The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-24

Special Correspondence to The suS.
BERLIN, June when the Relchstag
had been convened for Friday. May rs
at 3 T.. NJ. and when 1t became generally
under stood that Won Bethmann-Hollweg
would speak on the new Italian COM
plication, the Reichstag building became
the Berlin Mecca for an afternoon. Long
before the appointed hour the public
swarmed to the Koenigs Platz, a large
area Of which was kept clear By a
Gordon Of mounted and foot police.
Excitement was in the air. Through
the entrances passed hundreds Of the
fortunate ones holding admission cards.
Members Of the feudal aristocracy.
country squires and their ladies, capt.
tallsts and financiers, the tradesman
and mechanic, officers returned from
the front. as also their comrades in
arms still in the gala uniform Of gar
rison duty, the world of arts and SCI
ence, housewives and blooming maidens.
actresses and shopgirls-while here and
there a wounded and crippled soldier
who was respectfully aid.d to pass
through the crowd-all had come for
enlightenment at the country's fountain
OF political wisdom.
AT least an hour before the time for
the opening the galleries and boxes were
filled with an expectant public. The
diplomatic box was completely occupied,
while the gallery OF the press was
packed to standing room only"
Each time one of the blue plush
portieres on either side of the Presi-
dents chair was raised a thrill passed
through the house. who is 1t? Is that
-" was asked. Those who knew, as
well as those who did not, were kept
busy enlightening their eagerly ques-
tioning neighbors.
some In Field Uniform.
The members Of the Reichstag filed
in un~interruptedly. singly and in twos
and threes some in the field gray uni
form of the officer or common soldier.
denoting that they had come from the
front, others. again. in business suits
or, the more fastidious. in elaborate af-
ternoon dress. The elevated seats OF
the Federal Council were Allied. Ad-
miral Won Tlrpitz. the commander In
chief of fhe German navy, was one of
the first to arrive. Notwithstanding the
great responsibility resting on his shout
ders at present he appeared hale and
hearty. carrying n kind of "A devil nay
care" air never noticeable in hSn be-
fore. Furthermore, there were present
Won Jagow. Minister of State DR..
Lisco, Attorney-Ceneral Or. Delbrueck
Kraetke. Postma ster-General DR.. Solf.
Minister of the Colonies; Or. Helferich
and Gen. Won Loebell, representing the
Secretary OF War.
Finally there came through from the
mysterious entrance In the rear the I'm
perial Chancellor, Won ! ethmann-Hol-
veg. overtowering all others by several
tnches. Dressed in the field gray uni
form of a Major of Dragons. the Chan
cellor, well tanned. appeared more hardy
than ever. His face bore an expression
Of almost austere seriousness. Quietly
he seated himself in the first seat OF the
tier for the Federal Council and forth
with busted himself with his documents,
apparently oblivious TO his surround
ings.
DR.. kempf. the President. opened the
meeting with a number of business an
nouncements. to which no one seemed
to pay any attention. Then before she
proceedings of the day were taken UP
the Imperial Chancellor arose and amid
a dead silence began what may fea.
sonably be considered his historical ad-
dress.