New-York tribune., 1902-02-24
CAPTAIN VON MUELLER TALKS
FOR THE ROYAL VISITOR.
LIS WHY HE WAS SENT HERE BY THE
FMPEROR-STORY OF THE DIN
NFR AT HONG KONG WHICH
DEWEY ATTENDED

determine Whatever
+re Prince has TO say for the public will be
given out h. q member of his staff Captain Won
Mueller. aide-de-camp to the German Emperor
,-bo is authorized TO speak not only for Prince
Henry bur in measure voices the Emperor's
own views. said yesterday 10 a reporter, in
r,anation Of the Princes visit:
when the President upon the inquiry of the
German Emperor whether Miss Roosevelt would
rerform the ceremony of christening his Ameri-
can built Yacht. had given his consent in a most
~acefsl manner. his majesty resolved 10 show
IS regard for the President by having himself
presented by a prince Of his house on the
occasion Of the launching. In contemplating
this courtesy the Emperor remembered the
pleasant relations between Prince Henry and
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admiral Evans and
als- recalled that his brother. his return
from China, had expressed strong wish to
visit the United States. This desire however.
could not be gratifed at that time. Moreover.
TIE Emperor was Influenced by the fact that
Prince Henry. whenever he was abroad. had al
1avs won the admiration and esteem of those
witt whom he brought in contact, and had
always succeeded in bringing tone Of kindness
.ssA5 on mutual esteem in the international
latiors This 7 think, will indicate the feelings
.ra- aCtuated the Emperor in the choice Of his
lr0ther as his representative on this pleasant
occasion
selected him for this mission. He is delighted
Il make the acquaintance Of the great Aneri-
can nation at last and enjoy the honor of meet
ing the excellent man at the head Of it. It had
been only the stern command of duty which
prevented him from visiting the New World
after his return from East Asia"
THE DINNER AT HONG KONG.
When Captain Won Mueller's attention was
called 10 the various reports regarding the re
lstions between Prince Henry and Admiral
Dewey at a dinner given by the former in Hong
Kong he laughingly replied. oh. well. a good
many versions of that incident and all OF them
wrong, have been printed. 1 happened to be
ct that time the personal aide-de-camp to the
Prince. The truth of the matter is this and
speak authoritatively.
In the harbor Of Hong-Kong the Prince had
rendered a dinner to the commanders of the
vessels of various nations ar that time in the
port On that occasion the Prince drank to the
health Of the soveregns and chiefs of the ma
tions the flags of which represented by
the guests In the order OF his toasts his nrst
one next 70 that to the German Emperor was 10
Great Britain. and the second TO l>dssia. while
the United States was the last. The reason
Great Britain was named in the first place was
because the dinner happened in a harbor of
British territory. the Acting Governor of
which one Of the guests. A week
afterward the Prince was informed
bv the German Consul. Herr Won Loeper.
who is now in Valparaiso that the rep
resentative Of the United States, namely.
Admiral Dewey, was panied because the Prince
had not put the United States at the head of
his toasts. according 70 the international usage
which specifies the order of the toasts on such
occasions. This usage is that the toasts shall
be given in the order Of seniority in commits
sion Of the officers present. Dewey in fact
in that respect the senior among the guests.
The Prince did not hesitate TO seek open.
frank talk this question of etiquette with
his American comrade, whom he highly esteems.
When visiting the flagship Olympia he frankly
told Dewey that he had convinced himself that
he was wrong and that Dewey was right. And
Dewey's answer was this: Well sir ! thank
you for your apology. I may say that liked
you before this. but after what you have told
me just think ] like you better and this
IS saying great deal It is readily to be seen
that this settlement Of question of etiquette
could only serve TO strengthen the friendly rela-
lions between them, and that Prince Henry is
keeping the words of his American friend in
grateful remembrance"
SAILOR. HEART AND SOUL
Prince Henry" continued Captain Won Mue-
Ter. is a sailor with all his heart and soul. He
takes pride IN maneuvring his ship and his
squadron. Everything belonging TO engineering
has his especial interest. He is always thor
oughly acquainted with the engines in the ships
under his command, and at the same time al
ways gives his attention TO the personal welfare
Of The men in the engine rooms, whose work he
appreciates and whom he often distinguishes
As a sportsman he is versatile. He is like all
the princes of the royal house a devoted hunter
and he loves the sailing sport. having owned
several yacths. his last being the cruising
yacht L'Esperance. bought in England which
he sailed himself from Southampton to KieI He
IS a fine horseman as he has often had occasion
10 show by participating in a polo game and
he is a bicyclist and golf player too
Of Prince Henry as a sailor and sea COM
mander, Captain Mueller said: The Prince
entered the naval service in 1877 like any other
cadet. His first long trip. being one around the
world he made from 1878 to 1880. on board of
the frigate Prince Adalbert- His first trip in
the capacity Of watch officer board of the
corvette Olga, in the years of 1882 to 1884
brought him TO the West Indies and South
America. in the summer Of 1887. when he was
twenty five years old. he acted for the first time
as commander. as he made the chief Of
q torpedo division. with which he eventually
sailed to England on the occasion of the jubilee
Of Queen Victoria. Later he was placed in COM
nand. consecutively, Of the royal yacht Hohen-
zolern the cruiser Irene. so christened after his
wife; the armored ship BeoU,ulf and the
batteships Sachsen and Woerth. When com
mander Of the last named ship, in the fail Of
lsSo, he was promoted TO the rank of rear ad-
inra being at that time only thirty-three wears
age. His comrades looked upon his rapid
5onotlon without envy. because they knew
)lsted his flag chief OF the second division
the home squadron, and in 1897 his inperial
sother. showing thereby his great confidence in
m ordered him TO lead reinforcements TO the
-uising squadron in Chinese waters which was
wing 10 the political complications Of that time