Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-19

| tenberg, Commander of the Squad
 ron-His F1agahip, the Drake, Has
 an Immense Ballroom.
 The coming visit, first to Annapolis and then to other cities, of the second British cruiser squadron, commanded 1 by Rear Admiral Prince Louis of Bat tenberg is likely to prove an event quite out of the ordinary, says the New York World. Not only will the fleet 1 of war vessels anchored in the waters of New York harbor be an important 1 one, but it will be one of the largest ever gathered at New York. There will be the five cruisers of the British Sec ond squadron - the Drake, the Corn wall, the, Cumberland, the Essex and the Berwick; Admiral Evans north Atlantic fieet-the Illinois, the Rear sarge, the Kentucky, the Iowa and the Massachusetts-and Rear Admiral Will lard H. Brownsons cruise squadron, consisting of the Pennsylvania, the | Colorado, the West Virginia and possi- 1 bly the Maryland if her repairs are completed in time.
 The admiral prince is big man in l every way. He is one of the sound and solid men of the British navy. He is big physically, over six feet in height, and he is big man socially, being one 1 of the best connected men in Europe. By birth an Austrian, he Is natural ized Englishman and has been a sailor since 1868, when he became a naval cadet. He has worked his way through every grade up to his present rank of admiral, prior to his appointment to which he was the chief intelligence of- ficer at the admiralty office, a most im- portant position. He is clever in- ventor and has made several impor- tant discoveries in connection with ships and guns. At one time he was in command of the royal yacht during the lifetime of Queen Victoria, but, a ! whisper of favoritism reaching the ! queens ears, he was given another equally important command.
 Socially he is on the top rung of the ladder. He married one of the Hesse princesses and is therefore brother in-law and cousin not only of the czar and czarina, but of the widowed Grand Duchess Serge of Russia. He is also doubly related to King Edward, who is his uncle by marriage, because the Princess Louise of Battenberg is the daughter of the kings brother, the late Duke of Saxe-Coburg- Gotha. He is also a brother-in-law of the Princess Henry of Battenberg King Edwards sister, who is the widow of his brother Henry.
 Great social functions are in the course of preparation for the prince admiral because he brings an auto graph letter from King Edward to President Roosevelt. He and his of ficers will be officially received by the president, and a state banquet will be given in their honor at the White House. The British ambassador and Lady Mortimer Durand will also en- certain in honor of the admiral and his officers at the British embassy.
 The officers and men of the cruiser squadron comprise the pick of the Brit ish navy.
 One of the fleets midshipmen is Prince Alexander of Battenberg, nephew of King Edward, who from all accounts is a very enterprising young Britisher. While he Hunks none of his duties, and would not be allowed to if he wished to, he is attached to his uncle the admiral, on special occasions as an extra A. D. o. y...
 While in Montreal recently Prince Alexander told a rather good story about himself. A few years ago, while cadet and cruising in the Medl- terranean, he ran completely out of funds. He wrote to his grandma. the late Queen Victoria, telling an unusual ly pathetic hard luck story and asked for a contribution to his exchequer. No answer coming within two or three weeks, he wrote second letter, more pitifu,ly plaintive than the first. A fortnight later he received a letter from Grandma Victoria, a closely writ ten epistle of several pages. full of economy, but empty of any remittance. Then he wrote a third letter: Dear Grandma-Thanks for your letter; also for your photo received at the same time. It proved friend in need. or.4to,nd f& ~ ,.,d ,-s,oIs,o.a c1n e. t4 ff
 The admirars flagship. the Drake, diff fers from any other warship afloat. She Is the largest and has a specially constructed ballroom capable of accom- modating GOO dancers at one time For the construction of this immense Sanc- ing room the cruisers after bridge and her small quick firing guns have been removed, all Instructions have been cleared of the upper deck, and the ball room rests upon the boat deck. This Is a skeleton deck above the upper deck. which extends more or less continuous ly between the masts.
 On entering the ballroom, which Is rendered bright, pretty and attractive with flowers flags and bunting. the visitor will imagine that he has found his way into huge marquee. and such Is. indeed, the case, for the striped roof and walls. where they are visible be meath the interior decorations. them selves conceal the tentIike erection of canvas which serves as c canopy to the floor. In order to hold this roof in place the hydraulic derrick by means of which the boats are hOisted In and out has been called into requisition-
 The programme of the American trip