The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-10
XIV
With Colonel House at
Potsdarn.

In May. 1914. Colonel House and
bis beautiful wife arrived 70 pay us
= VISIT In Berlin. He was, Af course.
anxious TO have talk with the en-
psror, and this was arranged by the
emperor inviting the colonel and me
30 what is called 'the Schrippen fest, -
at tho new palace at Potsdam-
For many years--in fact. since the
days of Frederick the Great--the
Earning 0~ehr) ba ttalion, composed OF
picked soldiers from all the regiments
OF Prussia has been quartered at Pots
dam On n certain day in April this
oAtta lion has customarily been given
n dinner at which the men eat white
rolls tSchrippe> instead OF the usual
black bread. This feast has been car
ried on from these older days and has
become quite a ceremony
COLONEL HOUSE
AT pOTSDAM
The colonel and I notored to Pots
Gam ARA yed In dress suits and waited
IN one OF the salons OF the ground
floor OF the new palace. Finally the
emperor and the empress and several
OF the princes and their wives and
the usual dignifaries Of the emperora
household arrived, The colonel was
presented to the ROYALTIES. and then
~ dlv1ne s@T'NlCS was DeiI IN the open
afr at one end of the palace The
empress and princesses occupied larve
chairs. the emperor stood WIKI his
sons behind him. and then the vari-
Gus dign itaries or the court The
Lehr battalion was drawn up behind
Thercwas aiarge band ana the choir
Dogs from the Berlin cathedral The
service wac very impressive, not less
80 because Of great Zeppelin which
lowered over our heads during the
whole OF the service.
After divine service the Tehr bat
talon marched in review and then
food and beer. were served In long
arhors constructed In front OF the
pa lace, While the men were eating. the
emperor and empress and princes
passed among the tables. speaking to
the soldiers We then went to the
new palace where IN. the extraordi~
nary hal studded with curious speci-
mems OF minerals from all countries 4
lone table forming three sides OF a
square was set for about sixty persons
Colonel House and I sat directly across
thu table from the en- peror. with Cen
eral Falkenhayn between u~ The
emperor was in very good mood
ard at one time talking across the
table. sa III 10 me that the colonel and
]. I'm our black dress suits, looked
like a couple Of crows, that we were
like two undertakers at a feast and
spoiled the picture After luncheon
the emperor had a long talk with Col
onel House. and the called me into
the conversation.
On NAV &c arranged that the COL
.onel should meet Won Tirpitx AT din
rsY IN aat saattsa We ara mss ga1a4s
then what central figure in this
war the great admiral was going TO re.
AT that time and until his fall ne was
mir lister OF marine, which corresponds
10 our secretary ~ the navy depart
ment. and what n called in German
%'Reic bsm a rim ea mt The colonel
met the chancellor. Won Jagow Zim-
rnerrnann and many Others.
There are two other hea As OF da-
partnrents connected with the navy Of
equal rank with the secretary OF the
naval department and not reporting
to him. These are tho heads of the
naval star and the head OF what Is
known as the marine cabinet" The
head OF the navai star is supposed
to direct the actual operations OF war
fare In the ma Wy and She head OF the
marine cabinet ia charged with the
personnel OF the navy. with deter~nin-
ing what officers are TO he promoted
and what officers arr TO take over
what ships or commands.
While Won Tirpitz wss secretary OF
the navy ny the force Of his personal