The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-04-16
pRUSSIA'S HIRED PIRATE
HOW FREDERICK THE GREAT
ENGAGED AN ADMIRAL.

HOW FREDERICK THE GREAT
ENGAGED AN ADMIRAL.
In Order to Get Good Commander
for His Embryonic Fleet He En-
gagged the Services Of Man Who
Had a Most Unsavory Record.
With the expected arrival in this
country Of Prof. Uphues of Berlin,
commissioned by Emperor William II.
to superintend the erection of the
statue Of Frederick the Great, Gen.
Washington's friend" at the capital
city, ali manners Of, stories will prob
ably be printed of the ways and cd
dities Of de alte Fritz. Most Of them
ara very likely known to the student
Of history; but there are a few-treas-
ured only in rather obscure German
publications-which, while Of great in
terest, have never found their way into
the textbooks.
One Of them is of particular interest
just now, in view Of the recent appeals
Of the war lord for larger German
navy, for it records the first beginning
Of that marine power, and shows at
the same time that der crosse Koenig
was not loath to overlook mans
character as long as no fault could be
found with his ability. The burden of
the story in question is-and it's truth
es hxy <>E 81
now in the archives of the city of Stet-
tin-that in order to get a good admir-
al for his embryonic fleet Frederick the
Great was willing to accept the services
Of man known to the police as pir-
ate, and who had been kicked out of
the service Of half a dozen govern
ments and arrested as many times.
1t was shortly after the battle of
Neuwarp, on Sept. 10, 1859, when the
twelve ships composing the German
navy had been partly captured and
partly sent to Davy Jones's locker by
the Swedes, that the Duke August Will
helm of Braunschweig-Bev govern
or Of Stettin, was instructed by King
Frederick to build new fleet. There
was little enough money on hand for
the purpose, but the task was accom-
plished in less than two years, and
in the summer Of 1761'twelve new ships
rocked at anchor in the port Of Stet-
tin. The total then was $50, but enc i'm
portant post was still vacant-that of
the admiral.
Duke August Wilhelm tried his best
to get the right man for the place. He
offered it Ito several British officers, but
they were too proud to take the COM
mand Of the German toy navy" The
Danes were sympathizers Of the
Swedes, Prussia being in warfare with
France Sweden and Russia, officers of
these countries were out of the ques-
ton, and the sailors of Holland were
after money, which the Prussian gov
eminent could only spare in very small
amounts, and not after glory.
In his distress the governor appealed
to Privy Councillor Won Hecht, the
Prussian representative at Stettin. This
official, anxious to serve, made the
necessary inquiries, and in less than
week reported that he had found the
very man for the post. He begged the
duke to overlook certain imperfections
of manner and reputation in his can
didate, but recommended him as an
able seaman than which no better had
ever guided ship through the surging
main.
A few minutes later the aspirant for
the Prussian admiralship was led in
the dukes room. He was a squatty Hol-
lander, with bloated face and small
cleaning eyes and two ugly scars
across his forehead His age was hard
to guess, but the duke put it at about
fifty years. The applicant said that
his name was Berndt Rebbe, and that
he was willing to take the job, provid-
ing he was given a good deal of lati-
tude in the management Of the new
navy. He qualified as discriminating
disciplinarian and seaman by saying
that the ships were badly rugged and
the sailors band of unruly loafers,
who would have to dance to a different
tune the moment he took command.
He then spat complacently on the fine
carpet and took chair without hav-
ing been offered the courtesy.
Not over-impressed with the person
ality of the would-be admiral, the duke
at first intended to drop him, but, fol-
lowing the advice of Won Hecht, made
the necessary recommendation to the
king, not emitting, however, that he
could not very we'll see how man of
that calibre could become the highest
Prussian naval officer.
But King Frederick forthwith made
out the commission Of Berndt Rebbe.
While the document was on it's way
to Stettin, delegation from the Meth
erlands, accompanied by senator
from Hamburg, were ushered in the
dukes ROOM After a long intrOduc-
ton the callers stated that the employ
ment Of Rebbe would be considered an
affront by the government OF the Meth
erlands, inasmuch as he was danger
GUS character and had had considerable