Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-13
THE WILLY-NICKY LETTERS

low, who succeeded to that post early
in 1901. He was ambassador in Italy
before italy joined the entente in the
war and at present is still possible
diplomatic figure in Germany. Count
Lamsdorf was now minister of for
eign, affairs in Russia, and although
the kaiser was supposed to be par
tial to him the letter conveys a gentle
hint that he does not wish to see him.
The kaiser spells the name of the
mineral water "Apolinaris.")
Likes Grand Duke Michael
"Neues Palais, Dec. II, 1901.-Dear-
est Nicky: Your dear brother
Micha's visit is coming to an end and
with great regret we see him leave
He is a cheering and most engaging
young man, who has captivated ev-
erybody here, even my daughter! He
shot very well and has bravely gone
through all the 'corvees' of an off,
cial dinner with presentations and
cercle, though greatly relieved that
there was no 'speechifying.' All the
people who met him were struck by
his clear, open, manly countenance
and frank expression! He was sue
cessl I am most grateful for the kind
winds about Dantzig, which made me
uncommonly proud. I hope that on
my visit next summer I may be able
to show a more homogeneous squad
ron and one Of the new protected
cruisers. I am looking forward to
our being together with p1easurei
Colonel Kasnakof Is here with the
officers Of my dragons and seems
remarkably nice officer; l am so
glad to have them all here. 1 beg
you, as a souvenir Of my dear NAM
ma, to accept a pin from me and a
locket for Alix; Micha will hand them
over to you. With the sincerest
wishes for a. happy new year and a
merry Xmas, remain your loving
cousin and friend, WILLY"
(Micha is the Grand Duke Michael.)
Wilhelm lis pride in the navy that
he was building up in the early part
of this century is coupled with his
hope-expressed in personal letters
to the czar-that the navy will act
in unison with that Of Russia. The
kaiser has one tune to play-Russia
must cooperate 1Sith him against
Great Britain. These letters dis
touch with the czar, and lead up to
the famous meeting off Bjorko in
1905, at which the czar committed
himself to a secret treaty with Ger
many, which the czar's cabinet, how
ever, managed to nullify. In the
first letter of todays installment the
kaiser describes has new ships in
rather inelegant English. The new
TTyhi oh To-
calls Prince Henry, in spite Of the
custom of not translating proper
names (the ship was named Prinz
Heinrich) was launched in 1900 and
displaced S,868 tons. The Wittels-
bach class comprised the largest bat
tleships, each $4,000 tons. The Ger
man naval program begun in 1900
contemplated the building Of two
double squadrons of sixteen battle
ships each and numerous cruisers by
1920. Germany was in the throes of
furious building program.
By the arrival of the Russian
cruiser Variag-which was built in
the United States-at Koweit, a port
Of the Persian gulf near the outlet
Of the Tigris, Russia indicated it's in
terest in Persian gulf trade. The
kaiser, bent on building the Bagdad
railway, hopes to cooperate with
Russia in keeping England out of
this sphere of commercial develop
ment. The war has shattered both
the Russian and the German dream
and Great Britain, by the kaisers
own acts, remains to realize the hopes
of both the Bagdad railway and the
trade of the Persian gulf.
The letters were copied in the ar
chieves of the soviet government at
Moscow by Isaac Don Levine, staff
correspondent of the Daily News,
who had access to all the documents
there. The letters follow:
Progress of Germany's Navy
"Neues Palais, Jan. 8, 1902-Dear-
est Nicky: These lines are to wish
you a merry Christmas and a happy
New Year. (Russian New Year was
thirteen days later according to old
style.) May God bless and protect
you and wife and children and keep
you all sound in body and soul. May
your work for the peace of the world
be successful and well as the plans
you are maturing for the welfare of
your country.
II send you as Christmas present
an officers dirk, corresponding to
Inc Hlouel introduced into our navy
by order dated from "Variag'; which
1 beg you to accept as a souvenir of
the kind visit you paid me off Dan
zig and Of the merry hours We spent
together.
This new sidearm is so popular
among our officers that believe
they even go to bed with it.
My fleet, Henry and 1 are already
looking forward to the day we shall
be able to repay your visit this year
and I shall be most glad to know
when you expect US and where?
LAS you take such interest in our
navy, it will interest you to hear
that the new armored cruiser, Prince
Henry is rapidly nearing completion
and has already tried her engines
on the spot with most satisfactory
results. She is expected ito join the
fleet after her trials, end Of the
winter. The new line of battleship
'Charlema gne-and the fifth of the
kaiser class'-will, it is hoped, be
ready for her trials at sea end of
next week and Henry hopes he will
Join his in q month.
CONTINUED In Next Issue.)