New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-16
King Albert Already Brill
liant Figure in Cont
mental Politics.
THWARTING KAISER
HIS GREAT EXPLOIT
His Sense of National Honor
Saved Great Powers from Be.
coming Satellites of Germany
10y Cable to The Tribune. J

Antwerp, Sept liking Albert OF
Belgium is to-day one OF the most
prominent as he is certainly the most
picturesque Of figures in CONTINENTAL
politics. To him has been allotted the
glory Of being the leader Of his people
in the momentous crisis when Is
changing the whole course OF history.
Until two months it was known TO out
few outsiders that this young ruler OF
seemingly retiring disposition, had IN
herited the full extraordinary pollu-
cal capacity Of his two predecessors,
and that he combined the strength oil
character and indomitabc will OF his
uncle, Leopold H., with the tact and
wisdom of his grandfather, Leopold
l., trusted counsellor Of Queen VIC
toria.
Under ordinary circumstances, in
small constitutional monarchy, there
would have been little scope for King
Albert's exceptional gifts. Under or
binary circumstances the policy OF the
ruler would have been overruled by
the politics of the contcnding parties
but in times of storm and stress ~
strong man has opportunity, and the
Young Belgian King seized IT win
prompt and unflinching decision. 10
him, more than TO any man living, -
due the failure Of the German plan OF
campaign. II is because he has shown
the foresight and tirmness Of states.
man; il is because he was imbued
with a keen sense of national honor
that Belgium has been saved from be-
coming German satrapy and all other
European powers from becoming the
mere satellites of the German empire.
It is the Kings firm conviction that
this war was not mere accident, but
q bolt from the blue. The Servian
tragedy was a mere pretext, and any
other incident might have served as
we'll To the knowledge Of his majesty
the war had been deliberately pre-
pared.
II was the direct outcome of a re-
dictionary spirit of brutal militarism
and rash mlitarism prevailing among
the ruling caste and among the imme-
dia'e encourage of the Kaiser. For the
last five or six years King Albert has
had many opportunities in his inter
course with prominent Germans TO
observe the growing insolence and ag-
gressiyUness Of the military caste. His
majesty has recalled how he had been
driven to the conclusion that a new
and pcrilous spirit had gained ascend
ancy in Berlin and that an attack on
the part Of Germany was to be expect
ed About eighteen months ago things
suddenly changed for the worse, and
the situation became alarming. Certain
facts were disclosed of so threatening
a nature that in November, 1912, at the
instance of the King, the Belgian
House of Parliament held secret sit
tjngs in order to consider urgent pre-.
cqutionary measures. Warnings OF
King Albert were listened to and Il
drastic military programme, which had
been delayed for thirty years and
which King Leopold II had advocated
IN vain. was Immediately adopted.
An historical parallel irresistibly
suggests itself 10 the consideration.
The French Parliament Of 1867 reject
ed the military reports Of Marshal
Mel and the catastrophe Of 1879
was the outcome. The Belgian Parlia-
mcnt of 1912 passed new military
law, and the heroic resistance OF the
Belgian army was the result, and the
result would never have been achieved
without the persistence and determine
ton Of King Albert
It is obvious that the King has the
most implicit confidence in the final
issue and that he has absolute trust
IN his English allies, but 1t IS equally
obvious that ut present what is upper
most in his majesty's mind is not the
authorization of victory and Of just ret
ribution to be inflicted on the invader,
but rather an acute sense Of the tragic
yolemnitv Of the hour and of the huge
difficulties to be overcome.