The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28

Cincinnati, April pa letter written
by Rear Admiral Kautz TO his cousin,
Mrs. Charles y. Lindley, of Cincinnati,
has been made public by the recipient.
1t is dated March 23rd, and is in the
easy vein of a relatives private cor
You will probably read a lot off stuff
about me in various newspapers, but
l can assure you that l am all right
and have done nothing l or my friends
may be ashamed of, unless it is the
making of a king, which l was obliged
to do today; but he is a very inoffen-
sive sort Of young fellow, a native, 10
years of age. He wears a French ad-
mirars cooked hat, but no shoes or
stockings or trousers; still, consider
ing the torrid weather, he looks very
we'll i'm this climate; but l hardly think
Cincinnati. I am not a king here, but
just plain boss Of the ranch The Ger
man counsel had that position up to
my arrival, but since hen he has been
a very silent partner. 1 am very much
afraid he does not like me-in fact, I
am not at all popular here with the
Germans; but I am all right with the
English, and hope to pull through with
them. 1 have no doubt of being sus-
tanned by h government in all / have
done. I hope to get away from here
in a month from this time, but will not
be in San Francisco before the middle
of May.
With love to the Kentucky Colonel
and yourself, Your Cousin,
ALBERT KAUTZ.
"P. 81 was in error about the shoes
and trousers of his royal highness. At
the last moment his advisers prevail
ed on him to put on both, just for this
occasion only. A. K"
The Kentucky colonel mentioned is
Mrs. Lindley's husband, a member Of
Governor Bradley'S staff.
Washington, April 26.-The publica-
tion of Admiral Kautz's letter, referring
to his position at Samoa, caused abso-
lutte CONSERVATION at the navy and
state. departments at first reading, but
there was soon exhibited a disposition
to minimize the affair because it was
clearly apparent that the letter was
nothing more than a strictly private
communication passing between men,
bers Of the same family. Nevertheless,
coming as it does, close upon Captain
Coghlan's remarks, and following the
publication Of Judge Chambers letter
to his brother, criticising the Germans
in Samoa, the opinion was held that
Admiral Kautz's letter could not have
other than a harmful effect upon the
relations between the United States
and Germany.
The letter was brought to the atten-
ton of the president and some sort Of
a reminder may be sent to the officer
to be more careful in his correspond
ence. No orders hav been issued to
the Philadelphia to leave Samoa, as the
admiral says, so it is probable that he
made the statement on that point in
the belief that he could adjust the
differences between the factions in Sa-
moa within that time.
In official German quarters his let
ter was not treated very seriously, and
there was no indication that the Ger
man authorities would take c~ogniZance
Of it. The spirit of fun in the letter,
appealed to some Of h diplomatic Of
ficials, who laughed heartily over
Kautz's description of the young
kings makeup, and this amusing fea-
ture largely offset any irritation which
might have been felt over the criti-
cisms contained in the letter. The i'm
preston prevailed, however, that the
navy department probably would deal
with the indiscretion in such a way as
it deserved.