THE KAISER PLEASED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 32, 6 August 1914, Page 2

THE KAISER PLEASED

LAUNCHING A GIANT. (FROM OUH OWN CORRnsrONDCNT.) LONDON, 27th June. The Kaiser has ,«cen a lot of things happen during tho last few months which delight him with the growth of his own foundling, the German mercantile marine. He went down to Hamburg to launch tho greatest vessel in the woild from Blohrn. and Voss's yaids. and Hamburg has been sparkling with delight ever aince he ap« pearcd. j When His Majesty arrived by road | from Hanover he was waylaid and stopped by ladK* celling oak leaves and redcrosses in' aid of a hospital fund. With* out hesitation - they demanded that ho should' buy, x and ho dropped a gold coin in the box and took the souvenirs and | a packet of postcauis. He pinned the badge on the lapel of his naval coat, stuffed the cards in hie pockel/, and proceeded. Whon he reached- the docksido and alighted from his car ho was again surrounded by ladies in the same quest. He pleaded that he had no money, but they _ insisted and he called up a member of his siiito to his aid, bought another badge and escaped. The Kaiser then went on board hift .yacht, the Hohttizollern. The crew were drawn up on deck, and they "hocked" thrice when ho stepped aboard. He walked down the lines and said: "Good morning, people," after his wont, and the crow answered with one hoarse welltimed shout "Good day, your Majesty." There was a great scene of animation in the afternoon, when the Kaiser, in tho state bargo of the municipality, proceeded down the river to the launch. He was welcomed by Herr Blohrn and Herr Ballin and conducted to the platform at the bows of the vessel. As hewalked alongside the hull of the levittthan ho looked up laughingly and mad© a gesture of astonishment at tho height. Prominent amongst those on the platform were the young Prince Bismarck and his sinter, Countess Hannah yon Bismarck, with whom the Kaiser Warmly shook hands. The Burgcrmeister having made his speech sketching the adyanco ot shipbuilding on the Elbe, the Kaiser was asked with some trepidation to bestow a* name on the vessel. Ho had already had submitted to him a list of names suggested by the directors, but he had merely lot it be known that ho was for none of them The other two giants of the line are tho Vatorland and the Impevator, and it was expected that th» third would be in keeping. Bsit is, for William chose "Bismarck." , The tide was at the top of the flood when His Majesty spoke a fow words to Countess yon Bismarck, "who was dressed like- an English schoolgirl, with a big bow of white ribbon tying back her hail'. 11 She then stepped forward »m<i, »«*^shinff for tho string which held the bottle ot German champagne, said : "By command of His Majesty the Kaieer I name theo Bisnwrck." She threw the bottle against the side of the ship, but did not throw hard enough, and the Kaieer at once sprang forward and, seizing the string, dashed the bottle w<*ll, and truly to pieces. Thcro was tremendous cheering, and then a pause as tho crowd waited to sec if the great bulk would move. From somewhere far below catne three or four pulsing strokes and a great hydraulic ram pressed itself against the bows. ' For an instant them was no rospunse, and then tho hull porcuptibly bo« gan to move. Down it glided along tha smoking, greasy ways until tho waters of tho river were almost tevol with the counter 5 then, with a graceful cuvt<»y the hull rose lovel on the surface. 1 The whole 1000 feet of length and 30,000 tons of weight were afloat. When she ' was properly settled to her anchors the Kaiser nodded with satisfaction and raised liis hat. The Bismarck is the heaviest vessel ever launched. When completed ftlie will displace 56.000 tons. She ha« taken fifteen months to build. Thoroughly pleasod with this now milestone of German advance, the rtaiew went on to Kiel to take part in tho regatta there and to offer a welcome to tho British squadron, which is visiting 'tho, Gcrmau naval baso for tho firtt t«ae ton t«n yews. •