Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-10

by the kaiser" 1t was DR.. Much,
Zion who asserted the authenticity Of
the statement that Emperor Viii
liam stated at a meeting of German
army officers that he had plenty Of
prisoners and that the hoped the Off
GERS would see that no more pris-
| oners were taken.
Desired World Rule.
Macmillan Harden, German
liberal leader, declared the German
ruler brought on the war because
! of his desire for something like
world rule"
! William often proclaimed his in
nocence, and endeavored to put the
onus of the war on the shoulders OF
the entente allies. In his speech
from the throne after the war began
he said:
"In 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
Hungary. The situation arose not
from temporary conflicts OF inter-
ests or diplomatic combinations but
it is the result of i'll will existing for
years against the strength and pros
perity of the German empire.
The emperor, despite his previous
expressions of good will for Amer
lea, gave vent to his anger against
the United States when it became
evident no official action would be
taken to stop the shipment Of NUM-
tons and supplies to the entente al
lies by declaring to the American
ambassador, James w. Gerard, II
shall stand no nonsense from Amer
lea after the war"
Williams designs to spread Ger
man dominion in Asia found express
sion in his famous visit to Con-
stantinople when he was proclaimed
as protector of the Moslems. In this
the world saw cunning step to-
ward achievement of the German
ambition of German dominion from
Berlin to Bagdad.
Born in 1859.
Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert
was born January u, 1859, and be-
came 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 statecrast. Set
to work in the government bureaus,
he was early taught the routine of
official business under the tutelage
of the great Bismarck.
At the death of his father, the
imperial throne devolved upon Will
liam II, who was then but 29 years
of age. Bismarck continued as
chancellor, but not for long. Though
the great statesman had made every
effort to instill his pupil with his
own ideas of government and dip
lomatic policies, the new emperor
soon found that he disagreed with
his grandfather's former close ad-
wiser in many important respects. In
1890 the disagreement of the two
men reached crisis, a rupture came
and Bismarck went. The relations
between the two men remained
strained for several years, but before
Bismarck died peace was made be-
tween them.
Real Reign Begins.
With the passing of Bismarck,
the emperor's real reign began. As
a military man he was stickler for
efficiency, 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.
1t is related that during military re-
views he was able to detect the
slightest imperfection in the equip
ment or training of a regiment or
squadron and called attention to the
dereliction sharply. With the prin-
ciples of tactics and manoeuvers,
too, he was thoroughly acquainted.
/ Besides being we'll versed in army
matters, the emperor was thorough
ly familiar with naval affairs, having
technical mastery of the details
that go to make up the efficiency
of a fleet. His influence was potent
in fostering the development of Ger
man commerce, art and science. His
interference in these affairs as we'll
as in statecraft often embarrassed
German leaders and evoked from
them admonitions to leave diplom-
acy to lis chancellors.
Was Hard Worker.
In everything he was described
as thorough and, withal. one of the
hardest workers i'll the empire. His