1898 MANILA to BERLIN VIA HONG KONG POST
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR PERIOD

1c green King Alfonso XIII Tarjeta Postal issue
of 1896, datelined "MANILA 24 MAY" carried privately to HONG KONG where 2c x 2 adhesives added and cancelled for postage to Berlin,
cancelled MAY 31. Written just six days before the Battle of Manila Bay.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!
English Translation of the German Text

Manila  24 May '98

Dear Mr. Rabener! 

Your 3 delightful cards of March 12 reached me fine, for which I want to express my thanks to you and all the other fellows.  Here I have had to get through some really critical days, for the Americans have suceeded in  completely blockading the harbor so that ships can no longer enter or leave.  On the other side we are surrounded by the insurgents who are only waiting for the right moment to cut loose.  For three weeks we have had no idea what  is happening in the world because the Americans have also cut the cable. This card will be taken by a cruiser to Hong Kong.  My best greetings to you and  all.
                               Fred Kammerzelt
 

Craig Eggleston Collection 

The address was also curious:

Stammtisch RH, Restaurant Julius Bötzow
Attention Mr. Carl Rabener
Berlin, Friedrichstasse Nr. 100

I'm told that a "Stammtisch" is a table reserved for a group
of regular patrons of a restaurant or bar.