Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay.
Berlin, October 19, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in accordance with a statement furnished the embassy by Mr. Sartori, our consular agent at Kiel, the canal dues paid by the U. S. S. Enterprise amounted to 400 marks, and those of the U. S. S. Buffalo to 900 marks, which, considering the saving in time and coal, would apparently indicate that it is less expensive for our ships to go through the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal than it would be for them to round the Danish peninsula.
During the past few months three United States naval vessels, the Enterprise, Hartford, and Buffalo, have visited Kiel, and while all have made a good impression—the Hartford, on account of her beauty and historical connections, and the Enterprise and Buffalo, as showing the admirable way in which landsmen are trained for both our commercial and military navies—I am of the opinion that it would be advantageous to have more modern ships visit German ports. During “regatta week” at Kiel there is usually quite an assemblage of German naval vessels in port, as well as a more or less international (principally English) gathering of pleasure and racing yachts. It is the known desire of the German Emperor to increase the international character of the regatta, and I feel confident that the presence of American vessels during the week would be favorably regarded. In view of the recent reestablishment by us of an “European squadron,” I venture to hope that this question may receive proper consideration. [Page 185] Many German naval officers have been in United States ports, have experienced American hospitality, speak English, and have pleasant recollections of their association with our service and its officers, while relatively few of our officers have any knowledge of German or anything more than a superficial (or literary) acquaintance with German officers and the Imperial Navy. As a former officer in our Navy, I have given this subject considerable serious consideration, and I am decidedly of the opinion that more intercourse between American and German naval officers in ports where there is no outside influence can not but be beneficial.
I have, etc.,