The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-17
HOCH DER KAISER

The State Journal is requested to
reprint the famous poem, "Hoch der
Kaiser" and give its history.
Norris L. Gage of Topeka, Kan.
and'Ashtabula, Ohio, recently printed
the story and poem in an Ashtabula
paper.
He wrote:
The Coghlan family owned and
occupied for many years the old Fos-
ter farm at the top of the hill. lust
this side of the locality known as the
POINT in Plymouth. The Elder Cogh-
Ian was scientific farmer and well
known thru the county as a lecturer
on agricultural topics His son Joseph
was educated in the schools of this
city, and later graduated m the naval
academy at Annapolis and spent most
of his life on the high seas as a naval
offlcer. He was navigating officer of
the Asiatic fleet when Admiral Dewey
was sent over to take command of
that fleet.
Knowing that Capt. Coghlan was
skilled in every angle and incident of
the oceanic waters, Dewey placed
upon him the responsibility as pilot
of taking our fleet of war ships into
Manila Harbor, infested as it was be-
lieved to be by mines and defenses
His success in this hazardous under
| taking entities him to the credit more
than is due to any other man of the
| capture of Manila bay and city. All
the admiral had to do after CoghIan
had placed the fleet safely before the
city. was to say, You may commence
firing, Gridley, whenever you are
ready
Two years ago Captain Coghlan
when making his last visit to Ashta-
| bula, was entertained by our Chamber
! of Commerce at a noon-daS luncheon
| said fn that Cinn "a
| Dewey congratulated him in the
warmest terms for his work as navi-
eating Hficer. but never mentioned his
name in his official report to the gov
| eminent.
AT a private banquet of a few
naval officers a few years ago, Cap
| tain Coghlan repeated a poem based
| upon a statement made by the kaiser,
wherein he ranked himself as superior
to the Creator in earthly affairs. The
| German government demanded that
the officer who had so scandalized the
kaiser be punished. Whereupon, Cap
| tain Coghlan was gently slapped
upon the wrist by mild reprimand.
THE authorship of the poem has
never has been proven, and Rear Ad-
miral Coghlan died recently at his
home in Berkeley, Cal, retired naval
officer.
"'Hoch Der Kaiser was first pub
lished in a Montreal newspaper, signed
| with a pseudonym. 1t has been as
cribed to different names, but it is
usually accepted as the work of a Ca
madam named Rose, who died a year
or two before Captain Coghlan's
recitation made the poem famous"
The poem reads as follows:
Der Kaiser of dis Faterland
Und Colt on high all dings command
| We two--achi Don't you understand?
Myself-und Gott.
Mein soldiers sing Der Wacht am Rhine,
Und drunk der health in Rhenish wine
OF Me-und Gott
L Dere's France. she swaggers all aroundt.
She ausgespield, of no account,
Too much we think she don't amount;
Myself-und Colt.
She will not dare to fight again.
But II she shoqldt, III show her blain
Are Mein-by Colt.
Dere's grandma drinks she's NIGHT small
Nit Beers und such she interfere:
She'll learn none owns dis hemisphere
But me-und Gotti
She drinks. good frau. fine ships she's got
Und soldiers init der scarlet goat.
Aeh! We could knock themi Poufi Like dot
Myself-mit Gotti
In dimes of peace brebare for wars.
bear the spear and helm of Mars,
Und care not for thousand Cars,
Myself-mitt Colt,
In fact. 1 humor efery whim
With aspect dark and visage, grim;
Gott pulls nit Me. und nit Him,
Mysef-und Colt.
/. =-=-==