Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10
Convicted by World As Organizer
=. and, Director Of Relentless .=.-.:.
L. Military Machine.
Last Of the Autocrats He Plotted War While Preaching
Peace, Made Playthihgs Of His Army and Navy, and
Dreamed Of World Dominion:

former director OK the kfupp WORKS, the
great German munitions factory. in his
book on 1.-The Devastation OF Eurone ,
| In this he not only laid blame upon, Ger
many for bad faith and criticised the
German army for its brutality, but as
serted that in the German foreign Office
was allowed to remain: They could not
do better" he declared. because of the
character, the power, the vacillation OF
and continued interference by the
kaiser, 1t was Or. Muehlon who as
serted the authenticity Of the statement
! that Emperor William stated at a meet
ing of German army officers that he had
plenty Of prisoners and that he hoped
| the officers would see that no more
prisoners were taken
Macmillan Harden, a German, lfb-
| eral leader, declared the German ruler
brought on the war because of his de-
sire for something like world rule"
Often Proclaimed Innocence.
| William often proclaimed his inno-
cence and endeavored to put the onus
| Of the war on the shoulders Of the en-
tente allies. In his speech from the
i throne after the war began, he, said:
| I'm pursuing its interests the. Rus
sian empire stepped in the way of
Austria Hungary. Our duty as an ally
called us to the side of Austria Hun
gary. The situation arose not from
| temporary conflicts of interests or dip
lomatic combinations, but is the result
of ill will existing for years agains
/ the strength and prosperity of tn,
German empire"
The emperor, despite his previous
expressions of good will for America,
gave vent to his anger against the
United States when it became evident
| no official action would be taken to
G Al oh fv,rr ~F
supplies to the entente allies, by de-
claring to the American ambassador.
James W. Gerard: IT shall stand no
nonsense from America after the war"
Williams designs to spread German
dominion in Asia found expression in
his famous visits to Constantinople,
when he was proclaimed as protector
of the Moslems. In this the world saw
cunning step toward achievement
OF the German embition of German
dominion from Berlin to Bagdad.
| Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert was
born January 81. 1889. and became
Emperor William II On the death of
his father. Frederick III. June is, 1888.
He came out of the University of Bonn
fully prepared to enter the school of
statecraft. Set to work in the gov
eminent bureaus. he was early taught
the routine of Official business under
the tutelage of the great Bismarck.
At the death of his father the i'm
perial throne devolved upon William
II. who was then but twenty-nine
years of age. Bismarck continued as
tchancellor, but not for long. Though
the great statesman had made every
effort to instill his young pupil with
his own ideas of government and dip1
lomatfc policies. the new emperor
,soon found that he disagreed with
his grandfathers former close adviser
in many important respects. In 1896
the disagreement Of the two men
reached crisis. a rupture came and
bismarck went. The relations be.
tween the two men remained strained
for several years. but before Bismarck
died peace was made between them.
With the passing Of Bismarck the
emperor's real reign began. AS a
military man he was a stickler. fol
deficiency, discipline and the observ.
ance of etiquette to the last detail
And of the details of all these com.
ponents Of army life and training he
was familiar to the smallest point. II
lis related that during military re.
views he was able to detect the
lslightest imperfection in the equip
ment OR training of regiment OF
squadron. and called attention to the
piles Of tactics and maneuvers, too, he
was thoroughly acquainted.
Studied Naval Problems.
Besides being well yersed in arm,
matters. the emperor was thorough,
familiar with naval affairs, having .
technical mastery Of the details thai
go to make up the efficiency Of fleet
Study Of naval problems was one Of hi,
pet occupations. His influence was DO
tent in fostering the development o.
German commerce, art and science. Hi.
interference in these affairs as well a.
in statecraft often embra ssed German
leaders and evoked from them admon
itions to leave diplomacy to his chan
cellors.
In everything he was described a.
thorough and, withal, one of the hard
est workers in the empire. His risint
hour was o'clock sharp and a lon;
days hard work. which frequently ex
tended well into the night, followed
,of informing himself on the progress o
events at home and abroad through
reading of the principal German an,
foreign newspapers.
Before the war Emperor William oftel
professed friendliness for America H
encouraged the foundation Of exchang
professorships by which prominen
German educators visited this countr,
and lectured in the colleges here, wilflt
American college professors similarl,
nileo chalrs IN German Institutions o
learning.
He was an enthusiastic yachtsma,
and despite his withered arm was abb
to take personal command Of his rae
ing yachts. and sail them with consid
cradle success. He spent much tim,
at his palatiai hunting lodges and Il
reputed to have been the champion
hunter in the world in the point O
game killed. 1t was stated that tn
emperor had killed 61,730 pieces O.
game, more than 1000 Of which wer,
stays. -
=, He was = great reaaer-his privat
library In the imperial palace at Der
lin before the war was becoming on
of the most interesting collections o
| books in the world. He posed as
dictator of music, painting. poetry an.
acting. -
7 Composer Of Iibretto.
I At one time 1t was announced tina
. he had composed the libretto Of
ballet to be given In celebration q
Of one of his musical efforts. is sal
a to have been given in tho PotsdaI
{ palace without notable effect upon tn
. Physically unimpressive-he wa
o liam was fond of being photographs
. while strikinEa military postur.
e though taking good care to veil til
{ deformity of his left arm, a disngure
r mont with which he was born. an
e of which re was extremely sensitiv.
He blamed his English mother for liy
/. ing life Of self Indulgence, an
E cursed her repeatedly IS being re
s tsponsfble for his deformit-7.
I No description Of the emperor's pei
: sonAl appearance will be complet
: without mention Of his full. bristlin
( mustache. His Photographic. which
= distributed with a. lavish han.