The San Francisco call., 1909-03-10
JAPANESE HONOR
BRITISH SKIPPER
King Edward Permits Captain
Filmer of Nippon Maru to
Accept Decoration ~
Little Emperor of China Wealth
erS First Serious Illness,
Said TO Be Smallpox

Edward VII king and emperor, has
spoken. and William Edyvean Filmer.
other wise cap" Filmer. sometimes
'Old Man Filmer. commodore OF the
Toyo Kisen Kaisha and master OF the
liner Nippon Maru may now faunt
upon his bosom the insignia OF the
sixth class OF the Order of the Rising
sun. in other words, King Edward
has given the sturdy old sailorman per
mission TO wear the medal won by
deeds Of daring do during the Japa-
nese- Russian war. Captain Filmer, as
master of a Japanese army transport
navigated mined ana uniighted waters
without mishap and landed thousands
OF japanese troops. For his services
he was decorated by the mikado, but
as a loyal Britisher could not wear
the outward and visible sign OF i'm
perlal preferment until King Edward
gave his royal permission.
Captain Filmer received this royal
license a few weeks ago in Japan.
II is a formidable looking, document
and IN gracious language accords him
permission 10 accept and wear the mi
kado's gift, but it warns him that, al
though titled man IN Japan. he must
not confound himself with any Of the
noblemen created by King Edward
AT the top of the front page Of the
two leaved document is the kings
signature affixed with much OF the in
1ormality OF a railroad officials 20 k
and in the vicinity OF penciled hero
glyphic which evidently means king
please sign here" The signature. Ed
ward r and !. is the writing Of a
man In hurry but William Edvvean
tllmer is just as proud OF it as if his
majesty had penned the whole docu-
ment.
Baby Monarch Weathers Illness
The little emperor Of China has inst
recovered from his first baby sickness
and II was nothing less than an Ar
tack OF smallpox. Mrs. A II. Smith. an
American missionary who landed yes
terday from the liner Nippon Maru. has
spent nearly 40 years in China. and
she believes that il the little chap lives
he VIII see great changes in the en-
pre- over which he is theoretical ruler
lie had recovered from his sickness
when she left China, but has still to
Iace cholera, plague and few other
Asiatic handicaps on growing up that
even royal youngsters must expect in
the far east
uan Shih Kai, says Mrs. Smith was
the most alert public official in China.
and his forced retirement leaves China.
in the hands OF the Manchus except for
two men. One Of them. Chang Chi
Iung, she says. is a great vicerov. but
very old. The other official is almost
useless on account OF his extreme deaf
ness. China she says. is very restless
under the Manchu rule. and the mis-
slonarles fear trouble Mrs Smith and
her husband have lived at Shantung
TOT 20 years Smith is still there. She
has come home for a vacation.
Seeks New Marine Ideas
Among the passengers from the far
east who landed yesterday from the
liner Nippon Maru was y Yamamoto.
an Official connected with the japanese
bureau of merchant marine He is
said 10 be making q tour Of the world
in search Of new ideas TO be used for
The benefit Of Japan's prestige as an
ocean carrier. He viii spend some
time here and i'm New York. but will
spend most Of his time in Europe sur
veying the field that japan purposes
invading when the Panama canal is
open to traffic
Namamoto has bowing acquaint-
ance with the language spoken by
Japan's honorable ally. and by the Deo-
PIE OF the honorable United States. but
'e hopes during his sojourn in the
occident he saws. TO ameliorate his
enlightenment Of the English speak
ing
He smiled polite but bitter smile
~ mention OF the Chinese boycott. and
in reply 10 a question as to the pres
ent situation Of the embargo and its
effect on japanese trade, said:
4e boycott it is not quite. yes. II
you please"