Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-01

considered himself secure IN the midst
eff his army, h. could deny his words
and defy the governals't.
1 felt it my duty 10 my Fatherlsnd
to expose the truta 20 the osticers. II
realized that ~ keeping IT, import
ant secret l world os party 20 the
infamous falsehood tnst my emit eror
had seen fit to utter to his soldiers. /
communicated my knowledge of affairs
to several of the high military chiefs.
They were astounded at the emperor S
lie. A few of them refused to believe
me and that l was telling the truth.
1 challenged them to communicate
with Prince Max at Berlin. which they
did. Immediately word was received
confirming my assertions regarding the
emperor s misstatements.
Army Loyal to Country, Not to
Kaiser.
On November 9th, shortly before
noon Hindenburg had a conference
with the emperor at the Imperial villa
Fraineuse. At the end Of the audience
Hindenburg gathered about fifty staff
Officers, representing several armies.
At the end of lengthy discussion he
suggested that each staff officer send
dozen officers from each army to the
general headquarters. Each of them
were ordered to make a written re-
port regarding his view about the 10y
atty Of his troops. When the reports
were digested the result showed that
with the exception of four of the Of
fieers reported that against the enemy
the troops could be depended upon, but
against their comrades they would not
fight.
In the meantime messages were pour
ing in from Berlin, urging the abdi-
cation of the emperor at once in order
to hasten the signing of the armistice,.
Finally the emperor abdicated as the
emperor of Germany. but refused to alb
dicate as the King of Prussia. 1t had
already become known that linden
burg had declared for the new govern
ment and was urging the emperor to
abdicate.
This fact made the situation more
clear for the army. Any royalist at
tempt to sustain the monarchy would
be considered as treason against the
new order, The emperor was helpless.
Late in the evening message came
from the government that it was too
late and that the government had al
ready announced the complete abdica-
ton of the emperor, both as the en-
peror of Germany and the kings Of Prus-
sia.
My disgust of my emperor was
growing. While everyone was advis-
ing that he abdicate he was still cling
ing to the throne, without any apparent
consideration of the welfare of the
Fatherland | would have respected him
even today had he from the first shown
readiness to do anything that lay in
his power-even offering to abdicate-
for the welfare of the country. But
to the last moment he clung desperately
to the throne. ~
I Am No More Your Emperor.
But at last Hindenburg, Groner,
Hintze (the foreign minister )and Ad-
miral Scheer held another council
with the emperor. That was the end
of it. When the emperor was leaving
the council chamber he met Grat
DONNA Schlodien who was waiting nj
the ante room. He said with tremor
in his voice: ~ am no more your
emperor.
He Immediately went to his room
and soon the Crown Prince arrived
He met with his father about twenty
minutes. at the end of which he de-
parted for his armies.
At ten O'Clock that night Hintze
again returned to the emperor and
urged his speedy departure from the
country. The emperor made every eff
fort to remain in Germany but his
friends and ministers urged him to
leave for Holland. The emperor s sug-
gestion that he be nArmittau to join
the Crown Prince s armies were re-
lceivcd and rejected as it was consid-
cred unsafe to travel there. Then he
fsuggsted that he be assisted to return
| to Castle Bruehl, near Cologne. This
also was overruled by Hindenburg.
Finally the emperor declared that he
would 60 to Holland to mako it easy
| for his people to obtain peace. How
shamefully he acted to the endl In
every step of the great drama he never
took a heroic attitude. He never
yielded one inch for the welfare of the
Fatherland until he was forced to do
SO. During these critical days he lost
the sympathy of all his supporters.
(Tha pnd