Gives Most Honor To King George.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 20, 1913:
Kaiser Wants to Make His Visit Contribute to Better Relations with England.
WILL OVERSHADOW CZAR
Emperor Pardons Three British Spies Serving Long Sentences — English Rulers Arrive To-morrow.
    BERLIN, May 19.— The preparations for the wedding next Saturday of Princess Victoria Louise, only daughter of the German Emperor, and Prince Ernest Augustus of Cumberland give striking prominence to the Emperor's apparent desire to make the occasion contribute to a betterment of the relations between Great Britain and the German Empire. Officially, the non-political character of the marriage has been emphasized, but the real attitude of the Emperor was illustrated to-day by the granting of a pardon to three English spies who are now undergoing terms of imprisonment in Germany.
    Another evidence of German concern in the forthcoming visit of King George and Queen Mary is contained in the official programme, published this evening in the Norddeutsche Algemeine Zeitung, which prints in a prominent position a half-column article on the reception arrangements for the British sovereigns, and in a few lines in another column describes the preparations for the reception of Emperor Nicholas of Russia.
    According to the programme, two squadrons of cuirassiers and dragoons will compose the escort of King George on his arrival in Berlin on Wednesday, while only one squadron is assigned to escort Emperor Nicholas on his arrival the following day.
    The German newspapers are giving much attention to the political importance which the wedding may have in bringing about a manifestation of friendship between Germany and Great Britain, but they have little to say concerning a similar manifestation toward Russia.
    Emperor William will spend a busy morning on May 22. He will make three journeys to the railroad station in the short two hours and a half in which he will receive successively the Grand Duchess Louise of Baden, the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, and the Russian Emperor.
    The visitors will make state entries into the city, each through two and a half miles of streets lined with the crack Guard troops, and their welcome by the Emperor will necessitate three changes of uniform on his part. Six German sovereigns and the representatives of several other German reigning houses also will arrive in the course of the day, making necessary more or less formal receptions.
    A number of high British and Russian police officials arrived in Berlin to-day to supervise arrangements for the safety of King George and Emperor Nicholas. The English precautions are attracting perhaps more attention than the elaborate installation of a system to insure the security of the Czar.
    The nuptial banquet will witness a revival of the mediaeval functions of titulary High Cup Bearer and Butler, the present incumbents of which offices are Prince von Hatzfeldt and Prince von Radolin respectively, who actually will present wine and soup to the royal guests at the beginning of the dinner. Emperor William, as an act of grace in connection with the visit of King George, to-day granted a pardon to three English spies, undergoing long sentences in German jails.
    The first is Lieut. Brandon of the British Royal Navy, who was arrested at Borkum while taking photographs of German fortifications. He was sentenced on Dec. 22, 1910, to a term of four years and confined in the Fortress of Wesel.
    The second is Capt. Trench of the British Royal Marines, arrested at Emden at the same time as Lieut. Brandon on the charge of photographing German fortifications. He was sentenced to a term of four years at Glatz.
    The third is Bertrand Stewart, a London lawyer, arrested at Bremen on a general charge of espionage and sentenced on Jan. 5, 1912, to three and a half years' imprisonment at Glatz.

    LONDON, May 19.— King George and Queen Mary started to-day for Berlin. They will embark on board the royal yacht Victoria and Albert at Port Victoria and cross to Flushing to-morrow morning, escorted by British warships. When the British sovereigns arrive midway across the North Sea a flotilla of German torpedo-boat-destroyers is to meet them and convoy their yacht to the Dutch coast.