The age-herald., 1899-03-19
ADMIRAL DEWEY'S
 POSSIBLE FOE
By Lucien Julien Walker.

Princo Henry or Prussia, the German em- perors brother, succeeds Admiral Dietrich in command of the German squadron in the far east. As to Admiral Diedrich, I know little more than that which l have read in the newspapers, though on two oc- casions I met him casually and had some little conversation. He impressed me be- ing man with liver, in so far l re- member him; but I do recall that he was the essence, so to speak, of civilized civil ity. Indeed, it did not occur to me to study the admiral. No special interest attached to him.
 But to Prince Henry, 1 know some thing more. Doubtless his exalted rank a Hoenzolern, the brother of the Man Lord of the most powerful army in the world, attracted me to him. He represented to me vast volumes of history, and l looked upon him first with no small degree of awe, which was rather increased by closer contact and with social communion, ever so little as it was.
 A German squadron put into Queenstown early one afternoon and the big ships took up their positions at the British admiralty buoys. The ships were superb; they were pained slate grey, and presented a fine appearance. The usual salutes were fired; and the ordinary invitations to the officers We're sent off, making them honorary mem- bers of the Ancient Royal Cork Yacht club during their stay in the harbor. We of the club looked on with much interest. We saw Dietrich come ashore with his flag officers and proceeded to the palace of the British admiral to pay the courtesy call. We witnessed their return to Athe flagship, and within a half hour saw the British ad- miral return the call. We saw the salutes and heard their unpleasant laundering, for the flagship lay not three hundred yards from the beautiful balcony of, the old club facing the great harbor; and being directly on the deep water line of the harbors shore
 The Prince Henry was then a captain and his ship was moored directly opposite ths club and but six hundred feet distant When the ship swung even with the tide one could almost have thrown a penny up- on its deck. The British admiral enter tained the flag officers of the German squadron at official dinner that night At 1O:3O o'clock the club was entirely de- serted except by myself and a friend the son of a retired general of the army. We sat on the balcony overlooking the moon- lit sea, the great ships and the encircing hills. We smoked our briar-root pipes, sip ped out common grog, and talked of many things.
 Suddenly Stokes and I were disturbed by a chatter in the great smoking room behind us, which room opened the balcony. It was July weather and the night divine. We turned from the silver sea to ascertain the cause of the pleasant commotion behind us. "The German officers are returned from the admiral's," observed Stokes, as he took long "pull' at his pipe and a longer pull" at his grog. "Yes," replied "and as we are the only members of the club present, we must look after their com Ua smoking room approaching the party of brilliantly uniformed officers with our hats off, knowing that there was a prince pres ent. Stokes gave me poorly concealed dig in the ribs as if to say, You speak and be hanged to your I suppressed what threatened to be a broad grin, and lowing in what supposed to be courty manner I addressed to the prince a simple word of welcome. Much to my surprise he lifted his cooked hat, and all the officers. includ- ing Admiral Dietrich. lifted their hats; that not being the custom in the British or the American navy.
 My action in addressing the prince in- stead of his official superior was both diplomatic and social. Stokes and I had nothing to do with official rank: did not consider it. Our duty was to the royal per sonage present. The prince shook hands with us both cordially and ascertaining our names, presented us to the entire party in regular order of official precedency. be- ginning with Admiral Dietrich. There was another admiral present whose name I do not recall. It fell to me to speak with the. prince. Stokes addressing himself to Dietrich. Neither Stokes nor I had any sort of purpose to let conversation lag. and so I, addressing the prince in what I pre- stunned to be courtly phrase, asked Would your serene highness honor us by accepting refreshments?" Prince Henry's eyes twinked as he answered with that direct ness which is the virtue of princes "Ah- yes-I should like a whisky-and-soda." The prince having said whisky-and-soda. every other person present was required by the courtesy due to royalty to say whisky-and- soda. The best trained servants in the world had the order filled almost as soon as 1t was uttered. The refreshing beverage placed upon the center table around which we stood. and conversation became more animated The prince, in his spirit of beautiful graciousness let me to speak with Stokes and Admiral Diedrich joined me; and then all of us engaged in general conversation. The butler of the club and two assistants stood near the door watch- ing every movement. Continuing to speak with Admiral Dietrich I merely looked at the servants. They disappeared instantly and noiselessy, and reappeared immediate ly with another round" of whisky-and- sodas. HeaIths were drunk all around, and the prince did me the honor to rejoin me. Your friend" he said in excellent English "has discovered to me your identity. am glad to meet you as an American, for entertain friendly regard for your great country. where so many of our Germans have found homes" This being wholly unexpected, confused me greatly and