The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-11-29
HE scoRNs THE KAISER
Austrian Empress Stumbling Block
in Wilhelm's Path.

Despot and naughty autocrat that
he may be, yet the Kaiser of Ger
many has so far failed to override
the will of one person in the dual
monarchy. He has dreamed and
planned, only to find his ambitions
thwarted by the stubbornness of one
who fails to recognize him as the all
powerful and refuses consistently to
bow to his will
I Yet the kaiser has no recourse. He
must take his medicine. For this par
ticular stumbling block in his path is
of royal blood and in high position.
The irony of it also is, no doubt, gall
ing to the proud emperor of the Ger
mans because his nemesis is woman
-Zita, the Empress of Austria.
Empress Zita despises the kaiser,
and she makes no secret of the fact.
She also has no love for anything
German. She consistently refuses to
have a German book in her library,
and she never speaks word of Ger
man, preferring French or Italian.
She firmly believes that Austria is be-
ing made catspaw by the kaiser, and
was directly responsible for the agita-
ton for a separate peace which ema-
mated from Vienna early in the year,
it is said.
Crown Prince Acquiesced
AS an indication of her natural
leanings in the war, it is known that
the empress offered no objections
when two of her brothers, Sixtus and
Francis Zavier of Bourbon-Parma,
announced their intention at the be-
ginning of the conflict of joining the
allied army. She cosulted with her
husband, then the crown prince, and
her influence with him is evident from
the reply of Charles Francis to his
brothers in-law:
"Do your duty"
The brothers interpreted the lacon-
ic reply to mean approval of their de-
cision to fight for the allied cause,
and they left Immediately for France
There they were forbidden, because
of their connection with the former
French ruling houses, to join the
army of the republic. They went to
England, where again their offer of
service was refused for the same rea-
son, the strict etiquette of the law of
solidarity among the Allies forbidding
their acceptance. In Russia they met
the same reception.
| From Russia the brothers turned
to Belgium and renewed their petit
ton to King Albert, but they were in
formed that Belgium did not accept
foreigners in its armies. However
Queen Elizabeth personally interest
ed herself in their behalf and finally
they were enrolled in the medical de-
partment. Their record in the ambu-
lance service later attracted the no,
tice of the king, and they were al
lowed to enter the artillery with the
rank of second lieutenants. They
were trained artillerymen, and their
advancement thereafter was rapid
Recently both were decorated with
medals of honor by the President of
France.
Prince Sixtus has made his home
in France many years and is devoted
to the principle of democracy, dis
liking the kaiser and the junker class
as heartily as does his sister The
attitude of Prince Francis Xavier has
been less marked, but he had become
imbued with the French spirit also.
One Brother With Austrians
The third brother of the empress,
Prince Elias, has long been an officer
in the Austrian army and was ia
vorite with the old emperor, Francis
Joseph.
Two sisters of the empress are ac-
lively engaged in hospital work for
the Allies. They are Benedictine
nuns, stationed at Ryde in the Isle
of Wight.
The fact that her sympathies are
undoubtedly with the Allies and that
she yields a great influence over her
husband accounts for the fact that
few, if any, Austrian troops have yet
been used on any front where the
French, Belgians and even the Brit
ish are engaged, say observers. Il 8
only against Italy and Russia that
the Austrians admit they are waging
active warfare, and both these coun-
tries began operations by invading
Austrian territory.
Refused To Aid Kaiser
1t is understood that on numerous
occasions the kaiser has endeavored
to convince the Emperor and Empress
of Austria that it was to their best
interest to cooperate with the Ger
mans on the western front, but the
empress has put her foot down hard
at each of these conferences and has
refused to give him the aid sought.
And, from indications, what the En-
press of Austria says goes!
1t also is certain that the point of
view of the empress, who herself is of
the Bourbons of France, has obtained
Judgment in the minds of large num-
bers among the different nationalities
that make up the Austrian kingdom.
The fact that half a century ago Ger
many violated Austria's sovereign
rights is far from forgotten. And
also it is universally agreed that Aus
trian ideals and principles have moth
ing in common with those of Ger
MANY,