarding the relatively un-
important share taken by the United
States While the whole body Of dele
gates numbered some 1890, those from the
United States were fewer than q dozen,
Of whom General Greedy, though repre-
did not present paper and took only an
insignificant part in the transactions.
Major II. I. Allen. attache of the United
States Embassy, who was an official dele
gate, was too busy In making his prep
erauons TO return home to devote himself
10 the business of the congress.
Arthur Z. Jackson, the explorer, and
Professor Ross of New York did not put
in an appearance, while Marcus Baker
only appeared at the last moment. Pro-
fessor Davis Of Harvard University was
obliged TO leave in the very midst OF the
proceedings. With the exception OF the
paper Of Mrs. Zeha INITIAL, which was
that of Poultney Bigelow on Colonial
Administration" which contained some
startling assertions, there was no sJrlk-
ing American feature throughout the SIT
ting,
II is largely due to this that the next
congress will not meet in Washington, as
Professor Bryant Of Philadelphia pro
posed. His suggestion was not packed up
with any vigor nor by the requisite num-
Der Of delegates. Among Its supporters
the Americans, half Of whom were women,
were quite lost. Several members crlu-
cized the fact that the United States did
not present report Of the dolngS Oh the
Hydrographic Office, especially regarding
its unrivaled polar charts, which are the
best of their kind in the world, and about
which the congress had been ANXIOUS 10
hear. The expectation was that detailed
report on this subject would be the 1eat-
ure Of the American share in the proceed
tngs. The Americans, however, parllci-
pated fully in the social attentions shown
the congress.
The sensational trial of the Club der
Harmlosen has stirred fashionable and
sporting circles to the very depths.
A peculiar feature Of the case IS that
some Of the witnesses belong to the I'M
mediate encourage Of Emperor William
the empire and many who belong TO the
guard regiments are implicated, as well
as experts on the correct way of playing
baCcarat. and men OF the highest faShlon,
like Count Won RenyenuoW OF the Union
Club.
There was considerable difficulty in get
ting the experts to appear. one OF the
most notorious gambling houses in Ber-
lin, when asked to furnish experts, re-
piled that this was impossible, as It's
members We're not allowed TO gamble
Many important witnesses We're absent.
Some excused themselves on the ground
that they had gone bear hunting in Nor
way or were about starting for Africa for
q year or had sudden illness. Others, like
Lieutenant Won SChrader, committed sui
eide, or like Count Won Stosh and Baron
Won Neimps fed to the United States. Two
prominent men Of the club, Count Eglof-
stein and Count Won huSSeroW, are aC-
cused of defalcations.
Wolff, the founder OF the club, has gone
TO parts unknown. 1t was proved that
he had been convicted of theft and had
served a term in prison, although most OF
the witnesses asserted that he was man
of excellent demeanOr and perfect man
ners whence his nickname Gentleman
Wolff" Count Flattan, although his evil
dence would have been Of the most i'm
portant character, was excused from tes-
tifying. General Won Kroech, father of
one of the defendants, the commander Of
an army corps and an intimate adviser
of Emperor William, refused to appear.
His son admitted that he had been guilty
of fleeing.
In we'll informed army circles It is as
serted that Emperor William not only
wants the matter thoroughly sifted but
intends that the trial shall be followed by
an extensive wedding out of gamblers and
otherwise undesirable officers 1t is as
serted that there are 270 of this stripe
quartered in sixteen garrisons who will
come within the category Of offenders.