The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-26
WILLIAM GOT A LINE
ON THE SHIPS OF THE AMERICAN
NAVY.
WENT OVER THE KEARSARGE.
ASKED MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT HE SAW.

Emperor. Was Welcomed Aboard the
SquadrOn's' Flagship by Admiral
COttOn-DOubIe Turrets We're In
sDected by the Emperor With
Much Interest-He Knew of the
French FaiMre-Wanted to Know
the Difference-Was Free and I'm
restrained with Officers and Men.
Kiel, Prussia, June 25.-"I shall tele-
graph to the President to-day, sirs,
telling him in what perfect condition
l have found your ship" said En-
peror William in parting with Rear
Admiral Cotton and Capt. Hemphill on
board the American flagship Kearsarge
to-day, after he had spent an hour and
a half looking over the battleship as
thoroughly as any naval inspector
could have done. working the turrets,
examining the quarters of the men.
looking at the food in the galley and
talking Familiarity with some of the
able seamen.
The Emperor came alongside the
starboard quarter of the Kearsarge,
steering his own barge and attended
by Capt. Won Grumme, while up the
port gangway came Admiralty Secre-
tary Won Tirpitz Admiral Cotton and
his staff, Capt. Hemphill. all the other
American commanders and all the Of
ficers of the ship, except the midSn:p-
men, who were at quarters, received
the Emperor on the quarter deck.
Il am happy to welcome your a.
jesty on an American ship" said Ad-
miral Cotton. and 1 wish that 1 we're
receiving you on American soil"
Il am very happy to be here" the
Emperor replied. He then shook hands
with all the captains, whom he met
yesterday, calling them by name, and
with all the juniors, who were present.
ed in turn.
Wanted to See the Ship.
"Now, Captain" the Emperor said
to Capt. Hemphill, 81 want to see your
ship"
Emperor William entered one of the
double turrets and scrutiniZed the
mechanism. Lieut.. Muslin of the Kear-
sarge showed the Emperor the speed
and smoothness with which the turret
could be turned.
What is the real value of these tur-
rets?" asked the Emperor, turning to
Capt. Hemphill.
"That could only be known In war,
replied the captain, who then explained
the thorough effectiveness of the gun
on which the design was based.
The Emperor recalled some of the re-
| cent French experiments with double
turrets, in which sheep in one turret
were killed by the shock of the gun
fire in the other.
That" said the Captain, twas due
to the shortness of the guns which the
French experimenters used. The long
guns of the Kearsarge change the field
of the highest conclusion"
In calling the attention of one of the
members of his suite to Capt. Hemp
hills service on the Monitor when she
| first went into action, and to some 9TH
| err fierce naval combats of the Civil
War, the Emperor added:
"Those men are Gods to US"
JOISed With the Jackies.
His majesty also said the coming
tower was the most roomy he had ever
been in. With the telephone and sig
nal apparatus in every part of the
ship, the Emperor was, naturally, ia
miliar, and he pointed out one or two
good new things.
While the Emperor was inspecting
| the mems quarters. he conversed with
several of the blue jackets and joking
ly asked one old hand how long he had
been in the service. The sailor replied:
"Twenty-four years."
THAT is long enough to be an adj
miral" said the Emperor.
When his majesty's inspection of the
Kearsarge was finished, the party
went to the admirars cabin. After a
quarter Of an hours general talk, the
Emperor left the battleship and Ad-
miral Cotton assembled the entire
ships company aft and addressed them
as follows
"The Emperor has inspected the ship
quickly, but very thoroughly. His
majesty is a Judge Of all technical ma
val matters. He expressed himself as
greatly pleased with what he saw.
thank the officers and crew for the
condition of the ship l hope that every
man here will remember that he is
representative of the United States and
that he will conduct himself in such
way as to bring credit upon his coun-
try and his flag. We are here by or
der of the President. 1t is our duty to
do all in our power to preserve the
feeling of friendship and cordiality be-
tween the United States and Germany.
Three cheers for his majesty, the
Emperor"
The 700 officers and men on the
Kearsarge thereupon gave three hearty
cheers for Emperor William.
Emperor Liked Hemphill.
The Emperor received Ambassador
Tower on the imperial yacht Hohenzol-
lern Immediately after returning from
his inspection of the American flagship.
He expressed to the ambassador his
qualification over his experiences on the
| Kearsarge.
capt. Hemphill knows his business, "
said Emperor William. He is a cap
tain who understands his ship. He
does not have to ask other people be-
fore answering questions"
The Emperor gave dinner tonight
on the Hohenzollern to Admiral Cot
ton. the American captains, Ambassa-
dor Tower, Prince Henry of Prussia.
the German admirals, Chancellor Won
Buelow and others.
Admiral Cotton will entertain the
Emperor at breakfast on the Kear-
sarge on Saturday.