The upper ranks, in ascending order, are contre-admiral (the English rear-admiral), vice-admiral, admiral, grand-admiral (English Admiral of the Fleet).  There are only four grand-admirals in Germany, namely, the Emperor (as “Chef” of the navy), his brother Prince Henry (as inspector-general), retired Admiral von Koester (president of the Navy League), and Admiral von Tirpitz (Secretary of Admiralty and the only “active” grand-admiral).  King George V of England is an admiral of the German navy, as the Emperor is an admiral of the British navy.

Salutes are a matter of international agreement.  They are:  33 guns (simultaneously from all ships) for the Emperor and foreign monarchs, 21 for the Crown Prince of Germany or of a foreign country, 19 for a grand-admiral or an ambassador, 17 for an admiral, the Secretary of Admiralty or inspector-general, 15 for a vice-admiral, 13 for contre-admiral, and so descending. 101 guns are fired on the Emperor’s birthday or on the birth of an imperial prince. 66 guns is the salute when a German monarch ascends the imperial throne, and 101 when a German Emperor dies.

The yearly salaries of German naval officers are as follows:  Admiral, L1,294 (of which L699 is “pay"), vice-admiral, L897 (L677 “pay"), contre-admiral, L772 (L677 “pay"), captain-at-sea, L520 (L438 “pay"), corvette-captain, L396 (L280 “pay"), full lieutenant, L174 (L120 “pay"), and so on downwards.  Jews are not allowed to become officers of the navy, thus following the practice in the army.  There is no law to prevent Jews becoming officers in either army or navy, but, as a matter of tradition or prejudice, no regimental or naval commander is willing to accept an Israelite among his officers.

It is time, however, to return to the personal doings of the Emperor.  He is responsible for Germany’s foreign policy, and his duties in connexion with it and with the navy must often have suggested to him the desirability of seeing with his own eyes something of the Orient, the new battlefield of the world’s diplomacy, and possibly a new Eldorado for European merchants and engineers.  His journey to the East, now undertaken, was, however, chiefly a religious one, though it had also something of a chivalric character, since much of every German’s imagination is concerned with the Crusades, the Order of Knight Templars, and similar historical or legendary incidents and personalities in the early stages of the struggle between the Christian and the Saracen.  The birthplace of Christ has special interest for a Hohenzollern who holds his kingship by divine grace, and in the Emperor’s case because his father had made the journey to Jerusalem thirty years before.  The Emperor, lastly, cannot but have been glad to escape, if only for a time, such harassing concerns as party politics, scribbling journalists, long-winded ministerial harangues, and Social Democrats.