The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-18

1
was an important secret agent of the
emperor's.
And what more likely? The kaiser,
as ruler of that complex empire. would
naturally seek to know the truth con-
corning those who sought his favor be
fore they were permitted to click their
heels or wag their fans and bow the
knee in his imperial presence. And he
had, no doubt, with that innate cum
ming, appointed his creature TO the pO-
sitiOn of court dancing mistress.
Emperor's First View of an AirpIane.
On October II, 1908, I had returned
with the emperor and his suite from
Hamburg, where his majesty had been
present at the launching of one of Herr
Ballin's monster American liners. l
was seated at the side table in his
private room in the Berlin SchlOss,
taking down certain confidential in
structiOns which he wished to be sent
| at once by one of the imperial couriers
to the cOmmandant of Posen.
Suddenly Won KahIberg, my col
league, entered with a message and
handed it to his majesty. The kaiser
at once grew excited and, turning to
me said:
1.-THE crown prince sends word from
Potsdam that the American, Orville
| Wright, is flying on the BOrnstedter
field. We must go at once. Order the
cars. And, Won Krahlberg, inform her
majesty at once. She will accompany
US, no doubt"
mic I Mo hi q ne
| one of his photographs knowing that
it would be wanted for presentation TO
the daring American-and he took up
his pen and scrawIed his signature
across it.
Within a quarter of an hour three
of the powerful cars were on their way
to POtSdam, the emperor with Herr
Anton Reitschel-a high German Off
cial at COnstantinople- Professor
Vambery in the first car ;, the kaiserin
with her daughter, Victoria Luise, and
the latter's ober-gouvernante govern
ess), with one Of the court ladies, in
the next while in the third rode with
Major Won SchoIl, one of the equer-
rfeS.
On arrival at the Bornstedter field it
was already growing dusk, and a great
disappointment awaited US. The crown
prince rode up to inform US gravely
that the flying was over for the day.
At this the kaiser grew angry, for he
had been out once before upon a wild
goose chase, only to find that Orville
Wright had gone home, declaring the
wind too strong.
At his fafhnr'c on hnvr-ox-or CIVIL
lie" burst out laughing, declaring that
he was only joking, and that all was
in readiness. Indeed, as he spoke, the
aviator came up and 1 presented him
to his majesty.
Then, while he stood alone in the
| center of the great, sandy plain, Mr.. Or
vile Wright clambered into his ma
chine and, rising, made many circuits
high above US.
The emperor stood with Herr Reit-
| schel and the shaggy old professor,
straining his eyes with keenest inter
est. 1t was the first time his majesty
had seen an airplane in fight. Much
| had been promised of Won Zeppelin's
invention, yet the German public had,
until those demonstrations by the
American aviator, taken but little heed
of the heavier-than-air machine. AT
that time, indeed, the emperor had not
taken up Won Zeppelin, and it was only
after seeing Orville Wright's demon
STATIONS that he entered with any en-
thusiasm into aeronautical problems.
High above US against the clear eve
ming sky, wherein the stars had already
begun to twinkle, the daring American
rose, dipped and banked, his machine
drontng like huge gadfiy, much to the
interest and establishment of the EN-.
peror.
'Marvelous!" he exclaimed, as ]
stood beside him, with the empress OF
his right. "How is it done"
The sight of man flying in the air
maneuvering his machine at will, rising
swiftly, and then planning down with
the engine cut off, was one of the most
amazing spectacles the loyal Potsdam
ers had ever seen. Even the emperor
with all his dreams of world power
could never for a moment have fore
seen what q great factor airpiane.
would be in war.
At last Wright came down in {
spiral, banked slightly, steadied him
self, and then came lightly to eartl
within a few yards of where we stood
having been the first to exhibit to the
emperor how completely the air haC
been conquered.
Afterwards, though 1t had nov
grown dark, the emperor, by the pow
erful headlamps of the three cars
thoroughly examined the American
airplane. the aviator explaining ever.
detail.
From that moment for months after
wards the kaiser was constantly talk
ing of aviation. He commanded pho
tographs of various types of airplanes
together with all literature on the sub
ject, to be placed before him. Indeed
he sent over to Britain, in secret, tw,
officers to attend the airplane meeting
held at Doncaster and BIackpool
where a large number of photograph
were taken, and duly found their wa,
! to his table.
The Dancing Mistress Visit
/ I have recalled the emperor's frs
: sight of an airplane in flight, in com
/ pany with Herr Anton Reitschel an
, Professor Vambery, because OF an in