Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-24
THE DEWEY INCIDENT.
New and More Pleasing Version from
German Officer Who Was Present.

New York. Feb. 23.---Prior to his depart
ure from Germany it was officially an
nounced that Prince Henry would not be
HrS te this an anfa ne
the prince has to say for publication will
be given out by member of his staff.
Capt. Won Mueller. aide-de-camp to the
German Emperor, who is authorized to
speak not only for Prince Henry but in
a measure, of the Emperors own views,
said, today. to an Associated Press rep
resentative in explanation of the princes
visit:
when the President. upon the inquiry
of the German Emperor whether Miss
Roosevelt would perform the ceremony of
christening his American-buit yacht, had
given his consent In a most graceful
his regard for the President by having
himself represented by prince of his
own house on the occasion of the launch
ing -
Emperor selected him for this mission.
He is delighted to make the acquaintance
OF the great American nation at last and
man at the head of it,
When Capt. Won Mueller's attention
was called to the various reports regard
ing the friction which it was alleged had
arisen between Prince Henry and Admit
raj Dewey at dinner given by the for
mer in Hong Kong, he laughingly replied.
''Oh, well, a good many versions of that
incident and all of them wrong, have
been printed. / happened to be at that
time the personal aide-de-camp to the
prince. The truth of the matter is this,
and l speak authoritatively:
I'm the harbor of Hong Kong the prince
had rendered a dinner to the commanders
of the vessels of various nations at that
time in the port. On that occasion the
prince drank to the health of the sOvcr-
eigns and chiefs of the nations. the flags
of which were represented by the guests.
In the order of his toasts his first one.
next to that Of the German Emperor.
was to Great Britain and the second to
Russia, while the United States was the
last. The reason Great Britain was
named in the first place was because the
dinner happened to be in harbor of
British territory, the acting governor of
which was one of the guests.
IA week or so afterwards the prince
was informed by the German consul.
Herr Won Loeper, who is now in VAL
paraiso, that the representative of the
was panied because the prince had not
put the United States at the head of his
toasts, contrary to the international
usage which demands the order of the
toast on such occasions.
This usage is that the toasts shall be
given in the order of seniority In COM
mission of the officers present Dewey
was. in fact, in that respect the senior
among the guests. The prince did not
hesitate to seek an open. frank talk on
American comrade, whom he highly es-
teens. When visiting the flagship Olym-
pia. he frankly told Dewey that he had
convinced himself that he was wrong and
swer was this:
'''Well. sir, thank you for your apol
ogy. / may say that l liked you before
now. | think like you better, and this Is
saying a great deal
"It is readily to be seen that this settle
ment of question of etiquette could only
serve to strengthen the friendly relations
between them and that Prince Henry is
keeping the words Of his American friend
in grateful remembrance.
prince Henry" continued Capt. Won
Mueller sis a sailor with all his heart
and soul. He takes pride in Vancouver
ing his ship and his squadron. Every.
thing belonging to engineering has es-
pecial interest He is always thoroughly
acquainted with the engines in the ships
under his command and at the same time
always gives his attention to the personal
welfare of the men in the engine rooms.
whose work he appreciates and who he
often distinguished. AS 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 sew
eral yachts, his last one being the cruis-
ing yacht L'Esperance, bought in Eng
land, which he sailed himself from
Southampton to 1<iei. He is fine horse
man, as he has often had occasion ID
snow by participating IN a POLO game, and
he is a bicyclist and golf player, too
Prince Henry is rather tall and Of slen-
der staure, looking in his general appear
ance very much like his father. the late
Emperor Friedrich. He wears shortly
trimmed whiskers, the expression of shis
face being generally serene, plainly be.
traying the sailor burdened with heavy
responsibilities But from his blue eyes
comes an extraordinary, winning charm.
that no one escapes who has occasion to
come in close contact with him.