QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Colonial cruiser visitors

GERMAN CRUISER CONDOR. ENTERTAINMENT OF OFFICERS.

The 1908 Brisbane visit by Condor was, sadly, rather longer than planned after the ship’s 31 year- old chief engineer Lüttschwager succumbed to a heart condition, as the cruiser was making her way in across the waters of Moreton Bay. “When the Condor arrived yesterday,” reported the Brisbane Courier on 26 February, “it was noticed that her flags were at half-mast.” A large crowd, led by German Consul Hirschfeld, Queensland military commanders, Brisbane’s mayor, and Captain Ahlert and the officers and crew of the Condor , paid its respects at the funeral ashore, in what the Charters Towers Northern Miner reported as “a very impressive ceremony” in Toowong Cemetery, Australian and German servicemen providing full military honours. Captain Ahlert later reported: “Permission to hold the funeral ceremony ashore was given by the Governor General in Melbourne, who also conveyed to me his deepest sympathy … The number of official and private persons attending the funeral was considerable.”

MAYORAL RECEPTION. The Brisbane Courier Tuesday 13 March 1906

His worship the Mayor (Alderman J. Crase) extended a welcome yesterday to the offic ers of the German cruiser Condor, now visit ing Brisbane. Those invited to attend included the members of the Ministry, all the Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents in Brisbane, aldermen of the City Council, the Mayor of South Brisbane, and prominent German residents and citizens. Amongst those present were :– Colonel Lyster (temporary Military Commandant), Major Clark (Staff Officer of Artillery), Captain Tickoll (Naval Commandant), the Hon. E. B. Forrest and Mr. J. Cameron, MM.L.A. for North Brisbane, Hon. A. J. Carter, M.L.C. (Consul for France and Swe den). Messrs. J. Leutenegger (Consul for Switzer land), Dr. Hirschfeld (Acting Consul for Germany), M. Donkin (Consul for Belgium), J. Clark (Consul for the Netherlands), A. Lee-Bryce (Consul for Denmark), W. Weatherill (United States Consul), L. M. Spence (Consul for Greece and Acting Consul for Italy), Aldermen Buchanan, Wilson, Jackson, Fleming, Thompson, and Mills, Messrs. J. G. Appel, A. Kob, E. Eschenhagen, F. Monzel (president of the Turn Verein), E. Lischke, E. Muller, A. Ranniger, G. Woolnough, W. Petermann, and others. Apolo gies were read from the Hon. W. Kidston (Premier), Hon. E. J. Stevens, M.L.C., and Messrs. Ludwig, Hertzberg, and J. J. Knight. Corvette Captain Be gas (Commander of the Condor) was unfortunately prevented from attending, owing to an attack of malarial fever. He was, however, represented by Lieutenant-Captain Freiherr Von Bulow, who was accompanied by Lieutenant Schurmacher. The Mayor, who was supported on the right by Lieutenant-Captain Von Bulow, and on the left by Dr. Hirschfeld (acting Imperial German Consul), offered a hearty welcome to Brisbane to his Imperial German Majesty’s ship Condor. There were many reasons, he said, both historical and otherwise, why they, as Anglo-Saxons, should welcome their German cousins. For one thing, they were all satisfied that those German cousins made the very best colonists, and nothing would please us better than to have a considerable accession of population from the German Empire. (Applause.) The toasts of “His Majesty King Edward VII.” and “His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany” were then honoured. The Mayor proposed the health of the officers of the Condor, coupled with the name of Lieutenant-Captain Von Bulow. His worship expressed regret at the absence of Commander Begas, and at the cause. Queensland, he said, made no distinction in its welcome to visitors, and they desired the officers of the Condor to feel they were amongst friends and brethren. (Applause.) Lieutenant Von Bulow, responding amidst applause thanked those present for the toast, and said Captain Begas was very sorry he could not attend ; he would have liked very much to be there. Dr Hirschfeld, Acting Consul for Germany thanked the Mayor warmly for the honour extended to his country by the public welcome accorded to the Condor. It would be appieciated not only by the officers but by the people of Germany, who would be glad at this proof of kindly feeling entertained by Queens landers towards their German cousins. Mr. John Cameron, M.L.A., and Colonel Lyster also addressed a few words of welcome to the officers of the Condor, and Mr. Leutenegger having thanked the Mayor, on behalf of the consular body, the pro ceedings terminated.

The Courier reported the “elaborate preparations … made by the local German residents for the entertainment of the visitors during their stay in port. The Brisbane Turn Verein will entertain them at a musical evening to-morrow. The captain, officers and about 60 of the crew are expected to attend … and likely to be a very large gathering of the representatives of the Fatherland, who have made their permanent homes in the State.”

Cormoran on her March 1903 visit to Brisbane, moored in the Gardens Reach of the river, the Botanic Gardens and Alice Street behind. Image (neg.19166) courtesy State Library of Queensland

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