Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
RATE WAR In SIGHT
Transatlantio Lines Nay Garry People
Across Water for Nominal Sum.
AGREEMENT BEFORE FIGHT NOT RENEWED
Clash Possible with Present Associates In
Opposition for Trade
BELGIAN EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTIC
Germans Interested in Plans Of Proposed
Visit to eouth.
KAISER SHOWS DISLIKE FOR NEWSPAPERS
AZ Theater of Herr Bonn Emperor
Takes Occasion TO Compliment
Manager on Attitude
Toward Press.

BERLIN. April s.-Cspecial. 1.-The ques-
ton Is everywhere being asked as to
whether there is to be a renewal of the
North Atlantic rate war in the not far dis
tant future. Such an eventuality seems by
no means distant of realization in the light
Of statements contained in the annual re-
port Of the Hamburg-American company
Since the long continued conflict Of a few
years ago, which resulted in the carriage
of passengers across the Atlantic at almost
nominal fares, the position Of the Cunard
company has been one of practical inde-
pendence. The previously existing agree
ments have never been renewed, despite
the efforts of the combine acting in co-op-
GRAFTON with the German lines, to re-estab-
lish them. The Cunard company has ad-
hered to the agreement in principle. bat 1t
Is claimed that when this is said it is about
all that can be said. Moreover, the Cunard
companys close relations with the Austro-
Hungarian government in regard to the
carriage Of emigrants from the Mediter-
ranean have always been a source of an
noyance to the German lines, while the
'all-British" company's share OF the Scan
dinavian emigrant trafic is not little be-
grudged in Teutonie shipping circles
Shipping authorities say that it is, of
course. possible that the Hamburg Amer
lean and Nord Deutscher Lloyd companies
have outlined an expensive campaign, but
the results OF the last passenger war are
declared to have been 80 disastrous to
everybody concerned that there are those
who regard its repetition as highly lmprob-
able. In that contest the Cunard company
IS always supposed to have come of the
best, but now what appears to be a con-
tingency is a fight in which the interests
OF the combine proper and the Cunard
company would be identical. The peculiar
ity OF the position would be that the COM
bine would be guaranteeing by agreement
6 per cent dividends on certain proportions
OF the shares Of the two great German lines
with which IL was in conflict. This would
appear 70 be such an obviously absurd sit
uation that It almost seems to predispose
OF the idea that matters will be carried to
oxtremities.
Expedition to south Pole.
The proposed scheme for a Belgian expe-
dition tc the south pole is making steady
progress towards realization and though
things Belgian arc generally not given
great deal OF attention In Berlin unusual
interest Is being taken In this particular
expedition The committee in charge has
already been formed and 1t includes M
W
members OF the hrst Belgian expedition to
the antarctic regions. Steps have even been
taken towards having a suitable ship built
and the committee intend having a vessel
so htted as to be used for any further ex-
petitions, either to the north or the south
pole. The only problem which has not been
solved is the very important one OF funds
According to the statements made TO Her
lin scientists interested the committee
needs $4,000, and It hopes TO be able TO se
cure that amount without too much trouble
or delay.
Emperor DiSIIkes Preas.
The German emperor is revealing once
more his strong antipathy TO the newspaper
press which he has demonstrated on many
previous occasions.
The latest opportunity occurred in con-
nection with a visit which his majesty paid
to the Berlner theater. now conducted by
the actor Ferdinand Bonn. As a theatrical
manager Herr Bonn has been unanimously
condemned by the dramatic critics OF every
newspaper in the capital. Before he as
sumed managerial duties Herr Bonn was a
popular actor and he now keenly resents
the press criticism and procaims open hos
unity to the newspapers and all connected
with them just at present Herr Bonn's
adaptation OF THE Hound of the Basker-
Viiles Is being given nightly and he has
worked into the text several yelled attacks
on the newspapers.
After the performance the other evening
the emperor summoned Herr Bonn 10 his
box and said: Il admire IN particular the
courage wherewith you have dared to ex-
press certain truths In this play. I now
understand what opposition you have been
obliged to overcome here"
The TRgeblatt, referring to the imperial
utterance writes; "In our opinion the en-
peror's allusion TO certain courageous truths
can ony mean the yelled attacks which
Herr Bonn directs against the newspaper
press in his play. We however. retain our
opinion that the criticism TO which Herr
Bonn Is obliged TO submit is fully justified
by the kind OF dramatic art which he eul-
uvates at his theater."
II is clear that In this case the emperor
adopted not only an attitude hostile to the
nswspapers, but an attitude dramatically
opposed TO the opinion prevailing In intel
leetual circles In Berlin.
statue of william of Orange.
The statue OF William III Of Orange,
which the German emperor has presented
20 King Edward OF England is a bronze
figure nine feet in height It will be shipped
20 England In June. when an exact dupli-
cate viii be erected on the terrace Of the
Royal Palace In Berlin. According to Herr
Heinrich Baucke the sculptor who Is max
ing both the figures, the emperor decided
20 send the statue 70 England after seeing
the sculptor's rough sketch. What a CAP
ital present that would make for EnRiandl'
he exclaimed His majesty's original inten-
ton was 70 send a miniature statue as a
private present TO King Edward, but the
idea Was given up in favor OF a fulI-sized
hEure which according TO the words OF the
kaiser's written Instructions Is intended
''for the English nation
miniature model OF the statue was
presented 70 Queen Wilhelmina on her last
birthday.