ADMIRALS BOTH

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 8, 9 January 1920, Page 7

ADMIRALS BOTH

THE NAVAL OUTLOOK,

- LONDON, 6th January. ' . The Kaiser's passion for the sea is the mam theme of to-day's "letters," one of which he signs, "Willy, Admiral of the Atlantic." Writing in January, 1902, he advises "Nicky" of tho rapid expansion of the navy. "The Wittelsbach class (11,000-ton barbette ships) is on the eve of completion, which will enable Prince Henry to possess a- homogeneous fleet of 'Peace Makers.'" The Kaiser then observes that the Russian warship Variag had arrived at Koweit, concerning which ho declares: "It is a wise thing your flag has shown there, for it does no* seem impossible, that another Power was in the act of repeating the very successful experiment it made on the Nile to haul dow*ithe. Sultan's flag, land men and guns, hoist some flag or other under a pretext, and 'J'y suis, j'y reste.' ("Here I am, and here I stay."' In this case it wouid have meant paramount rule over all the trade routes to Persia, and gven of Persia itself, and then ta-ta to your proposed establishment of Russian commerce. The behaviour of the foreign Power at Koweit show? the enormous advantage of an overwhelming fleet ruling the approaches from tho sea'to places devoid of land communication, which we cannot approach because our fleets are too weak,. leaving our transports at the mercy of the enemy. This rficws how necessary is the Bagdad vai'way, -which 1 intend German . capital to build. If that excellent Sultan had not been dawdling for years with the question, tho line might have been, begun years ago, and would by now have offered you ar opportunity of despatching a few regiments from Odessa to Koweit and turned the tables on that other Power by giving command of the lines ashore."

The Kaiser sent a- gift of a book about tho South African War, written by an

Englishman who condemned the war and the ends for which that war was begun. The Kaiser adds: "The author maintains an impartiality which is a gratifying exception to the rule now prevailing in England." The bearer of the gift was Captain yon Usedom, who commanded the gunboat Hertha during the Chinese Boxer aS'air. The Kaiser adds : "It was Captain yon Usedom who was the saviour of the Seymour axpeditiofi, and brought it safe back to Tientsin, "and to him was given the now historical order of which my bluejackets are so proud, 'Germans to the front, when British sailors refused to go further." In a further leiter the Kaiser remarks : "Prince .Henry's projected visit to America, to our great amusement, seems to create tooth-ache in Engalnd."