The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-02
VON TIRPITz Story I
OF GERMAN DEFEAT.
CONTINUED From Fl JUS Issus.l

1 a : sAAA 4 Us AAelNsg
~
IN any consideration OF life under the
kaiser IN imperial Germany b. one OF
nus most Intimate subordinates such as
! was for many years. there Is no es-
Gaping the remarkable part paved in
the affairs Of the German empire by
| us rulers lack OF character. The old
emperor, William ], had bequeathed to
| hls Imperial grandson a wealth of love
almost immeasurablc, reverence and
constitutional Rover, NATURALLY, it fol-
lows that the kaiser was bound to be
the deciding personality on whom de-
PendeaL the attempt Germany was
| loFGed'to make TO win a secure position
| q her own by the side OF Anglo Saxon
dom This was true Of William both
Intellectually and materially.
Anglo saxondom at the outset Of his
| reign Was reaching out aud EN-
braclng the whole world like an octo.
| pus' The necessity for Germanys SUI
! preme efforts TO gain place OF equal
| power had been realized by the kaiser
before he assembled the throne. This
Was manifest even at the time Of the
as J could plainly see when we were
crossing to England, in June 1887, to
attend the jubilee festivities Of Queen
SlclostA the kaiser's grandmother CThe
saisers mother was the Princess Royal,
daughter or Queen Victoria.)
Even in those days, when we were
very close to England both materially
and socially, Williams thoughts en-
6raced ell OF the vital conditions OF
Germany's existence connected with sea
power, But, while the manner In which
the German empire did business---to use
homely expression--had been charAc-
terlzed (under our unforgettahe old
emperor, William u by ciearness and
resolution, that OF his grandson was
distinguished more by impulse There
were many reasons for this, OF which
the world, now torn by the wastage OF
war. may have forgotten or never has
>, TO one like myself who had watched
thesee traits Of the kaiser since the days
q nus youth, the danger was apparent
~ all times that irresponsible influ-
ences around William would release
Wlthln him impulses which would be
elther impossible to carry out or would
not be In harmony with the whole
course OF action of Germany, If the EN-
pre- was to realize the full fruits 81
German kultur and gain her place IN
the sun. The kaiser had swift COM
prehension, supreme Inconsistencies
easily distracted and this trait, al I
snail show In these memoirs, played
fatal part In the destinies OF Germany |
The Psychology OF the Kaiser. |
fpl IhH III Hucn nigh position |
as his, early realized that ii would |
always be q difficult task In life to |
separate a mere momentary success
from permanent triumph. The mere |
~ decorative, 70 such a nature as the |
kaisers, u always treaoherously in |
slnuating itself~-but never quite dis |
tinctly, into the essentials.
Now a sense for cold. hard facts was
the principal condition for the success |
o. Germany's great effort to gain her
place IN the world, and as the kaiser |
nad selected me as his assistant In this |
nsk, It became my personal duty In |
the Imperial court to sec to &c that |
the German ship Of state was kept to- |
ward Its goal, on the constant course |
when we were steering. This was quite
IN keeping with my nature II per- |
haps VIII be understood however, that |
thls DUTY was not always easy to fulfil |
under the circumstances.
The kaiser'g character was the oppo- |
site OF mine, In the course Of his reign |
! mad seen, and the world has known, |
that many OF his most intimate ad- |
Nisers had their moral backbones bro |
Ken on the rack Of his personality and |
his whlms, But | was able to save
myself from. that! The kaiser undoubt-
cay believed that he would not be able |
70 succeed without my organizing *.
perlenee, but was at time an awk.
ward subordinate, and as such | may
truly say have gone through all the |
stages Of his favor and his dIsfavor.
An aequaintanee once said to me that
OF slight plsfavor' was most desirable.
Or course, ! had to give the kaiser
his due. railways elrieayored to salts
~ those wishes or my Anonaroh that
were capable Of fulfiIlment, even those
that were merely capriciousl-s long,
That Is TO say, as could be financially |
responsible for them | was lees sue
ccessful, however, In danming back the
flood of spectacular celebrations,
speeches, and naval festivities like the
regatta week atslIieL and the theatre |
cal christening Of warshIps, because the
kaiser always said that they were USE
full pieces Of propaganda for the Ger.
man public. In my mind however, was
q more important consideration; | was
deeply perturbed on account Of the ef- |
fect they were bound to have in foreign
countries.