Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-11-14
ton of the German army. and from
that moment war was inevitable.


Publication of the "Willy-Nicky'
correspondence in 1917 placed the Ger
man emperor in the light OF an unscru-
pulous plotter. The kilograms disclosed
that Emperor William had induced
Emperor Nicholas of Russia to sign
secret agreement to which he was to
force the adherence of France in the
perfection of an offensive and defens-
i've alliance against England. The
treaty was discovered and repudiated
by a Russian minister.
Failing in his attempt, the German
emperor set upon himself the task of
drawing England to his side against
France and Russia.
How well he thought he had sue
ceeded in this may be gathered from
Il letter he wrote to President Wilson
in 1914 in which he said King George
had promised Prince Henry of Prussia,
on July 20, 1914, that England would
remain neutral in war involving the
central powers with France and Rus
Sia.
Lichnowsl<y Shows Up Intrigue.
Perhaps the most direct and authori-
tative of the accusations against the
German emperor and the n-Germans
are contained in the published secret
memorandum OF Prince Charles Max
Lichnowsky. who was German am
bassatlor at London ut the outbreak Of
hostilities.
The prince unequivocally placed the
blame for the war on Germany, and
for his frankness was imprisoned in Il
Silesian chateau, permanently expelled
from the Prussian house OF lords,
which action was sanctioned by the
emperor. and finally was eXiled to
Switzerland.
Emperor Williams domination over
German statesmen, diplomats and the
high command of the German army
was emphasized by DR.. Wilhelm
Muehlon, a former director of the
Krupp works, the great German muni-.
tions factory. in his book ON "The
Devastation of Europe" In this he
not only laid blame upon Germany for
bad faith and criticized the German
army for its brutality but asserted that
in the German foreign Office "only he
who did the emperor's bidding was al
lowed to remain. "They could not
do BETTER" he declared, because of
the character, the power, the vascilla-
ton of and continued interference by
the kaiser
1t was Doctor Muehlon who asserted
the authenticity of the statement that
Emperor William stated at meeting
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 lib
cral leader, declared the German ruler
brought on the war because Of his de-
sire "for something like world rule"
"No Nonsense From Us"
The emperor, despite his previous
expressions of good will for America.
gave vent to his anger against the
United States when 1t bec,ln,e evident
no official action would be taken to
stop the shipment of munitions and
supplies to the entente allies by de-
clarlng to the American ambassador,
james w. Gerard. II shall stand no
nonsense from America after the
war"
Williams designs to spread German
dominion in Asia found expression in
his famous visits to COnstnntin0ple
when he was proclaimed as protector
of the Moslems. In this the world saw
Il cunning step toward achievement Of
the German ambition of German do
mlnion from Berlin to Bagdad.
Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert was
born january q, 1859, and became
Emperor William ii on the death of
his father, Frederick III, June Is, 1883.
He came out of the University of Bonn
fully prepared to enter the school of
statecraft. Set to work in the govern
ment bureaus he was early taught the
routine of official business under the
tutelage Of the great Bismarck.
AT the denth of his father, the inn
perial throne deyolvcd upon William
III. who was then but twenty-nine
years of age. Bismarck continued as
chancellor. but not for long.
In 1890 the disagreement of the two
men reached II 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.
Stickier for Military Etiquette.
With the passing of Bismarck the
emperors real reign began. AS mill
tary man he was a stickler for efli-
cheney, discipline and the observance
of etiquette to the last detail. And with
the details of all these components Of
army life and training lie was familiar
to the smallest point.
In everything he was described us
thorough and, withal, one of the hard
est workers in the empire.
Physically unimpressive-he was
short and inclined to stoutness-Wil-
liam was fond of being photographed
while striking a military posture,
though taking good care to veil the
deformity of his left arm, disfigure-
ment with which he was born and of
which he was extremely sensitive. He
blamed his English mother for living
a life Of self-indulgence and cursed her
repeatedly as being responsible for his
deformity.
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