Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-01-20
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The most important factor in con.
sidering the German strength is the
personality of William IL. He is COM
monty believed to be an impulsive
young man of so; a reckless rhet-
oriclun, a Observation-Disclosures, a journal
lst with an actors personality who is
never happy unless in the limeiight.
No solid foundation exists for this
view of the character Of the CON-
mander-in-chief Of the German army,
and the lord high admiral of the Ger
man fleet. The atmosphere surround
ing the magnetic personality of the
Emperor William II. is mystical and
religious. The German war lord be-
lieves in the Divine right of kings,
and in absolutism as sincerely as did
Charlemagne or Charles " Being in
his own view sacrosanct as the agent
of the Most High, he is as convinced
as Mahomet as to the reality of his
high mission. The communicating chief
of the German army is probably the
best informed white man in existence
He and his brother, Prince Henry Of
Prussia, speak English with only the
faintest accent or no accent at ALL
The German emperor, like Napoleon,
is the greatest factor in his army. He
is Its soul; he created his navy him.
self, his army he inherited and i'm
proved until it is the largest and best
organized fghting-machine in the
world. TO form an intelligent antici-
patton of how that army will be led
In time of war we must Judge the en-
peror's personality; not by his fire.
quent speeches, but by his unequaled
knowledge, fiery energy, pure life, and
substantial judgment. On all the ques-
tons of European policy the COM
mander-in-c of the German army
is better informed than any other liv-
ing person. He speaks the languages
OF the great European states. Unlike
the late and present car of Russia
his majesty never suffers himself to
be submerged in the sea of detail, or
to be hedged in by a zareba of forms.
Twelve experienced men in his cab
met, for example, devote their lives
to the study of English military re.
sources all the world over. The wis.
dom that comes from intelligent study
of history is the emperor's. He knows
that Napoleon threw away his chances
of the dominion of the world by en-
gaging in war with England. when he
had two or three other wars on his
\ own hands The emperor avoids that
mistake.
To one who doubts the great genius
OF the German emperor the existence
Of the German navy is evidence to re-
flute him. The emperor inherited no
navy to speak of. The obstacles in
the way of it's creation were stupen.
dous. A lesser mind than the emper.
or's might have bought or built quite
as many ships of war as Germany now
possesses. The emperor did more, In
vivid contrast to his friend, the car
he breathed into the German fleet his
own indomitable spirit.
In considering the relative strength
of national defenses, it is important
to remember that ships, guns. and
munitions are not the most important
factors in organized national forces. A
"Dreadnought" manned by ill-trained
seamen is useless, for discipline
which exists for the nation, is re-
quired to prevent the ship becoming a
shambles and disgrace on the day
Of battle. The best admiral is not only
the best tactician, but the best dis
ciplinarian. 'Dreadnoughts," "Indom
tables" and numbers do not alone
constitute efficiency. 1t is the mar
not weapons or numbers, that Is tn,