The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05
GERMAN FLEET MAY MEET THE AMERICAN Idea PIeaSeS the People and
 Press BERLiN'S OPERA HOUSES Like New York, it Will Have Two. "eermanys Continued subser- viency to Russia" is Strongly
 Opposed.
BY MALCOLM CLARKE.

BY MALCOLM CLARKE. Berlin April 4-The plan of arranging meeting between squadron of the Ger man navy and the American battleship squadron now in tine Pacific has met with strong approval. It had been hoped that at least some of Admiral Evans vessels might visit some German port, when the squadron returns via the Suez canal but as this appears to be out of the question the idea of having a squadron of Ger manys most up-to-date battleships and cruisers meet the American naval circum- naVigators somewhere in the Mediterian- can, greatly pleases the German people and press.
 There are indeed several papers which suggest that Europe ought to show her admiration of Uncle Sam's officers and bluejackets by having d great interna- tional naval rendezvous take place off Alexandria. Battleshps and cruisers rep resenting every naval power in the old world should greet the American vessels as they emerged from the Suez canal and as a guard of honor escort them through the Mediterranean. the great naval pro- cession to end with a monster review off Gibraltar.
 
 proval by the press of Italy and France. That Great Britain would participate is | beyond any doubt and Austria and Rus sia would not hesitate to follow suit. As soon as it has been definitely settled that the American squadron will return home via the Suez canal a committee will be formed here to promote the plan of honoring the United States in this i'm posing manner. What may be termed a French-G German reconciliation committee has now actual Iy been formed greatly to the regret of the French Chauvinists, who still clamor for the restoration of Alsace and Lor- raine to France.
 It is to be the object of the committee, among whose members are many promi- nent statesmen, generals, judges, bankers and artists, both French and German, to work towards a reconciliation between the two countries, that have kept Europe armed to the teeth during the last three decades. An exchange of university pro- fessors and students will be the first step. Professors from the "Sorbonne" will lec- ture at Berlin, Goettingen and Heidel- berg and German scientists will address the students of French colleges.
 Conventions will be arranged to be held alternately here and in Paris, where mem- bers of the Reichstag and the French Senate and Chamber will meet.
 Like New York; the city of Berlin is now to have two opera houses. The present Royal Opera House is to be re- built and enlarged, and Manager Gregor of the Berlin Comic Opera announces that he will build an opera house which will make it's Royal rival look cheap in comparison.
 Manager Gregor's house for grand opera is to be opened five years from now in 1913, when it will be possible to produce Wagnerian operas without pay ing tantieme to the great composers family.
 Although the Kaiser is said not to be against the plan of his friend Czar Nich- olas of establishing a Russian naval sta ton on the Aalands Islands, the German press is very much opposed to what It calls "Germany's continued subserviency to Russia"
 In a recent editorial the Berlin Tage- blatt writes: "That Russia desires to take advantage of her present friendly rela- tons to France and England to get away from the paragraphs in the peace con ference of Paris is easily understood, but there seems to be no reason whatever why Germany should assist her
 Has Russia at any time shown any sign of gratitude toward Germany be- cause we stood by her during the Jap anese war? Did Russia take sides with us at Algeciras or at The Hague? No. For this reason we do not want to let Russia get the opportunity of establish ing an ice-free fortress in the Baltic sea. For this is Russia's main purpose.
 Jus. as Nicholas I. planned strong fortress in Bomarsund in the Aalands Islands and partly carried out his plan, thus Nicholas II. now desires, in spite or all official denials to establish naval ho fnr Ia f11f1 Baltic.
 Tt should be clear to our German diplo- mats that if we give our consent to the establishment of a Russian naval station and help the Czar to build fortress in the Baltic, Russia will, in case of war, be in a position to threaten the Swedish coast and paralyze all commercial inter- course between Germany and England They should further remember that we would incur the ill-wil of the Swedish people even if we might take the stand point that it is better for us to give our consent than to have the Czar- go ahead and fortify the islands without it.
 In a few days, according to a dispatch from Dresden, the little Princess Anna Monica Pia, daughter of the former Crown Princess of Saxony, later Countess Montogoso and present Mime. Toselii with the tutor Giron, will be solemnly regis
 
 family.
 The little girl, who is now almost years old, will be rebaptized and will be given the name of Princess Anna of Sax ony King Frederick of Saxony. who thus legitimatizes as his own child the lit \ tie girl of uncertain percentage has gone to Boaon where the princess has been kept closely guarded for many months.
 Because she believed in the woross or fortune -tellers one of the most beautiful members of the Vienna Royal ballet, Au- e1sta Reitzenstein. has committed smcloe in this city The girl, she was only 2l, had become engaged to a Berlin arust who visited her occasionally, but finding time hanging heavy on her hands she oe- gan to visit fortune-tellers, who told her that she would shoot herself before she was 23, because her sweetheart was un- faithful to her.
 The girl became Respondent and pousnI A revolver with which she began to prac- tice in the Tiergarten A few days ago. she asked the proprietress or the noaiu- ing house where she lived whether IL Was safer to fill your mouth with water ana fire a shot into it or to send puiiet through the brain.
 Yesterday the catastrophe came. nc girl went to her sweethearts studlo ana told him she has reasons to believe him faithless When he remonstrated she suddenly whipped out her revolver ana shot herself through the heart. She dled in his arms almost immediately
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