THE SAMOAN DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 96, 24 April 1889, Page 8

THE SAMOAN DISASTER.

"BANQUET TO THE SURVIVING

OFFICERS

The captain and officers of H.I.M.S. Olga, the captain of the Adler, and the few survivors of the Ebor, with the officers of H.M.s. Calliope, were entertained at the German Club, Sydney, last Wednesday evening, by the president and members. The president proposed the "The healths of the Queen of England and the Emperor of Germany," winch were enthusiastically received with "Drei rnal hoch !" After a short pause, Dr. Schwarzbach proposed " Die Deutsche Marine." The speaker in eloquent German dwelt upon the effect which the firsb tidings of the calamity in Samoa had produced not only on the German residents, but throughout the colony. Thankful were they to welcome Captain Fritze and the small band who survived from the Adler and the Ebor. Ho would remind them of King Philip's remark when the news of the destruction of the Armada was brought to him—" I sent my ships to fight against men; I did not expect them to contend against God." Their losses had befallen them through no defeat by a human foe, and they must submit. Captain Fritze, who first responded, referred with gratitude to his deliverance from great danger, remarked that the warmhearted welcome had done much to comfort him and his officers, and expressed his grateful thanks for the sympathy extended and the exceeding kindness shown to him. Captain yon Erhardt also responded, dwelling, on the suddenness and the magnitude of the danger through which they bad passed, and eulogising in glowing terms their admiration and friendship for the Calliope, and their indebtedness to Captain Kane. He touchingly referred to the heroism, -the sacri- ', fices, and the severe losses they had witnessed, and stated that the demands of the increasing German element in the community, and the national feeling of the German colonists, required that the navy should be largely increased, and that the ties of Fatherland should be fostered by frequent visits of the German ships to whatever countries became the adopted home of Germans. The speeches were, so far, in German, but Herr Carl Fischer, in compliment to the toast the " Enelish Navy," spoke in English, eulogising the great | achievements of the British navy during several centuries. He instanced the vast changes their enterprise had worked in various parts of the world from the time of Drake to Captain Cook, the recognised supremacy of England on the ocean, and felb that every German would agree that in the recont calamity their rejoicing at the marvellous escape of the Calliope was as hearty and fervid as their sympathy with Captain yon Ernardt, Captain Fritze, and the still more unfortunate Ebor. He roforred to tho advantage gained by the presence of distinguished naval rulers like Tryon and Fairfax, and of captains like Lake, Hammill, Bosanquot, and the hero of the present, Captain Kane. Ho alluded to the rapid lifte of the German navy—the creation of one lifetime, and avail now but in its infancy —and touched upon tho cloho intercourse of tho two nations, England and Germany, and "their common infcoroufcs, and trusted that tho two navies, equal in valour a« in the greatness of the work they had to do, would long be found on tho same nido. Ho called upon tho company to drink to tho British navy, coupling with if- the gallant officers of 11.M.b. Calliope. Hurrahs with ",iiuk: Britannia" from the band followed. Lieutenant Pearson, of tho Calliopo, gratefully thanked tho company for the manner in which thoy had rocoivod the toast, and for the eulogium pasnod upon the service to which he belongod. Ho was sure that for himself and every officor of the Calliope he could say thoy warmly reciprocated the sentiments and rejoiced in cho friendship of their brothers in tho German navy. He was sure that friendship would never change. He thanked them most heartily for their welcome that evening, and said that) the greab trouble

through which all had passed had drawn them, closer together than if no calamity had befallen them. He was sorry Captain Kane was unable to be present.