Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-09
The KAISER
ADVOCATES
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Devastation OF Europe" In this he
not only laid blame upon Germany
for bad faith and criticized the Ger
man army for ito brutality but assert
ed that in the German foreign office
"onlyNhe who did the emperor's bid
ding was allowed to remain. They
could not do better" he declared,
because Of the character, the power,
the vacillation Of and continued in
reference by the kaiser" 1t was DR..
Muehlon who asserted the anthem
ITCHY of the statement that Emperor
William stated at a meeting Of Ger
man army officers that he had plenty
officers would see that no more pris-
oners were taken.
Macmillan Harden, a German lib
eral leader. declared the German ruler
brought on the war because of his de-
sire for something like world rule"
William often proclaimed his inno-
eence, and endeavored to put the onus
tente 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 Hun
gary. The situation arose not from
temporary conflicts Of interests or dip
OF il-will existing for years against
the strength and prosperity Of the
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
SION fhn
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
or the Moslems. In this the world
saw a cunning step toward achieve
ment of the German ambition of Ger
Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert
was born Jan. 27, 1859, 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 government bureaus, he was early
taught the routine of official business
under the tutelage of the great Bis
marck.
At the death of his father, the i'm
perial throne devolved upon William
II. who was then but 20 years of age.
Bismarck continued as chancellor but
not for long. Though the great states
man had made every effort to instil
his young pupil with his own ideas of
government and diplomatic policies.
the new emperor soon found that he
disagreed with his grandfather's for
mer close adviser in many important
respects. In 1890 the disa agreement of
the two men reached a crisis, a rup-
ture came and Bismarck went. The
relations between the two men re-
NAMED 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 mil
itary man he was a stickler for eff
cheney, discipline and the observance
of etiquette to the last detail. And OF
the details of all these components of
army life and training he was familiar
to the smallest point. 1t is related
that during military reviews he was
able to detect the slightest imperfec-
ton in the equipment or training Of a
regiment or squadron and called at
tention to the dereliction sharply.
With the principles of tactics and
m%anoeuvres, too, he was thoroughly
acquainted.
Besides being we'll versed in army
matters, the emperor was thoroughly
familiar with naval affairs, having a
technical mastery of the details that
go to make up the efficiency of a fleet.
Study Of naval problems was one of
his pet occupations His influence
was potent in fostering the develop
ment of German commerce, art and
science. His interference in these af-
fairs as we'll as in statecraft often
embarrassed German leaders and
evoked from them admonitions to
leave diplomacy to his chancellors.
In everything he was, described as
thorough and. withal, one Of the
hardest workers in the empire. His
rising hour was 6 o'clock sharp and a
ly extended we'll into the night, fol-
lowed. Stated hours were devoted to
the task of informing himself on the
progress Of events at home and
abroad through reading of the princi-
pal German and foreign newspapers
Before the war Emperor William
often professed .~friendliness for Amer
lea. He encouraged the foundation Of
exchange professorships by which
prominent German educators visited
this country and lectured in the COL
leges here while American college
professors similarly filled chairs in
German institutions of learning.
He was an enthusiastic yachtsman
and despite his withered arm was
able to take personal command of his
racing yachts, and sail them with con-
siderable success. He spent much
time at his palatial hunting lodges
and is reputed to have been the cham
pion hunter in the world in the point
Of game killed. 1t was stated that the
emperor had killed 61,73O pieces of
game, moro than 1000 of which were
stays.
He Was a great reader-his private
library in the imperial palace at Ber-
lin before the war was becoming one
of the most interesting collections of
books in the world. He posed as a
dictator in music, painting, poetry and
acting.
At one time it was announced that
he had composed the libretto of a bal
let to be given in celebration of his
birthday. A. private performance Of
one of his musical efforts is said to
have been given in the Potsdam