New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-10
EMPEROR WILLIAMS CAREER
SKETCH OF HIS BVENTFUL LIFE.
ENTERING PARIS TWICE WITH THE CON-
QUERIN0 HOST.

GREAT uK UNITEs THE KMPIRE-sUCOEss.
Full CAMPAIGNS AGAINST FRANCE
IN HIS LATER LIFE USING ais
POWERFUL ISrLURNCR
FOR PEACR
Germany has lost In it, aged Emperor the most
illustrious Of European veterans Of tho Napoleono
csmpaigns He learned the trade of war in tho school
of arms established under successive coalitions against
France. Twioe he entered Paris with the conQuoring
host which overthrow the first OF the Bonapartes,
and after completing the work Of Frederick tho Great,
he crowned Emperor Of Germany at Versailles,
having succeeded in humiatlng Austria, uniting tho
Fatheland and wiping out at sedan the remembrance
of Prussian disgrace at jena Tho reign in which
these great results have been wrought has not been
one of unusual length. IL is barely half as long as
the reign Of Victoria George ILL., in England or
that Of either Louis XIV. or Louis XIV. In Franco.
Crowned in carly old age, tho veteran of the Napo-
leonc has remained the throne for more
than quarter Of a oonury-the Oldest sovereign
Of whom modern history bears record
The Emperor WIS born March %, 1901 His father
was Frederick William ILL., then Crown Prince, but
King few months afterward his mother was Louise,
Princess OF Mcokenburg Strcz, and his older brother
the future Frederick William ~. He born
on the day after Napoleon, leaving behind his fair
bride, Josephine, set out from Paris TO conduct in
Italy the most brilliant campaign In the annals of
history. When he in his tenth year, the con-
qucror Of Marcngo and Austertz, who had triumphcd
Il lice Austria defeated the Prussian Army at
jena and entered Berlin. Northern Germany
with French troops, and the Kings family,
driven from their capital reduced TO actual pow
orty. Frederick William Ill, the Queen and their
children lived In retirement for many months al Momel
and did not have money enough 20 pay for board
and lodging. When Christmas came In that gloomy
year the Queen despaired of buying tho cheapest
gifts for her boys, and only enabled 10 trim
Christmas tree for them at the last moment by the
nnt Af catt1a
ment Of Kuhn "Our position" the ouccn wrote to
her father toward the close of 1907, "is horrible
one. We arc all crushed by It. Even my strength
is leaving mo- 1t is dreadful, appalling, cruel, the
that II IS undescrved. Perhaps II may be
for the chlldren's good that whilst they yjung
they should make acqusin an:e with the seamy side
u life Had thcy grown up in the lap OF supcrluisy
nd comfort they would think II cannot be othei-
"isc.' Put that IT can. they may by looking
thsh fathers sad face and the bittor flowing
ION m In mothers eyes" II was I'm the same year
that tho King sent fifteen shlings to his daughter
birthday present. with the forlorn remark: you
must make the most Of It, for Just can spare
no more
The 10y William, then ton years old. was already
wearing military uniform lieutenant of the Guards.
The camp his only school he may almost he
said to have been Graded In II. Even when he wGs
q baby the manoeuvrlng Of troops Seemed to havo
strange attraction for him. AT six he Hussar
he Uhan and passionatey devoted 20
everything connected with military life. His father
took delight in watching the little soldier I'm the drill
room he toiled with eager eye and painting breath
the acquisition of the rudlments Of the manual
of arms. In boyhOod tho Prince showed symptoms
Of having an extremely delicate constitution. and his
military tutors were repeatedly cautioned by Queen
Louise against the dangers of oversiraIning his
slender physical powers. Ioferring 10 his own health
ct that poiod the Emperor remarked In after years:
al would not have believed that Providence would
call me to this difficult post ] mover thought TO sur
vive my brother. In youth was so much weaker
than he that. according TO the laws of nature, my
the throne of our entirely
out OF my calculation Perceiving this, ! devoted
myself to tho service of the Prussian Army tho bet
ter to fulfil tho duties Of Prussian Prince towards
his King and country"
EDUCATION AND EARLY CAMPAIGNING.
Before Waterloo was fought, the Kings had
found time to study strategy, engineering, foriica-
ton and field planning. He had talent for draw
Ing and was well Vcrsed I'm military science His
health however, prevented actual service in the
field during the memorable campaign Of 1873, when
the PrusSians wore STRUGGLING desperately to oxpel
the French. He begged hard for permission to join
the army. but his father would not allow him 10 take
the field The Prince Indignantly protested against
his pi emotlon TO the rank of first Lieutenant How
he asked his father, "can feel worthy of f who
have been sitting by the freside while my regiment
has boon marching through the fire."
At last the Princes importantly was rewarded.
Aftei Leipzig he received his commission captain
and permission to go to the front. On February 81.
1914 after two months of inactlon in camp, he
under for the first time 1t at Bsr-sur-Aube.
The King. observing that Two regiments were waver-
ing in distant part OF the field, sent his son 10 tho
general OF the division 70 inquire the ",Ioy-
fully the historian records, "tho Prince galoTed
the battlefield, fearless of the bullets that
fhe oh ipUh hiatt
and having uDdsuntedy exposed himself 30 the great
danger he calmly returned to his fathers SIDE the
bearer OF the desired report" The King silent;
but Colonel Won Luck shook the young Prince cor
daily by tho hand, while the surrounding staff off,
GERS looked the young captain with amazcmcnt.
For this achievement the young soldier decorated
with the iron From Bar sur-Aube there was
q general advance all along the line and within three
months tho allied armies in Paris Prince
William and his brother, the Crown Prince, riding
close behind their father tnrough the streets Of the
capital The Empcror's face in his old age always
kndlcd with glow of enthusiasm he described the
triumpha' return to Berlin. whom his father the
hero of The pOpulace. In the following year, when
hoStteS we're resumed after Napo,eOn's return from
Elba. Prince William, major, set out for new
campaign. but had scarcely reached the French from
tier before Waterloo fought He present at
the stormng Of the fortress Of Pfalzbcrg, and again
entered Paris In triumph.
From 1915 TO 1910. when King Frederick William
III died tho Prince pursued his military calling with
unfailing interest having large share In the details
Of the reorganization OF the army. which scharn-
horst and Gnciscnau effected In 1918
he was made ajor-Ccn9raI, and sub
seruenily entrusted at various tlmos with tho
supreme command OF the armies In peaco IIe was
not only a brave soldier in battle. hut he took de-
light in the evoluiions Of the parade ground and in
al details of military science. His brother. the King
once said TO him: Had sprung from the peoples
you william, would have been a drill sergeant ano
en- architect" lie was soldier through and through
and 10 hc end Of his life anything olso
M.RRIACE-IIEIR TO TIE THRONE
Tho Prince mado many foreign jouIncys-one to