AN INTERESTING OCCURRENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1917, Page 3

AN INTERESTING OCCURRENCE.

To the Editor. Sir, —Seeing the awful tragedy which is being enacted in Europe, and knowing that the German Emperor is the aelunl cause of it all, perhaps the following may not he without interest to many of your readers. Jt was written by Sir I-fenry Lucv in 1012, five years ago, Consequently it was not inllueneed by the present happenings in Europe. He said: "I happened to be standing close by the new quiek-firing gun when the German Emperor inspected it during his visit to the Teutonic at the naval review at Portsmouth ' yesterday. Having strolled through the saloon and the, enginp-room of the magnificent ship, he was led forward to the place where the guns are mounted.. He passed through the throng of guest/i and crew with a stilt military air, mechanically acknowledging salutes. His left arm, shrivelled from birth, was disposed with great care, the hand resting on the hilt of the sword in such a position that only if attention were particularly called to it would the existence of the deformity bo noticed. As soon as lit stood before the gun his whole aspect changed. His face brightened with interest, his eyes gleamed rapidly over it. He listened with closest attention to explanations oll'ered by the lieutenant in charge, eagerly following the action of gunners as they trained and lired the pieces, almost knelt on deck to examine the interior arrangements, tried the sight, and seemed sorely tempted to put his Shoulder to the wheel and train the gun himself. Several times lie spoke rapidly to members of his suite. Turning to his brother as he moved olf, he said, 'We mu-t li.-.ve that gun, and quick, too; " —[ am, etc , * R. SPRAGU'E. Xew Plymouth, February 3.