The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-06
LUNCHEON FOR TAFT
Car Specially Aonors our Secretary
Of War.

Gar Specially Honors Our Secretary
Of War.
ST. PETERSBURG Dec. 5.-Secre-
tarS Taft took luncheon with Emperor
Nicholas at Tsarskoe-Selo and recely.
cd from his majesty the frankest ex-
preston of Russa's sentiments Of
sympathy and regard for the United
States. The emperor requested Mr..
Taft to convey his greetings to Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
The luncheon took place at the so
called little palace the residence of
the emperor.
Later Secretary Taft was received
by his majesty in his private study
and spent some time with him in con-
yersatlon. The emperor discussed mill.
tary topics at considerable length.
He questioned Mr.. Taft concerning
his Journey over the Transsiberlan
railroad and drew contrast between
the present means of communication
and the method in vogue. three horse
sleighs and steamers across the rivers
and lakes, when he made his trip
across Asia to inaugurate the Trans
siberian lines His majesty showed n
keen interest ia the problems which
the American government Is trying 10
solve in the Philippine Islands, and
he asked many questions concerning
the new Philippine assembly. The EN-
peror referred also in a complimentary
manner to the work done by the
| American government on the isthmus
Of Panama in its fight against yellow
| fever.
The party afterward proceeded to
the riding school, where the Semenov-
sky regiment, 1900 strong and accom-
panied by machine gun battery and
several other detachments, was drawn
up. The emperor and Secretary Taft
were received with cheers. Then the
emperor and his guests. accompanied
by their respective STATS, walked to-
gether through the lines of the regi-
ment and inspected its formation
When this examination was over the
troops passed twice at a quick step
before the reviewing party. and then
the host and his guests returned to the
palace for luncheon.
Secretary Taft was seated at the
right. of the emperor, and Brigadier
General Edwards was given a place at
the right of General Baron Fredericks,
| . q,
In the course of the luncheon En-.
peror Nicholas toasted the Semenov.
sky regiment and thanked the officers
for their loyal services in the recent
trying times. He made a special ref
erence to the work of this regiment In
putting down the Moscow Instruction.
While the emperor was converSing
with his officers after luncheon Secre-
tary Taft chatted with Prince Dolgo-
roukl, the master of ceremonies. who
was friend of Mr. Taft's father when
the latter was American minister to
Russia.
The secretary was the guest of hon.
or last night al banquet given by NJ.
lswosky, the foreign minister. which
was attended 10y the leaders of the
Russian state. The occasion was
marked. by great cordially and the ex.
change of mutual hopes that the bonds
of friendship between the two coun-
tries would he strengthened.
In proposing the health of the secre-
tary and Mrs. Taft and the distin-
gulshed party accompanying them the
Russian foreign minister said that II
was n keen pleasure to welcome one of
the leading statesmen of the great
northern republic.
Mrs. Taft only last night learned of
the serious Illness of Mr.. Taft's moth
er and decided to abandon her Euro
pean trip and return with the secre-
tary on the steamer President Grant.