Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-02
Pdn-Gern,an Role
Ouerplayed by Kaiser;
Jealous of His Son

There mas Deen mucn speculdIioh III
Paris as to what was the underlying
reason for the kaisers recent remark
able speech in which he threw off mask
of a lover Of peace and boldly proclaim
ed himself an apostle Of pan-German-
ism
It has long been obviously impossible
for the kaiser to refrain permanently
from replying to the allies repeated
demands for I statement of.the Ger
man war aims, and the emperor, it is
held, has now cut the gordian knot by
plainly stating the enemys objects.
simply cold blooded effort to domi-
nate the rest Of the world.
But why, It Is asked, was the en-
peror induced, especially at this pune
ture, to make a statement, which has
condemned Germany in the eyes Of the
civilized world.
It could not be because the enemy
was so sure Of victory that the admis-
sion of policy 50 monstrous and tyr
annical could only spoil the prospective
triumph by dividing his own people
and alternating his allies.
The suggestion that this speech came
from an imprudent and insolent mon
arch who foresaw inevitable defeat and
was attempting 4 finl blun In order to
Brighten the allies Is also dismissed as
untenable.
Senator Henry Berenger. in an ar
ticle published here. thinks the real
reason lies in Vat long smoldering jeal-
a
crown prince. Indications are not want
ing, he points out, that belief in the
existence Of bitter antagonism between
father and son for many years past has
a very real foundation in fact. The in
cident Of Sabern and the scene in the
reichstag Just before the war. when the
crown prince openly showed his hos
tility to his fathers alleged pacifist in
clinations are cases in point.
= Only few weeks ago the pan-Gef-
manic policy was pressed forward to
such an extent in Germany that a
league was actually formed Ito protect
the person and the will Of the emperor
against. the steps being taken to bring
about peace. In, other words, a
league was formed to curb pan Ger
manisn in the interest Of the emperor.
The pan Germans, however, pressed too
strong for the emperor, and 1t was sug-
gested that William. seeing with anx :
iety the growing strength <of his SON
and rival as the selfproclaimed head of
this aggressive movement, suddenly re-
solved to spike the guns OF his success
sor by boldly. putting himself forward
as the real head Of pan-German ambi-
ton to the fullest extent. Nobody, not
even the crown prince. the decided,
should outdistance him in pan German
ism.
The time and place, Mr.. Berenger
points out, were well chosen. The
place was the headquarters Of the
German general STAFF. the heart Of
Prussians militarism, and the time was
the anniversary of his regin, which be-
gan with the present emperor in bitter
opposition to his father, Frederick III,
whose right to ascend the throne he
disputed.
NJ. Berenger repeats a striking anec-
dote. told him by a French statesman,
which emphasizes the antagon.sm ex
listing between tina emperor AMI the
crown prince. Some years before the
war, at an official reception in Berlin.
the crown prince spoke 10 the Fr.ncn
ambassador Of the immense admire, 81,
he felt for French cavalry and ex-
pressed g desire to visit jncoanito the
great French cavalry school at Saumur.
The ambassador pointed out that the
French government would have t, give
Permission.
"oh.' replied the prince. you can
look after that
Then there will be the emperor to
convince. said the ambassador. g
aAh. murmured the prince gloom
iiy. "thak man Is always getting in my