The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-09-03

when 1 went back to Berlin in tn,
fall of 1915, after a visit to the United
States, the kaiser was very anxious to
ascertain from me just how America
felt towards the war.
told him that before the sinking OF
the Lusitania American opinion had
been divided. There had been many
who were strongly pro-ally, there had
Deen others who were openly pro-
German and there had been still 9TH
ers who maintained an absolutely neu-
tral attitude. After the Lustania
tragedy, however. there had been a
distinct change In public feeling, 1 told
him, practically the whole country
having become decidedly anti German.
, = Perhaps II the U-boat commander
mad known so many women and chill
dren were on board" was the kaiser's
only comment, "he might not have sent
forth the torpedo which sent the vessel
to the bottom. but what he was think
Ing Of most. Of course, was the 5000
tons Of ammunition on board which
were destined to slaughter my peo-
plel"
Of course the kaiser knew that II
the U-boat commanders orders were
TO sink the Lusitania, disobedience
upon his part would have left but one
course open for him: suicide. II, on
the other hand, the kaiser meant to
intimate that the U-boat commander
sank the Lusitania on his own initia-
tive or without special instructions
from his superiors. the fact still re-
mains that the kaiser could undoubt-
edly have prevented the tragedy and
didn't.
But If there can be any doubt as to
the kaiser's direct responsibility for
the sinking OF the Lus!tania, certain it
is that he fully approved, openly de-
ended and even exnlted7 4! the murder
~ women and children by Zeppelin
IDS on London, Manchester, Liver
pool and other non-military cities and
town~-
"E gland expects to starve my
women and children to DEATH" he de-
clared to me early In the war-long
before we In Germany had begun to
feel the slightest effect Of the dimin-
fishing food supply, but our Zeppelins
will give their women and children a
They sit on their island and try to
starve us; we will give them taste of
what war isl"
This was the man whose various
acts of consideration towards me,
whose talents aud personal charms,
had made such a favorable impression
upon me! How trivial and inconse-
Quential they all seemed nowl Clear.
ly, they were all part of the role he
had been playing for years. While he
was outwNrdly displaying all the ear
marks of a gentle character. he was
inwardly plotting to dominate the
world. For twenty-five years he main
tained the peace of Europe, he fire.
quently boasted. He maintained peace
Just long enough to complete his final
preparations for the wickedest war
that was ever waged!
And yet strangely enough, even after
the war had revealed the kaiser to me
in his true colors and had shown him
to be capable Of deeds which should
have thought were foreign TO his ma
ture. his presence always had u most
remarkable effect upon me.
i have a vivid mental impression of
him now as / write. He is standing In
the center of my room, drawn up to his
full height, his shoulders thrown back,
his left hand upon the hllt IF his
sword and his right emphasizing his
remarks. protesting In the most earn
est manner that 1t was not he who was
responsible for the war and all It's
horrors, but that 1t had come upon
the world despite all he had done to
prevent 1t. His ready. well-chOsen
words entrance me. / feel that this
man must be telling me the truth and
i am ready to believe that before me
stands the most unjustly judged man
In the world. a.
And then he shakes my hand In fare
well and Is driven away, and as gaze
at the spot where he stood, there comes
before my eyes the desolation of Bel,
gium, the tragedy Of the Lusitania, the
despoliation of France and Poland, the
destruction OF women and children in
London and Paris and thousand and
ore other atrOciOus deeds which belle
the kaiser's fair words. and 1 realize
that have been talking to the worlds
most finished actor and have simply
been bewitched by the power Of his
personal magnetism.