The Washington herald., 1907-05-11

washington's distinguished military and
naval guests gathered about a great oval
table in the banquet hail Of the New
Willard last evening. at a dinner given
by the Secretary Of War in honor Of Gen.
Baron Kuroki, the great japanese war
hero. About seventy-fiye men. over sixty
OF whom were in fun-dress uniform.
composed the dinner party. which as a
spectacle was unique in the history OF
the United States.
Never hes so widely disgimilar a gath
ering. from a racial standpoint. met In
/ Washington at an Official dinner. Five
foreign countries were represented by
military or naval officers or delegations
of both branches of service. The dinner
was given exclusively to the army ana
| navy officers, the only other guests being
distinguished putlie men Of the United
States. II was followed by q reception
for 100 guests that added to the bril-
Hsney OF the event
Secretary Taft sat at the center Ct the
table with Gen. Kuroki on his right and
Vice Admiral Ijuin on his left. Ranged
about the room were the representatives
Of China. Belgium, Brazil, and Chile. side
by side with American Onjcers OF high
rank. Senators. Representatives. ana
Cabinet officers. The big table was beau
tifully decorated with spring and early
summer flowers. which. together with the
tTesplendent uniforms and cleaning shirt
bosOms Of the civilian guests. rendered
the spectacle particularly brilliant.
Very Little FOrmaIitx.
There was little Of the formal in the
conduct Of the dinner. The guests chatted
/ throughout the courses, relating anecdotes
Of their war experiences. and told anus
/ ing stories. Secretary Taft engaged Gen.
KvralSi and Admiral Ijuin Ia continual
| conversation through an Interpreter. and
the little Japanese general was kept smfl-
/ ing iaeessantiy by the secrefarys iogias
remarks.
The United States army was represent
ed BY iss highest setting oficer. Iaeuq.
Gen. Macarthur, and retired officer.
Lieut. Gen. Miles, together with nunl-
Der of other generals and officers OF lesser
! rank. What occasioned some comment
J was the fact that the Admiral OF the
navy was not on the list of guests, that
/ branch OF the service being represented
/ by Rear Admirals Mason and EHdicott.
and a number of their interiors in rank.
An unusual feature of the function was
( the presence Of representatives Of the
/ imperial Chinese army and navy. Capt.
/ T. L. Lee and Lieut. S. c. Lin were
/ present In the gorgeous uniforms Of the
/ Chinese navy. and Mai Yu-gin-Wang
/ and Capt. Yen-ping- Wang wore the gold
/ and blue Of the Chinese Emperor's
| army The Chinese delegation was scat
| tered about the table. some with japanese
and American dinner companions and
others with South Americans
! No speeches were made. but the Sec
retary of War closed the dinner with a
! pretty compliment 10 his guest of honor,
which was returned in kind by the suave
japanese general The incident occurred
| at the end of the repast. Secretary Taft
arose. and lifting his glass. said:
Gentlemen, I propose the health Of his
| imperial majesty, the Emperor Of Japan
TOasts President in Return.
All rose and drank TO the toast. Capt.
| Tanaka interpreting the Secretary's s words
to Gen. Kuroki and Admiral Ijuin. Wnen
the guests had resumed their seats. Gen.
| Kuroki and his interpreter rose and the
general raised his glass. speaking in Jap
/ aRese. Capt, Tanaka repeated in English
/ that the general had proposed a toast TO
the United States and President Roose-
veit- Again the diners rose and drank to
/ the toast.
The company then left the banquet hsu
and proceeded upstairs. where a large
party OF distinguished Washington people
we're waiting to meet the foreign odicers.
Those present at the dinner were as fol-
lows:
Guests at Dinner.
The Secretary of War, the Assistant
| Secretary of War, Gen. Baron Kurolzi
Vice Admiral Ijuin, Lieut. Gen. Kieoshi
Senator Scott. Senator Foster, Senator
Warner. Lieut.. Gen. Macarthur Lieut.
Gen. Miles, Lieut. Gen. Young, Lieut..
Gen. Bates. Representative Hull, Repre-
sentative Parker. Mr.. St. George Tucker.
the Chief of Staff. Mai. Gen. Umeczawa.
llear Admiral Mason, Rear Admiral En-
dieott, Mr.. Wilson, Gen. Crozier. Gen.
Humphrey, Gen. Elliott, Gen. Hall Cen.
Sharpe, Gen. Allen. Gen. Duvail, Gen. Ed
wards, Gen. Sni1en, Gen Murray. Gen.
Darlington. Gen. Hams. Gen 0. E. Wood.
| Col Michel, Col. Raspopof. Col. Ots.
Capt, T. L. Lee, Chinese navy; Capt.
Leutze Col. Hatfield, Col BromweH. Col.
Chamberlain, Lieut.. Col. Montauban.
/ ADHlilAUuCI 1uAdSlllId- Lieut.. COL VAL
lee, Lieut.. Col. Magayama. Lieut.. Col. A.
| V de Pederneiras. Commander Marsh.
Lieut. Col. Wnn, Maj Korner. Mai.
Tanaka. Mai. DAvilia. Mai Yoshida. Mai
T0FanZ0, Maj. IH-gin-Wang. Lieut. Com
| mander S. S. Wood, Mai. Harte. Mai.
March, Capt. Fournier, Capt. Lefebvre,
Capt. Tanaka. Capt. Saigo, Capt Yen
ping-Wang. Capt. Wright, Capt. Brew
ster. Capt. Huteheson Capt Niche.
Lieut.. Portela, Lieut. S. c. Lin, Chinese
navy; Lieut.. Passig, Intendant Kabayashi,
Surgeon Tamura. Mr.. Seoheld, Mr. Car
penteT.
The corridors and lobby Of the hotel
were crowded with people eagerly wait
ing an opportunity 10 catch a glimpse Of
| the distinguished company. Secretary
Taft led the way through the corridor
to the elevators. the officers running a
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