Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-07
Coghlan Spectacular Character,

Rear Admiral Joseph B. Coghlan
U. S. N, who died at New Rochelle
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. shrdl vbgkqjh
ter. He was a gallant sea fighter,
commanding the cruiser Raleigh in the
capture by Admiral Dewey of the Phil
ippines at the outbreak of the Spanish
American war, and brave as he was in
combat, he was equally attractive on
land, only in another way.
Besides winning fame when he was
Captain Coghlan as the commander of
the Raleigh in the great naval victory
in the Philippines, the admiral sprang
into international prominence as the
officer who fathered the poem, 'Hoch
der Kaiser"
That episode in his career occurred
in the spring of 1899. Captain Cogh-
Ian, as he then was, had just brought
the Raleigh home from Manila. 1t
was the first vessel of Dewey's squad
ron to return, and New York gave the
ship a warm welcome The climax of
the celebration was dinner given by
the Union League club to the officers
of the Raleigh. Elihu Root, then pres
quet and Captain Coghlan was the
chief speaker.
The latter told about the battle of
Manila bay, carefully emitting the part
he played in the engagement himself.
By way of winding up the speech he
told about the friction between the
German Admiral Won Diederich and
Admiral Dewey. Captain Coghlan was
reported as saying:
''An officer of Admiral Won Dieder-
ich came aboard the Olympia one day
to make a complaint to Admiral Dewey
because one of his ships had been
tstopped during the strict blockade
| following the battle.
7 Tell your admiral those ships OF
his must stop when 1 say So said Ad
miral Dewey. L wish to make the
blockade of this harbor complete
: But we fly the German flag the
German officer replied
"'Those flags can be bought for hall
a dollar a yard anywhere the Aiheri
can admiral retorted
He told the German officer that {
whole Spanish fleet might come at hin
with German flags up.
"'Tell your admiral-and be sure t.
state it explicitly as coming from me
that the slightest infraction of any 0
my rules will only mean one thing
and that will be war. If your people
lare ready for war with the Unite,
States they can have it at any time
After that they didn't breathe NOR
than four times successfully withou
asking permission"
Captain Coughlan's speech brough
hearty cheers and enthusiasm fror
those present. Later in the evenin
he was called upon by members of hi
staff to recite "Hoch der Kaiser" T
the intense delight of his hearers h
consented. 1t follows:
Der kaiser Won das fatherland
und Colt und all dings command:
: We two-ach, Don't you understand?
Meinself--und Colt!
4 Vile some men sing der bower divine.
l Mein soldiers sing Die Wacht am Rhine
Und drink der health in Rhenish wine
OF Mound Colt.
a IDere's France she swaggers all aroundt
She's usgespieldt--she's no aggound;
[ ITO much we dink she don't amOund.
Mein self--und Colt,
She will not dare to fight again:
But II she shouldt, I'll show her blain
dot ElSaSS und Tin French) Lorraine
Are mein-by Colt!
- Dere'S grandma drinks she's NIGHT selma
e Midi Beers und such she interfere; [bee
q She'll learn none owns dis hemisphere
But me-und Colt!
Y She drinks. good frau. from ships she's g.
; lUnd soldiers NIT der scarlet goat.
l. Ach, We could knock dem. pouf, Like dc
K Meinself-midt Gott
S In dimes of peace prepare for wars;
bear der helm and spear of Mars,
, Cnd care not for ten thousand czars,
l. Meinself-midt Colt!
In fact.I humor efry within.
} Midi aspect dark and visage grim
e Colts pulls init me und l nit Him,
Mein self-und Colt!
A. Captain Coghlan recited the poe
d with inimitable droliery and with ;
d lexcellent imitation of broken Englis
T. Teutonic style, the recitation bringil