(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x241/Alanp_photo/Military%20Misc/Germanynavy1906multiview.jpg)
the caption of this card reads "Our future lies on the water", an interesting idea for a country with a small coastline and short naval history.  A call to increase the German navy went out as a result of the late-19th and early 20th-century scramble for the last of the available areas of the globe for colonization.  The 8 views on this card show a well-disciplined and modern navy.  the postcard was mailed to New York in 1906.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8282758418_486453e65d.jpg)

Here is a picture postcard view of the German cruiser SMS Emden.  This version of the ship is the 1908-1914 version and shows Captain von Mueller and German naval flag in the inset at left.