The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-27
NOW 1T is KAUTz.
Punishment of Pri-
vate Letter Stirs
Up Washington.
MAY BE CENSURED.
Incident Is a Curious Sc
quel to the Coghlan
Episode.

Washington, April 26.-The puOlica-
ton of Admiral Kautz's letter referring
to his position at Samoa, created con-
sternation at the navy and state de-
partments at first reading, but there
was soon exhibited disposition to min
imize the affair, for it was clearly APP
parent that the letter was nothing more
than a strictly private communication
passing between members of the same
family. Nevertheless, coming as it does
close upon Capt. Coghlan's indiscretion
and following the publication of Judge
Chambers letter to his brother, crit
icising the Germans III Samoa, the
opinion was held that Admiral Kautz's
letter could not have other than
harmful effect upon the relations be-
tween the United States and Germany.
The letter was brought to the atten
ton of the president, and some say a
reminder was sent the officer to he more
careful in his correspondence. No or
ders have been issued to the Phtladel-
phia to leave Samoa, as the admiral
says, so it is probable that he made
the statement on that point in the be-
lief that he could adjust the differences
between the factions in Samoa within
that time.
In official German quarters the letter
was not treated very seriously, and
there was no indication that the Ger
man authorities would take cognizance
of it, The spirit of fun in the letter
appealed to some of the diplomatic Of
ficials, who laughted heartily over
Kautzs description of the young king
makeup, and this amusing feature
largely offset any irritation which
might have been felt over the criticisms
contained in the letter. The impression
prevailed, however, that the navy de-
partment probably would deal with the
indiscretion in such Il way as IL de-
served.
The letter referred to was written by
Rear Admiral Kautz to his cousin, Mrs
Charles N. Lindley Of Cincinnati. 1t is
dated March %, and is in the easy vein
of a relatives private correspondence.
In the letter the admiral says:
you will probably read lot of stun
about me in various newspapers, but /
can assure you that / am all right and
have done nothing that I or my friends
may be ashamed of, unless 1t is the
making of a king, which 1 was obliged
to do today. But he is a very inoffen-
sive sort of young fellow, native, 10
years of age. He wears a French adj
miral's cooked hat, but no Shoes stock
ings nor trousers; still, considering the
torrid weather, he looks very well in
this climate. But I hardly think he
would look as we'll on Fourth street,
Cincinnati.
81 am not a king here, but just plain
boss of the ranch The German con-
sui had that position up to my arrival,
but since then he has been very silent
partner. am very much afraid he does
not like me-in fact, I am not at all
popular here with the Germans. But
am all right with the English and hope
to pull through with them. have no
doubt OF being sustained by the govern
ment in all have done. hope to get
away from here in a month from this
time, but will not be in San Francisco
before the middle of May.
"P. 81 was in error about the
shoes and trousers of His Royal High
ness. At the last moment his advisers
prevailed on him to put on both, just
for this occasion only"