Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-17


emperor's.
And what more likely? The kaiser,
as ruler of that complex empire, would
| naturally seek to know the truth con-
cernlng 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-
sltiOn Of court dancing mistress.
Emperor's First View Of an AirpIane.
On October II, 1908, 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.
was seated at the side table in his
private room in the Berlin Schloss,
taking down certain confidential iu-
structions which he wished to be sent
at once by one of the imperial couriers
to the cOmmandant of POsen.
Suddenly Won Kahlberg, my col
league, entered with a message and
handed 1t to his majesty. The kaiser
at once grew excited and turning to
me said:
"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"
Quickly l placed before his majesty
one of his photographs-knOwing that
it would be wanted for presentation to
the daring American-and he took up
his pen and scrawled 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-and Professor
Vambery in the first car; the kaiserin
the latter's ober-gouvernante govern
ess), with one Of the court ladies, in
the next; while in the third 1 rode with
Major Won Scholl, one of the equer-
ries.
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 Wild
goose chase, only to find that Orville
Wright had gone home, declaring the
wind too strong.
AT his fathers anger, however, "Wil-
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 flight. 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-thnn-air machine. Al
that time, Indeed. the emperor had not
taken up Won Zeppelin, and it was only
after seeing Orville Wright's demon.
stratlons 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
droning like huge gadfly, much to the
interest and astonishment of the EN-
peror
Marvellous he exclaimed, as
stood beside him, with the empress or
his right "How is it done?"
The sight of q man flying in the air
maneuvering his machine at WILL rising
swiftly, and then planning down will
the engine cut off, was one of the mos
Eamazing spectacles the loyal Potsdam
ers had ever seen. Even the emperor
with all his dreams of world power
could never for moment have fore
seen what a great factor airplane
would be in war.
At last Wright came down In
spiral, banked slightly, steadied him
| 1Irh 60 al
within a few yards of where we stood
having been the first to exhibit to tn
emperor how completely the air hat
been conquered.
Afterwards, though 1t had nov
grown dark, the emperor, by the pow
erful headlamps of the three cars
thoroughly examined the American
alrplane, the aviator explaining ever
detail.
From that moment for months after
wards the kaiser was constantly talk
ing Of aviation. He commanded pho
togTaphs of various types Of airplanes
together with all literature on the sui
. 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 Blackpoo
where a large number of photograph
: were taken, and duly found their wa
I to his table.
] The Dancing Mistress Visit.
! I have recalled the emperor's frs
: sight of an airplane in flight, in con
! pany with Herr Anton ReitschA an
D Professor Vambery, because of an fl
cident which occurred that same da,
e Just before midnight the emperor we
: giving me certain instructions to /
sent to Carlton House Terrace whe
y the door opened without any knock
a permission, and upon the threshol
1 there stood Frau Kleist.
g "Have your maJesty's permissiC
= to enter" she asked.