Democratic messenger., 1903-04-25
WARsHIPS TO 60 TO KEEL
Government Wants TO Please Emperor
William.
GERMANY FELT MUCH sLIGHTED.
Harsh Criticism in the German Press Which
Expressed Indignation Because .!e Eu.c'
pean Squadron Had Been Ordered TO Greet
President Lou5ei at Marseies After De.
cIining a Number Of Germary's Invitations.

Washington. d. c. (Spccia).-From
the highest official quarters il is learn
ed that the criticisms in lew German
newspapers directed against supposed
declination OF the Navy Department
here TO send an American naval squad
ron to Kiel this summer are based on a
complete misunderstanding OF the sit
uation. The facts are explained as fol
lows:
No set and formal invitation from the
German government to send an Amer
lean squadron to kiel was ever re-
ceived.
But through semiofficial channels in
tmations did reach Washington that
the German Emperor would be pleas
cd to have the North Atlantic Squad
ron stop al kiel during the naval dem
onStration. Failing that. ii was III the
same informal way suggested that when
Admiral Evans retired from his COM
mand in Asia and started To return 10
the United States on his battieShlp
Kentucky the Emperor. who was well
acquainted with him. would be glad 10
have him touch At some German sea-
port.
Secretary Moody is extremely desir-
ous oi doing anything within reason TO
show the warmth OF the friendship
which he cherishes towards Germany.
and the President and Secretary Hay
have the same disposition. They were
resolved to miss no opportunity to re-
ciprocate the many kindly expressions
oi regard ior America that had come
directly from Emperor William.
But circumstances conspircd To make
it impossible to meet either oil the hints
thrown out from Germany. First. as
TO the North Atlantic Squadron. the
general board here had planned an cX-
tensive scheme OF maneuvers and dr;ll
work which had advanced so lar to-
wards execution that the results OF 4
failure to complete the work would
have been disastrous to discipline.
As to Admiral Evans invitation. it
was decided that the Kentucky having
been i'll scmitropical waters for long
time and having before her a voyage OF
nearly 1900 miles returning TO New
York in the shortest line. would be in
no condition when she arrived at Glib
raltar going westward TO be diverted
from her st-ight course to Northern
Europe. She would certainly not have
been an attractive ship TO inspect at
that stage.
But the United States Navy is not to
be unreprcsentcd at kicl Following
the usual custom, when the warm
weather begins in the Mediterranean.
the European squadron will begin slow
ly to work its way northward. and it
is calculated that it will arrive at kiel
IN time to take its proper place i'll the
celebration
This can be done and will be done
without undue interference with the
routine movements OF the European
squadron. and attention is directed to
the TACT that this is the same squadron
which is under orders TO be at Mar
seilles when President Loubct returns
from Africa. While the Navy Depart
Inent is desrous OF showing the great
est courtesy towards President Loubct
and the people he represents. it is only
iair. i'll view oi the German miSconcep-
tion on the subject. to point ont that.
being even now only few hours sail
distant from. Marseiles. failure on the
part oi the American squadron 10 greet
the returning President would have
been little les than a gross discour-