New-York tribune., 1918-12-04
MEznER IA rmE Assoc.Arrn rREss
Germany's Captain Kid

The ex-Kaiser's histrionic instincts
would be fattered if the Allies sent him
to some new Elba or st. Helena. He al
ways aped Napoleon The tribute Of !
island exile would round out his career
with a proper Napoleonic anti-cEmax.
But the Allies are not bothering them
selves about historic parallels. They are
not in a mood to humor William lis
megalomania In their eyes he is moro
of West Indian buccaneer than twen-
tieth century Corscan. AS the German
War Lord" and the responsible initiatOr
of the German programme of wholesale
murder on the high seas he has be-
come an international criminal. They
naturally prefer to deal with him in that
role. He was mediocre ruler, states
man and strategist. But he will remain
one of the most notorious sea outlaws in
history.
The ex-Kaiser's status as a refugee in
Holland has been thoroughly irregular.
He entered Dutch territory claiming to
be private citizen. But there was no
evidence at the time that he had actually
abdicated. He was too busy saving his
skin and transporting into neutral terri
tory the boarded food supplies which
would enable him to live in luxury to full
fiji the formalities of remuneration Of
his claims to the Prussian throne He
grossly imposed on the confding Dutch.
Recently, as an afterthought, he has pub
lished the text of letter Of abdication.
He could have been interned originally
as German officer who had deserted the
colors. But after he abdicated he be-
came mere German civilian, subject to
eXtradtion on charges brought against
him by the German government The
simplest solution would have been to send
him across the German frontier and let
the new German republic settle accounts
with him.
Holland did not bestir herself to get
rid of an embarrassing guest in that
easy way. The German government was
also too occupied keeping afoat to waste
any energy trying to recover the person
Of the fugitive Kriegsherr SO The op-
portunity passed 10 estore William II tc
the bosom Of his people before the Allies
had begun to concern themselves witt
his activities in exile or his destiny
Holland can hardly resist a demand fo,
his surrender. He sought Dutch hospl
tality under false pretences. He has di
vested himself of his quality as an Officer
and as a ruler. But crime is personal
He remains a monumental criminal. /
the Allies ask for mis- delivery as pirat
no international conventions can protec
him, for piracy is an offence against in
ternational as we'll as national law
William II has sunk Dutch merchan
vessels and committed murder on thei
passengers and crews. How can Hollan
argue that she owes him an asylum
Even If she is willing to forgive him sh
cannot contend that she has a right t
shelter him from punishment at tn
hands of other nations whose citizens an
subjects-men, women and children-h
has wantonly slaughtered.
Napoleon was never charged with mu
der. He was exiled as a troublesom
political prisoner. The Allies do n,
want to punish William II for his poit
cal offences. They have no fear of hr
They want to try him as the last ar
greatest of the sea pirates-as the assa
sin of the Lustania and the Sussex, tt
ghoul who ordered the destruction wit
out trace" of passenger and even hosr
tai ships.
The laws Of the sea are the laws of
nations. He has broken them. Hollal
can indict him as we'll as Great Brtai
France or the United States. And HI
land has no moral or legal right to pl
vent his trial elsewhere if she doesl
care to undertake it herself.
To himself William II may look Ii
another Napoleon. To the rest of t
world he is only another Captain Kidd