PRINCE LOUIS OF BATTENBERG.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15112, 30 October 1914, Page 8

PRINCE LOUIS OF BATTENBERG.

AN EARLY LESSON-

An ex-Naval officer -writes to us as follows: —

"An anecdote concerning Prince Louis of Battenberg may servo to show that, although of German extraction, tho Prince learned a lesson in the early part of his career which ho has probably not forgotten.

"It was in the 'seventies, and tho writer and the Prince -was serving on board tho Royal Alfred, tho flagship on tho North American and West Indian station.

"Ono day the Princo had been detailed to act as midshipman in charge of the 'beef boat,' and with two men ■went to the wharf for tho ship's supply of meat.

"comething wen', wrong, and the Prince swore roundly at- the men, and ono of tlicm lifted his fist, and sent his Royal Highness flying. Of course, under tho 'Articles oi War,' striking a superior officer means 'death or sucn other punishment 'as is hereinafter mentioned.' When tho boat arrived at. the ship, tho Prince reported the offender, and the gravity of the matter was realised when an impromptu courU martial assembled on the quarter-deck. Tho captain said to the seaman, 'What have you to say in your defence?' The man replied, 'Please, sir I would not mind being sworn at in English, but I won't be sworn at in German by a —- foreigner!' The captain accepted this view of the case as reasonable, simply reprimanded the man for his hasty action under provocation, and then lectured Battenberg before all the officers and men in such terms that it is unlikely he could ever forget the lesson ; and the high position to which he has since attained as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty seems to indicato tho value of tho" lesson taught him thus early in his career.