506 COLONEL ROOSEVELT IN GERMANY. 



fine during the night, and the morning was Hke summer at Oyster 

 Bay. 



The Colonel was accompanied to the battleground to Doeberitz, 

 midway between Berlin and Potsdam, by his German aide de camp. 

 Lieutenant Colonel Von Koerner; ex- Ambassador Henry White, 

 the American Military Attache in Berlin, Captain Shartle, and 

 Kermit. 



Diplomatic circles were amazed at the unyielding determina- 

 tion of the Kaiser to furnish a great military spectacle for the 

 Colonel. Diplomats absolved Colonel Roosevelt completely for any 

 consequences which may ensue because he is on record as having 

 given the Kaiser ample opportunity to cancel his Berlin visit. The 

 party reached the field a little before eight o'clock and mounted 

 chargers specially selected from the Kaiser's stables. 



HORSES FROM THE KAISER'S STABLES. 



The Emperor was already on hand, mounted and in the uni- 

 form of a general of infantry, with a large band of crepe on the left 

 arm of his overcoat. With him, also on horseback, were the Em- 

 press, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Princess Eitel Fred- 

 erich. Princess Victoria Louise and the Kaiser's son, Prince Adel- 

 bert. As soon as the Emperor's party had exchanged greetings 

 with the Colonel the Kaiser and the ex-President rode off to IMill 

 Hill, from which they were to watch the day's operations. 



The Kaiser's face glowed with pride as he watched his two 

 sons, one a major of an infantry regiment, assigned to the attacking 

 force, the other, Eitel Frederick, leading the cavalry in the defense, 

 pitted against each other in a thrilling conflict held solely for the 

 Colonel's delectation. 



By nine o'clock the battle was in full swing. Two hours later 

 the engagement became general. The theoretical objective was the 

 repulse of the hostile forces advancing on Potsdam from the east. 

 The operations covered an area of nine square miles of territory, 

 ideally suited for the most varied sort of tactics. 



At noonday the heavens were rumbling with the roar of long 

 range artillery and the barks of the machine guns and musketry. 



