The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-26
EMPEROR WILLIAM EXTENDS Ex.
cEPTloNAL COURT .sY TO
AMERICAN SQUADRON.
GREETED BY A cANNoNADE
OVER A THOUSAND GUNS ROAR
FORTH A SALUTE TO THE
GERMAN RULER.

k1el, Prussia, June Z5.-EmperOf
William arrived here at 6 o'clock in
the evening on board the H~ohenzollern.
When the imperial yacht was sighted
steaming into Kiel harbor she had the
Stars and Stripes flying from the after
mast. and as she sailed by Rear Ad-
miral Cotton's flagship, the Kearsarge,
the imperial colors, floating at the
stern, were dipped three times. This
courtesy. being without precedent in
the German navy, caused Rear Ad-
miral Cotton, at an audience he had
later with the emperor, to thank his
majesty in the name of the president
OF the United States for the honor
shown to the American navy.
The emperor's entrance into the
harbor was the occasion for a ire
mendous c~annonade, each of the
thirty-two warships firing thirty
three guns. the Americans observing
the German regulation for honoring
the sovereign. AS the smoke from the
thousand guns blew aside, the Hohen-
zollern entered the lane Of warships,
at the upper end of which were the
American vessels. The emperor stood
alone on the upper bridge. The crews
manning the cross-trees, turrets and
sides Of each of the American ships
gave his majesty three cheers as the
yacht passed, which he acknowledged
by saluting continuously. The i'm
perial colors were flown from the after
mast of each American warship.
Aboard the Kearsarge was q party of
Americans including Ambassador Tow
er. R. r. Pitt, Secretary of the Berlin
embassy. Mr.. and Mrs. Cornelius Van
derhilt and Mrs. Pitts. wife of the
United States naval attache.
Officers Visit the Emperor.
Earlier in the day Rear Admiral
tine emperor saving his majesty would
be pleased to receive him and the 9th
er American commanders as soon as
possible after his arrival. Consequent
ly. the rea~ admiral assembled the
captains on his flagship and Just as the
Hohenzollern was attached to her
mooring huov. Rear Admiral Cotton's
barge reached the yachts gangway.
Captain Usedom met Rear Admiral
Cotton. CAPTAINS Walker, Hemphill.
Cornwall and McCrea. Lieutenant
Hussey of the admiral's staff. and
Naval Attache Potts at the head of
the gangway and presented them to
Emperor William, who was standing
two or three steps away, with his
suite grouped behind him. His males
ty shook hands and conversed for a
minute with each of the American off,
GERS. saving how glad he was to see
them in German waters. Turning to
Rear Admiral Cotton the emperor
said: "You we're in the monitor at
Hampton Roads. were you not?"
"Not in the monitor. sir" replied the
admiral. "but in another ship, which
stuck in a sandbank."
His majesty alluded to other incl
dents in Admiral Ccttop's career. and
said he wished to visit the Kearsarge
and would be pleased to take Mrch
aboard her. Rear Admiral Cotton
and his cantairs fhen retired.
The empe-or's arrival was an hour
later than exrected.
1t was nov Z o'clock and his majesty,
therefore. did not visit the Kearsarge
last night.
Leave was given to $50 men from
the American crews to go on shore.
They were taken in charge individual
ly and in groups by the German sail
Ors. who treated them in the most hos
pitabie manner.