Note 28 — PART SEVEN [CONTINUED] (continued 4)
Reading edition
It was not his first letter to me. A few months before, young Egidy surprised and delighted me with the following communication from a distant part of the world:
On his Majesty’s ship Seeadler
Tullear, Madagascar, April 20, 1898
My dear Baroness:
As the first German naval officer who, since the war of 1870, has left a war ship to step on soil now French, I am taking the liberty of sending you this respectful greeting.
No great political action has brought us hither, but the fact that German ships of war are again calling at French harbors is symptomatic, and will certainly be welcomed by you with satisfaction; therefore I could not deny myself the pleasure of giving you this bit of information.
I am glad, gracious lady, to take this opportunity to express to you a son’s gratitude for the true comradeship which you have given my father; I know how precious it has been to him and how thankfully he has accepted it.
With the request that you present my sincerest regards to your husband, I am
Yours most respectfully and faithfully
Moritz von Egidy, Lieutenant at Sea