The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-12-09
"HocH DER KAISER

"HocH DER KAISER"
The death at New Rochelle, n. Y.
few days ago of Rear Admiral
Joseph B. Coghlan has recalled the
poem "Hoch der Kaiser which was
so prominently connected with his
name. At the battle of Manila Bay he
commanded the Raleigh of Admiral
Dewey's fleet, and he is credited with
having first read the verses at din
ner on board an American warship
there soon after that important event.
Later Admiral Coghlan recited them
at dinner at the Union League Club
in New York. April 81. 1899. At this
dinner Elihu Root presided and
Coghlan was the chief speaker of the
evening. He told story about the
rumored friction between the Ger
man admiral, Won Diederich, and Ad-
miral Dewey. Coghlan was reported
to have said a German officer COM
planned about the Americans prevent
ing German ships from entering the
harbor, and Dewey was quoted as re-
spending as follows:
Tell your admiral those ships of
his must stop when say so. wish
to make the blockade of this harbor
complete
But We fly the German flag the
German protested.
Those flags can be bought for half
a dollar a yard anywhere" was the
retort of the American admiral. Tell
your admiral, and be sure to say ex-
plicitly, as coming from me, that the
slightest infraction of any of my rules
will mean only one thing-war If
your people are ready for war with
the United States they can have it
any time"
The story brought cheers from the
diners, and in the demonstration that
followed the American captain was
called upon to recite the verses which
cable repor,s had credited to him as
having read at dinner following the
battle of Manila Bay He responded
with the verses in question as fol-
lows:
Hoch! der Kaiser.
Der Kaiser ouf der vatenand
und Colt on high, all dings command,
We two,
Ach, don'd you understand?
Meinself-und Colt.
He reigns in Heafen, und always SHALL
Und mein own empire don'd be small;
Elm noble bair, drinks you call.
Meinself-und Colt.
Vile some men sing der power divine.
Mine soldiers sing Die Wacht Am
Rhein.''
Und drink der health, in -heinisch
wine.
OF me-und Colt.
Dere's France; she swaggers all
arount,
She's ausgespielt,
TO much. NE thinks she don'd amount.
Nyself-und Gott
She will not dare to fight again,
Bur, If she should. III show blain
Dot Elsas ind Tin FRENCH Lorraine.
Are me-und Colt.
Dere's grandma. drinks she is NIGHT
small beer,
Midi Beers ind such she interfere:
She'll learn none owns dis hemisphere
But me-und Colt.
She drinks good frau, some ships she's
got
Ind soldiers midi der scarlet goat;
Ach, we could knock dem.
Pouf, like dot,
Myself-Midt Colt.
In dimes of peace brebare for wars;
7 bear der spear ind helm of Mars,
IND care not for den tousand czars.
Myself-midt Colt,
In fact. 1 humor efry yhim.
With aspect dark ind visage grim;
Colt pulls NIT me und 7 nit him.
Myself-und Colt,
This recitation, given by captain
81 the United states navy at a public
dinner al the Union League club. was
s9read broadcast By newspapers and
gained al international importance.
The German ambassador made a for
nal protest to the state department,
and Captain Coghlan was ordered
forthwith aboard his ship. He was
asked for an explanation and later
reprimanded AS punishment, how
eyer he vas advanced only five num-
bers Instead Of ten. which Dewey had
recommended for al his captains who
shared IN the Manila Bay victory.
The Terses were written in 1887
upon the occasion Of Emperor vii.
liam.g speech on the divine right Of
kings and his own special mission on
earth The author was Mr.. Cor.