Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-24
Ka;ser Predicted War Nine ~ ears Ago

~ y
Tue New York newspapers are In
sisting upon the publication OF an In
terview with the kaiser In 1908 which
was given to william Bayard Hale
and suppressed ct the request Of Pres.
ident Roosevelt because Of it's infiam-
consents to les publications and 1t is
understood that the kaiser then pre-
dicted the present world war and was
at that time seeking some kind Of an
International coalition against the
growth OF the Catholic. church.
The New York Tribune publishes
the following:
make the kaisef's interview public.
Print 1t, and let Europe and America
read what the German emperor told
William Bayard Hale in 1908.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. Who as
President. was one Of the few per-
sons who read the document as orisi-
nally drafted by William Bayard Hale
for tho New York Times, 90 urged yes
terday. and authorized tho Tribune to
announce that fact for him. I,
With Its virulent attack on the Ro-
man Catholic church and Its proposal
OF a world confederation Of protes-
tants to check what the kaiser styled
feels that the German emperor's words.
even at this late date, would have a
potent effect on Catholic Austria.
Moreover. Its slurs on England and
King Edward and Its virtual predic-
ton of the world war would, the coll
onel believes. go . long way toward
what the allies have con-
tended from the start Of hostilities-
that Germany. and Germany alone,
was responsible for the great war.
Colonel Roosevelt altho he read the
interview carefully. declined yesterday
to attempt to reconstruct 1t from mem
DRY. All he would say was that he
advocated its publication now, altho,
when in the White House, he advised
the Times to withhold 1t. in view Of it's
almost maniacal tone.
TT was first submitted to the Colonel
At Sycamore Hill by Oscar King
Davis. then Washington correspondent
Of the Times. Before It's submission
the Times had. however ruled against
its publication, and the idea Of allow
ing the colonel tosread II was princi@
pally due to the fact that the Times
thought he would be interested and
that as President perusal was per-
haps due him.
LAS the circumstances were recalled
yesterday by Mr.. Davis. before the
colonel read hardly more than page
he Jumped from his chair. Roosevelt
and exclaimed:
You must not print this! That is
q very serious matter
Ills excitement over. he sat down
again and read the whole interview.
Hale disposed Of the interview to
the Century Magazine after the Times
had decided not to publish it. but the
Century, at the solicitation of the
German foreign office, ripped the arti-
Gle out Of Its December (190s) issue.
One proof Of that article still exists
intact, and 1t 10 this proof that Colo
mel Roosevelt thinks should be re-.
leased now" >.
Armies About Equal In Number.
Germany's strength on the Franco,
British front II placed in official dis
patches received here at 16I divisions
or within one division Of the great
force amassed last July when tho Ger
many military effort against France
was At its maximum.
Withdrawals from Russia and drafts
upon the younger classes OF, reserv-
lists have enabled the kaiser not only
to make up the enormous losses sur
Tered in bloody battles with the allies.
bot to replace the men sSnt TO aid the
In their invasion OF italy.
Winter therefore finds the Germans
with armies facing the allies in France
very nearly equal to the largest ever
before mustered. with advertisement
Of great offensive, which may pre-
rage another peace proposal.
The allies. however. are understood
TO maintain a conslderabl superiori-
ty in numbers on the French front.
hIt German People With Club.
NThe United States IL not only ngiat.
Ing the kaiser and. the Prussian MILL
tary system but the German people,
said former President TAFT in address
Ing gathering Of manufacturers at
the annual banquet OF the Associated
Industries Of Massachusetts in Boston.
And :he only way We can win ne
added, lis by hitting the German people
on the head with a club"
1T is not true" said Mr.. Taft, that
we are not fighting the German people.
We are. We are not fighting the kali
ser and Prussian military military sys-
tenn alone. We are fighting the Ger
man people. people obsessed with
megaiomania. and the only way we can
win is by hitting the German people
with a club"
When the attempt to form 0 consti-
tutional monarchy in Germany failed,
Mr.. TAFT continued, the freedorn-lov-
Ing Germans came to this country and
are now counted among our best citi-
Gems. Those who remained In Ger
many thru the Bismarckian rule cav
the success Of this rule OF blood and
iron until. Mr.. Taft said. they. became
obsessed with the idea that SUCCESS
in conquest had made them . chosen
people orGod and that there was. a
German god, represented by the Ger
man state-which state could do no
wrong.