The Washington times., 1912-08-08
EMPEROR PRESENT
At CENTENARY OF
KRUPP GUN WORKS
Great Celebration to Last
Week At Essen,
i Germany.


the centenary of the great firm Of
Krupps, for which preparations have
been going forward for nearly two
years. began today at Essen! The cele-
bration is attended by the Emperor
William at the head of a brilliant gal
axy of his fellow-German sovereigns,
generals, admirals. and civic dignitar-
les. ....
The celebration will last an entire
week and will be Of most imposing
and memorable character. The chief
feature will be a great pageant, which
will symbolize the substitution of fire.
arms for the old weapons of the middle
ages. The principal scene of the pa
geant will be an episode from the life
OF the Emperor Macmillan /, and $50
retired officers Of the German army are
to play the parts of knights.
the Emperor and other royal guests are
quartered at the Villa Hugel, the splen-
did country house of Herr Krupp Won
Bohlen-Halbach ch, who by marrying the
elder daughter Of the late Herr Rrlpp
became the head of the firm. The villa
Is located just outside Essen. The other
notable guests at the celebration are
being accommodated at the hotel in Es-
sen maintained by the Krupp company
exclusively for the accommodation Of
foreign buyers of their guns, armor, and
ships, who are always at Essen in large
numbers.
Emperor Interested.
The strong personal interest that the
Emperor is manifesting in the celebra-
ton Is not surprising In view of the
TACT that the firm Of Krupps Is almost
Q government institution. The arma-
ment branch of its business is in direct
touch with the German army and navy
snd studies their interests before any
tc In, rhDrA A..
tegral part Of the German Empire, and
curing the past decade or two II has
. done more for the military power of
tue empire than any commercial firm
government. Its patriotism needs no
better proof than the fact that the firm,
Whlle making guns and armor for near
~ az or the leading nations of the
any business with France since the
Franco Prussian war.
Inc foundation of the world-renowned
nrm was laid in 1872 by the first Alfred
OF the name, who gave the works their
international character. This he sue.
ceeded In doing only after seemingly In.
surmountable difficulties had been over.
come. According to his own statements
Alfred Krupp's profits for fifteen years
were no more than enough to pay the
wages Of his workmen, and frequentl,
ne was at loss to pay the postage OF
Alfred Krupp saw the possibilities OF
the great exposition to open in Lon.
don In 1851 and decided to take advant.
age OF 1t. He had made important dis.
coveries In the casting of large masses
OF Bessemer steel. which had been ar
insurmountable task previous to his
time. The exhibit he sent to London
once established his reputation. Order.
began to pour In and soon there wal
plenty OF work to do at the Esser
foundries.
Gets Big Contract.
The making of heavy ordnance, which
has made the name Of these work.
famous the world over. was not ther
a prominent part Of the business. Ont
Of the first large orders Herr KrupI
got for firearms was four years later
when Prussia gave him the contrac
for her new breechloaders. Soon gen
eraI foundry work and the making o.
small arms began to take second place
at Essen, as heavy steel siege guni
and armor plate demanded more ant
more attention.
In 1892. after the second Alfred KrupI
had been at the helm six years, ther,
were bat ten men employed at the
foundry. But after he fairly got start
rapidly. borrowing large sums of capi
tai for the purpose and adding new
workmen by thousands to his employe!
by the stroke OF pen:
Today the firm employs upward o.
10000 workmen. More than 10000 arr
employed at Essen. while the remand
er are distributed at the great collerie
owned by the firm. at its iron or,
mines, the works at Madgeburg an(
at the great ship yard at Kiel.