The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-13
VISITORS FLOCK DECKS
 OF BRITISH FLAGSHIP
FIVE THOUSAND NEW YORKERS LOOK OYER CRUISER
 DRAKE.

Prince Louis COrrects False Interpreta-
 tiOn of His Remarks Regarding
 BOmbardment of New YOFk-NO Criti-
 cism of the Defenses of New York
 Officers of Both squadrOns Regret
 That Princes Remarks Should Have
 Been Distorted.
 New York, Nov. 12.-Five thousand persons visited the armored cruiser Drake, flagship of Rear Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, between the hours of and 4 o'clock to-day. A crowd num- bering half as many were waiting out side the Cunard pier, where the Drake was berthed, with the hope of going on beard when the squad of police at the entrance announced at 4 o'clock that the ship was closed to visitors for the day.
 The prince spent the morning quietly, lunched with friends in the city at i o'clock, went for an automobile ride in the afternoon and tonight was the per- soral guest of Mayor Mcclellan at din- ner.
 A mistake about the hour at which morning service began prevented the prince from worshippfng in old Trinity as he had planned. Thinking service began at Il o'clock he made arrange ments to leave the ship at 10:45. Just about that time he received a note from the British consul general informing him that 10:30 was the hour for service and asking the cause of his delay. The prince admitted the mistake and rather than put in an appearance when the service was half over decided to remain on board and spent the remainder of | the morning answering some of the many letters with which he has been flooded since his arrival here. To the keen annoyance of the prince his re- marks several days ago about the dis astrous effect upon the tall buildings in New York of the combined fire of eigh- | teen warships anchored in the North river have been misinterpreted into a | criticism of New York's defenses. In reply to the direct question, Do you | think the combined fleet of vessels 1 from their anehorages in the North river could destroy the tall buildings in New York?'' the prince said he certain 1 ly did think such a result would follow a bombardment directed from the an chorage. Naval officers of both squad rons regret that the remark should have been misinterpreted or incorrectly reported.
 Tt is like asking if you touched a match to a haystack would it burn, ' said the prince to-day. "As a matter of fact there is no reason why any naval force should seek to destroy buildings which could easily be recon structed. I desire that this matter be put correctly, for an impression has been made which I had not the slight est notion of conveying"
 The admiraPs quarters were the only part of the Drake which was not oper to the crowds of visitors to-day. The officers and men devoted a great dea of time to answering numerous ques. fions and showing the visitors all about the ship.
 The visitors were much interested ir the portable ball room which has beer put in place and extends for seventy feet along the boat deck.
 It is enclosed in heavy red and white striped canvas and the interior is taste fully decorated with British and Amer ican flags. The first dance to be giver in the ball room will occur tomorrow evening when the warrant officers o. the Drake will entertain 300 warran officers from the other American ant British warships The grand ball whicf the prince gives on Tuesday night vii be brilliant affair. Tomorrow nigh the prince and Admiral Evans, witt their flag and commanding officers, vii attend the dinner at Coney Island which the American b1uejackets vii give to the British sailors.