The San Francisco call., 1908-10-22
MIKADO'S MINISTERS
HONOR U. S. FLEET
Premier Katsura Gives Dinner
and Ball to American
Officers in Tokyo
Admiral Togo Entertains at a
Garden Fete and Others
Show Hospitality


TOXIC. Oct 21.-The dinner and ball
given this evening in honor of the visit
of the American fleet of battleships
by Premier Katsura at his residence
brought together about 1900 prom
inent people, including all the Ameri-
can officers who were invited to the
ball. The guests at the. dinner, how
ever, were confined TO those holding
official positions. There were no set
speeches Premier Katsura proposed
the health of President Roosevelt. and
American Ambassador OBrien that of
the Emperor of Japan. A toast TO
the fleet by the premier was responded
to by Rear Admiral Sperry.
The ball was the most brilliant func-
ton of the week and brought the Amer
leans and Japanese into the closest
touch. The ballroom found American
officers dancing with the wives and
daughters of Japanese. the majority of
whom were dressed in European cos
tunes. Premier Katsura proved him
self a perfect host. moving in and out
and greeting all the Americans in the
kindliest manner.
Among those present were Sir Claude
Macdonald. the British ambassador,
Baron Mumm Won Schwartzenstein,
German ambassador, French Ambassa-
dor Gerard, and representatives. from
all the other embassies and legations.
Admiral Togo gave a magnificent
garden party today, which was one of
the most elaborate functions of it's kind
ever seen in Toxic. 1t was held in
the grounds of the Shinjiku Imperial
gardens, which are the property of the
empress and which comprise about
1000 acres of lawn. broken by woods
and water and with vistas equaling
those of the park at Versailles. The
invitations numbered 1900 and the
guests included all the American Off
GERS of higher rank and Japanese from
every walk in life. The souvenirs dis
tributed were silver gilt cloisonne pin
badges-with the Japanese and Ameri-
can flags, in colored enamel, inter
twined
A luncheon was given by Lieutenant
General Viscount Terauchi, minister of
war, at the Arsenal gardens and was
attended by Ambassador O'Brien. Rear
Admirals Sperry and Emory and half
the officers. Mitsui, one of the richest
men of the empire, also gave luncheon
at the Mitsui club. 1t was attended by
Secretary Peter C. Jay of the American
embassy, Rear Admirals Schroeder and
Wainwright and the remainder of the
officers.
WAR MINISTER SPEEKS PEACE
viscount Terauchi, in proosing the
health of Rear Admiral Sperry and
welcoming the American fleet, said that
in courage and patriotism the Ameri-
cans and the Japanese were singularly
alike. He expressed firm belief that
the nations would draw closer together
until a disturbance between them would
be impossible and consequently peace
would be forever maintained. Rear
Admiral Sperry responded
AT the Mitsui club, where a special
theater had been built for Japanese per-
formers who contributed to the enter
tainment, Baron Mitsui proposed the
health of Rear Admiral Schroeder, and
the latter that of the emperor.
PROGRESS CAUSES SURPRISE
Rear Admiral Schroeder expressed his
surprise and admiration at the progress
made by Japan in a quarter of a century
and congratulated its people thereupon
Recalling his previous presentation to
the emperor. 80 years ago, he expressed
his qualification upon observing how
we'll the nations ruler carried his ad-
vancing years, and he proposed the
health of the Japanese naval officers,
which the Americans drank after three
hearty cheers.
With the week of celebration half
elapsed. it is marvellous to note how
the enthusiasm of the populaee is sus-
tanned. Everywhere there are vast
crowds to cheer the American admirals
and their attending officers as they are