The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-24

cause the monarch whom he had loyal
~ and faithfully served for years was
openly revealed TO him al the most
critical juncture Of his cnuntrys, al
fairs as a physical coward.
That revelation deprived Admiral
Schccr. as a friend OF his told me. Of
king and country.
A Confession Of Cowartl1ce.
The German fleet was 10 have sailed
on Thursday night, and the emperor
was 10 have come 10 kicl on the pre-
vlous Tuesday. \ great banquet IN
honor Of the empcror's presence had
! been arranged to take place al the KEEL
Yacht club, but on Monday morning 1t
became known TO the German naval
command that the kaiser was not COM
ing to kiel.
naval attachc from Wilhclmhoc
arrived with n dispatch for Admiral
Schrcr on Monday morning from the
emperor.
What tho exact contents Of that DIS
patch were nobody will ever know. for
after reading it. Admiral Schcrr tore 1t
up and threw tho fragments into the fire;
then. turning to tho at,achc who had
brought il. and who had remained with
the Admiral whilst he was reading II,
nc ShIu, IL SUu diN h'iIle AhNh ~ ''''
helmShoc tell tho Emperor that l nave
destroyed his written confession OF
cowardice.
The Kaiser. in his dispatch, had m
formed the Admiral that he was not
coming 10 kiel because he believed it 10
~ his duty 10 remain at Wilhelm
shoe, but he strongly urged that inc
Fleet should sail TO encounter tho Brit
iSh Fleet as arranged.
The banquet that had been arranged
for the Kaiser WIS put or. Prince Hen
ry. however. invited few officers Il
mung the Higher Command Id dinner
at the kicl Yacht Club. He had done
this in the hope of being able 10 dis
suadc them from taking the action that
he had very good reason for SuSpeclinH
that they would take as a result of his
brothers refusal to como 10 kiei.
Towards the end Of the dinner the
sound of heavy guniirc broke out sud
denly. Several diners in thu room started
up ut tho sound. and rushed out Of the
clubhouse to sec what had happened.
The Prince sal still: he guessed what
had occurred: the German Naval Com
mand had taken possession of k1cI.
A few blank shells had beer thrown
over the town by one Of the warSHips
The Prince for the moment WAS Admiral
Selects prisoner. and as he left the
club he was met outside by two otri-
GERS. who escorted him to his residence,
where he remained prisoner for
week.
Tho kiel revolt was in reality dem
onstration on the part Of the naval high
command against the kaiser and the
Hohcnzolcrns. and had marked the
breaking off of the fleets Allegiance
to the emperor. The revolt was not
n sailors revolt. nor was it in any way
arranged or planpcd by tn" rrvolution-
aries of Berlin. It wns entirely or
ganizcd by tho German naval command
In n communication from the minister
Of tho interior on The night Of tho re-
VOLT Admiral SChcrr stated that he
would hold Kill until u new govern
mnnt had hcrn established.
And then" hc said. eve may write
prefers 10 accept disEracc 10 lighting in
the cause IF n coward"
Fleets Doom Averted.
Had the kaiser kept his promise to
Admiral Schrcr there is. I am firmly
convinced. not the slightest doubt that
the fleet would have sailed to meet it's
doom. Tho destruction of the German
fleet would no doubt have tcrminat"d
the war. but it would have altered tho
Who'll" course Of events in Germany, and
tho Hohrnzmll"rn dynasty would almost
beyond doubt he still in existence