New-York tribune., 1903-08-19
THE KRIEGSPIEL.
Nezo Secretary of the German EN-
basSy Is Son of It's InUentor.


general of the same name his father, who is the
inventor of the famous military game of "<rieg-
spiel which is played by staff officers in every
portion of the civilized world. General Verdy du
Vernois who for a few years has been on the
retired list. Of the most witty, brilliant and
clever officers of the German Army. was on the
point OF describing hin dashing but the term
is hardly appropriate, for with increasing age he
has become so rotund that he is unable TO mount
a horse any longer. and finds both walking and
dancng-he was in his day of the most noted
leaders Of cotons court balls-very arduous
exercise indeed He is far like the traditional
good humored major who plays so important
role in the Partisan farces and vaudevles than
one of those stiff. rather wooden soldiers VINO are
the beau ideal of the PTussian army. Very apo
plectc looking, he possesses pair Of exceedingly
mischievous and clever eyes. No ono eXcels him
in the organization of balls, private theatricals'
picnics and other kinds Of social entertainments,
and not only does he write charming poems ana
witty epigrams, but he is the author of NUMBER
of plays and even used t. have a great reputation
among the fair sex at Berlin the designer Of
many unique and lovely toilet worn at fancy
dress balls and in tableaUs. It would be wrong
however, to think from all this that the general
devotes his time exclusively to such frivohtes TOT
he has published great many important military
writings, most Of which have been adopted oy the
various war departments of Europe as staidafd
works for the staff schools. He has likewise pe7H
the editor Of the greater portion Of the German
General Staff history of the Franco-Gernan var
Of 1870. He distinguished himself In that CONNECT
being one Of the staff officers in attendance on
Emperor William the occasion of the latter
historic interview with Napoleon III after lhe
battle of Sedan; and after the present halsers
accession played considerable role III reorganlz-
ing the German Army in accordance Win IAoS0
new ideas and modern Improvements Whlch lne
conservatism of the old Emperor and OF f1elu
Marshal Won Moltke had until then prevented for
these services the Kaiser conferred on nm ms
highly priced order Pour lie Merlte.' fcundeo oy
Frederick the Great Let me add IN conclusion
that the general is rich, and that if his young
relative at Washington possesses anything OF nus
brilliancy. he will prove valuable acquisiuon 10
society here.
Queen Margherita Of Italy has developed since
she became widow a taste for yachting and IS
now cruising along the coast Of Norway on the
English steam yacht Iolanthe, which she mas
chartered for the purpose 1t is expected that she
will avail herself of the opportunity OF Nslul5
Iceland, and likewise push north as far as lhe
Arctic Circle before returning. These northern
seas seem to possess particular attracuon LoI Tic
members of the regntng house of Italy, for queen
Nargherita's nephew. Prince Luigi, the DUKE OF
the Abruzz holds the record at the present mo-
nent of the Arctic explorers who have approached
the North Pole most nearly, while the present
King and Queen OF italy prior to their accession
crused on board their yacht Savoy in the Arctic
Ocean, where Queen Helena, who is a remarkably
sldlful shot, brought down with her rife a mag
nifcent polar bear, being the only woman OF SOW
ereign rank to have a feat Of this kind TO her
credit.
Among the royalties who have devoted much
time and attention to exploring the northern seas
is the regning Prince of Monaco, who, curiously
enough. retains the name Of Princess Alice for the
yacht on which he spends the greater portion Of
the year although he is judicialy separated from
the American born consort. Princess Alice, nee
Heine, after whom the boat was Eamed.
The committee of privileges of the House of Lords
in England, after dsposing Of the case of the so
called "organ grinding viscoUnt," and giving a
verdict in favor of the younger Of the two claim
ants to the Earldom of Poulett is now considering
the petition Of Viscount Taaffe to be permitted
vote in the selection of peers to represent the Irish
peerage in the House of Lords at Westminster.
The case is not without American interest, for on
the verdict viii depend whether or not the Amer
lean born Lord Fairfax, who is native of Vir-
ginia like his father, grandfather and great-grand
father before him. and who until short time
ago was clerk in New-York bank, to the
London branch of which he is now attached, can
vote IL the election of Scotch representative peers
Holyrood
Both Viscount Taaffe. who. although Irish
peer is an Austrian citizen and Lord Fairfax
assert that they entitled by right of inheritance
to vote in the election Of peers 10 represent the
Irish and Scotch peerages in the upper house of
Parliament. This pretension is opposed on the
ground that in order TO exercise this right they
acquire English citizenship and renou1ce all
foreign allegiance since the British Constitution
provides that no alien shall sit in the House OF
Lords vote at any election to the House OF
Commons 1t is regarded probable that the
committee of privileges Of the House of Lords
will decide against Viscount Taafes claims, and
will recommend that the Crown deny him the right
he asserts until he renounces his allegiance to the
Emperor of Austria. It is possible that he may do
this for although his father was not only for a
long number of years Prime Minister of Austria
but also the most intimate boyhood friend of the
present Emperor. yet Viscount Taaffes position at
Vienna has become very unpleasant one since
his marriage with the Jewish actress Magda Fuchs
and his quarrel with both the Emperor and the
government on the subject of his fathers corre-
spondence in the papers. Viscount Taaffe is the
head of an old Irish family, hailing from the
Counties Louth and Sligo. The third Lord IaaHe
having lost his life at the battle Of the Boyne
dghtiug for King James II, his honors devolved
upon his younger brother, Francis. who having
entered the service Of Emperor Ferdinand OF Ger
many, received from him the title Of Count OF the
Empire. From that time forth every successive
Viscount Taaffe who is likewise Lord Ballymote
in the Kingdom of Ireland, has made his home In
Austria and has figured prominently in Austrian
history either as a distinguished general or cee-
brated statesman In 1860 the granduncle OF the
present viscount who is the twelfth since the
creation Of the peerage, obtained from the com
raittee of privileges confirmation of his rights to
his Irish title did not claim the right 10 vote
The present vscount is the first since the IaaILes
migrated to Austria, more than two centuries ago
to demand that prerogatiye.
Viscount Taafe like young Lord Fairfax, has no
landed property in the United Kingdom
The Duchy Of saxe-AItenburg is dlminutive
State that the celebration last week of the golden
Jubilee or hftieth anniversary of the accession TO
the throne OF its ruler would be unworthy or men
tion were It not for the fact that his failing
health renders imminent the accession Of an &c