We learnt to our surprise and proud delight that the arrival of the "Deutschland" was to inaugurate a festive holiday for the whole German people, that such a reception awaited our little boat on the banks of the Weser as surely never fell to the lot of any "lucky ship" before. Our journey up the Weser assumed the nature of a triumphal procession. Behind the hundreds of thousands who had come to meet us and stood cheering on the banks, stood invisible the millions of German people inspired with the same feeling. This was expressed to us everywhere in overwhelming rejoicings from old and young, high and low, from the German Kaiser down to the merest dock worker and the small ragged urchin who, full of enthusiasm, waved his flag and shouted in the streets of Bremen. On the 25th August, early in the morning, the "Deutschland" commenced her triumphal trip up the Weser. It poured in torrents, but nothing could quench the public rejoicings as we moved along accompanied by the blockaded steamers, our masts and conning-tower decorated with garlands of roses. Low hung the dark clouds in the heavens, and the rain pelted down on the thousands who stood on the dykes or who had come to meet us on steamers, barges, launches, and rowing boats. Deafening cheers arose from the town, and the clashing of bells mingled with the joyful acclamations, while above it all rose the song of "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles," which on that very day was celebrating its seventy-fifth birthday. In Nordenham, Brake, Blumenthal, flags salute, guns thunder out, factory and steamer whistles send their piercing greetings; shouts of welcome and good wishes ring out from the North German Lloyd steamers, to which we respond by waving back. Vegesack is passed, where work on the Vulcan Docks has ceased, the dockers standing in hundreds on the quay. Their wild cheers accompany the "Deutschland" on her triumphal way. The inhabitants of Vegesack are all assembled at the landing-place and on the banks behind. Again music and singing, the roar of guns and storms of rejoicing! Thicker and thicker grow the crowds as the ship nears her home haven. Shortly before twelve we reached Lankenau, whose dyke had been chosen as an observation point by the whole of Bremen, it appeared. Elbow to elbow the people stood waving with hats, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, hands.... At noon punctually the "Deutschland" sailed into the open harbour, and placed her invited guests, 'mid sounds of "Deutschland über alles," on the highly decorated pontoon, on which the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, the representatives of the Bremen Senate and burghership, the civilian and military authorities, the marine, the shipping officials, etc., and among them Count Zeppelin, were all assembled to receive us. As soon as the ship was moored I called the men up to take their positions on deck. Dr. Lohmann then addressed us in the following speech: