The Washington herald., 1912-03-31
AMBASSADOR LEISHMAN
GIVES BERLIN A SURPRISE
DR.. HiIls Successor Shows Progressive Attitude
Toward Business.

Berlin, March 3o-The opinion that
Beriiners have OF ambassadors in gen.
eraI, and American ambassadors in par
ticuIar, has always been that they were
a rather stupid lot, fond Of show and
society. and at best harmless 6ones. at
worst despicable schemers trying TO get
the best of the German government In
every deal. Since his arrival, the Ameri-
can Ambassador, Mr.. Leishman, how
ever, has given the people OF Berlin
cause for revising their opinion, for the
new American Minister seems indeed TO
have Inaugurated new diplomatic era.
He recently made a journey to Essen
to visit the world-famous krupp steel
and iron works; this week he visited the
charlottenburg Technical High School TO
watch experiments for drawing nitrates
out OF the air, and he will shortly go
over the works OF the Allegemeine Elek-
tricitats Gesselschaft, one of the largest
electrical plants in the world. He culti-
Yates, meantime, the~society Of Berlins
captains OF industry and finance. in adj
dition to his duties vis-a-vis the court
and German nobility. Possibly the Am
bassador is merely following his natural
bent in making excursions somewhat be-
yond the periphery which bounds the
old world diplomats in conception OF his
functions. but IL is clear that such ex-
cursions must greatly add TO any diplo-
mats knowledge and utility and aid
very substantially, moreover, toward a
good commercial understanding between
the country which he represents and that
TO which he is sent.
Princesses and the "RInE."
Some CONSERVATION has been caused in
the highest circles Of German society
by the statement published in the emil
nently respectable VossIsche Zeituns that
princesses Of German royal houses have
become patronesses Of public priLe-fght-
ing.
Declaration to that effect are made BY
Joe Edwards. well-known English.
boxing master. who Is chiefly responsible
for the popularity Of the manly art in
Berlin. Writing to the Vossische Eel
tung about Police President Won ia
COWS Interdict on public boxing exhibit
tions. Mr.. Edwards says he finds the
decree incongruous in view Of the fact
that no less exalted a parsonage than
Princess Charlotte Of Saxe-Meiningen.
the eldest sister of the German EN-
peror, reserved seats for the recent Car
pentier-Sulliyan mill at Monte Carlo.
Mr. Edwards also declares that another
German princess, the Grand Duchess OF
Mecklenburg. was at the ringside.
HIthertoo there has been In Germany
rather labored affection of supercil-
ious indifference 10 the manifestation OF
aerial enthusiasm in France The ener-
getic and systematic movement in pro-
gress west of the Rhine has been con-
temptuously dismissed as "air fever! A
change In German sentiment became ap-
parent with the Introduction of the
French governments comprehensive
plans for military airmanship. Estimates
Of 5000 for aeroplanes. airships. and
"squadrillas'' were calculated to create
a deep impression here. and there is now
a perceptible inclination to take the
French preparations as seriously as they
deserve to be In fact. they are now
getting on Germany's nerves.
Count Reventlow. that indefatigable
megaphone of anti-everything-non-G