Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-02
British Inspiration
of the German Navy
Archibald Eurd's "Ths German Flsst"

VI IuO VOI uldu navy |
- Archibald Kurd's "Ths German fleet" -
TN VERY special sense the German navy is the
Il child OF the British navy, which is the mother or
all the great naval OF the world today. From
the first II has been secret that the German
fleet definitely planned the model furnished
by the many centuries development Of the British
navy and that Emperor William has been one OF tho
principal agencies through which this formative In
fluence has been exerted in more recent years. He
to the throne at a moment when naval sent-
ment in Germany at its lowest point and he as
sisted the initial revival which occurred before
Grand Admiral Won Tirpitz came on the scene.
Old residents of Portsmouth still remember boy
whom they occasionally walking about the doch-
yard looking at the ships with admiration and rapt
attention Ills greatest delight seemed TO be 10
watch the great ironclsds moving in and out Of Spit
head Sometimes he would find his way on board
vessels OF the royal navy. This lad none other
than the present German emperor. AS a grandson
OF Queen Victoria. he a frequent visitor in mis-
boyhood and early manhood to his grandmother dur
ing the summer months when she was in residence ut
Osborne. and occasion his father and mother.
then crown prince and princess of Germany,
rented Norris castle. the outskirts of Cowes, and
lived there for several months with their children
Prince William, who was great favorte of the late
queen. thus not only became eager spectator OF
the naval pageants In the soent directly under the
windows OF Osborne house and Norris castlt, but
watched with interest the gay assemblage in Cowes
roadstead for the regatta from year to year.
At this time the newly created German empire had
practically fleet During the Franco Prussian
the few ships which Few the flag OF the North German
confederation weak that they could take
part in the conflict The memory Of these recent
events still fresh in the mind Of the future
peror when he visited England and watched the activ
tiles of the British navy whose far-flung squadrons
performed the triple task OF protecting the mother
land from fear of Invasion safeguarding all its
possessions and defending British ocean-borns
commerce. He determined that he. too. would have
great fleet when he succeeded to the throne of tho
German empire
This is imaginary picture OF the ideas which
taking in the mind OF the ruler OF the Ger
empire today. Years afterward-n fact, in 1901
addressing King Edward. on the occasion OF his maj
estys visit to the Kiel regatta, the emperor paid
tribute to the and traditions Of the British
navy. with which. hc added, he became acquainted
youth during visits which he paid to England.
He recalled that nc had had many a sail in the
Dolphin and Alberta. old British yachts. and had
mighty ironclads constructed which had since
served their time disappeared from the navy list
when l to the throne attempted TO
duce on a scale commensurate with the resources
and interests of my country that which had made
such deep impression my mind when 1 saw 1t
as young man in England
As the British Parliament is the mother Of ALL
popular representative institutions the British
navy Is the mother of navies II the records OF
of the great fleets OF the world searched. 1t
will be found that in greater less degree they owe
their birth to the more less direct assistance OF
the British naval offices, Outlines acting with the
direct authority Of the British admiralty.
In the of the modern German fleet the
British admiralty had little part in its upbuiding
but British naval power fired the admiration Of tho
| emperor. and II a kindly present made years
| before by King william w TO the then king
Prussia which first directed his majestys thoughts
| towards the sea. When the present emperor was
| boy. OF his favorite recreations to sail
! beautiful model OF about twenty tons of a British
! frigate the Havel lakes, near Potsdam. This
! little ship. Of excellent workmanship, sent az
present the then ruler OF Prussia early in the last
| century by sailor king, and was never-faiiins
source OF pleasure 10 the present German emperor
as youth. From his earliest years at home and in
England the future rulers aspirations were always
! towards the sea. and that his dreams
Of later years which have taken such tangible shape
were largely due to these vivid impressions Of
! power which he obtained during his visits to Eng
| land. and which reached their climax In 1883 when
Queen victoria on the occasion OF his visit to the
Cowes regatta. conferred him. foreign monarch
the. then, unique rank Of admiral of the fleet
on a subsequent occasion. at Malta. his majesty
again visited British fleet Arriving at this great
naval base. he announced that on the following day
he would inspect one of the men-of-war Accord
ingly he proceeded board. and his flag forth
with hoisted 1t was thought that his majesty would
formally walk around the decks and then take some
| light refreshments and return to his yacht This
was not the case. however. No sooner did the en-
peror reach the quarterback. where he received
with naval honors by all the officers. than he took
| off his coat ana intmated that he was ready to go
the turrets 60 the engine and boiler and kept
the captain fully occupied in answering multitude
Of questions to the design and equipment OF the
vessel with all the impetuosty of his nature he
| dived into every hole and corner and saw every
thing the captain kept busy that he
forgot his duty host and the wines he had laid in
for the occasion. At last the inspection was ended.
the questions ceased, and his majesty prepared after
| compmenting the captain the smartness OF his
| ship to go down the companion ladder TO his lunch.
As he did So he turned TO this commanding officer
| and said: Yours must be the largest ship in the
British navy" 81 think not, majesty, replied
| the captain; 'it's only 40 feet long" "oh, You
surely are mistaken" added the emperor and the
captain remembered the naval slang to long ships
in the navy'-namey, those with long intervals be-
tween refreshments. He forthwith ABOLISHED pro
fusey for the oversight. and implored the emperor
20 return to the cabin His majesty would not how
ever do so. but added January "a Is my birthday,
ana my orders that that day you entertain
all your brother captains 20 dinner and drink my
health He then left pleased with the result OF the
| incident
When the day arrived. the dinner duly held
and the guests enjoyed themselves immensely, Dur