South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-23

were reconciled. Unhappily the
7 prince was ever wild and head
strong Her majesty Is fearful lest
he should weary Of staying at Wier-
| ingen. and return TO Germany.
where there are many Of his old
friends who would be only too ready
\ TO welcome him and cause further
! difficulties"
Surely" I said. "the crown
prince does not contemplate return
ing to Germany"
! "One cannot say" she answered.
Her majesty has written begging
him TO be guarded and cautious.
I knew that the ex-empress cor
responded regularly with her way
ward son, and that he wrote fire.
/ quently 10 her, but I was not pre-
pared for the next statement, which
the countess volunteered.
Her majesty's strongest desire is
TO go and see the prince" she said
Letters are so unsatisfactory;
there is so much which cannot be
reduced to writing. You have
heard OF the supposed German plot
10 smuggle the crown prince from
Weiringen?"
Il certainly had heard many stor-
les regarding mysterious motor
launches which were waiting to
convey the crown prince from the
island back TO Germany, but I had
paid little heed 70 them. and told
the countess so.
Her majesty does not lightly dis
regard them" was her reply, and
for that reason she IS going to see
the prince. y foolish move now
and all might be lost; all this peace
and happiness might be destroyed. 4"
And the kaiser?" 7 asked. will
his majesty go with the kaiserin ?"
mo" replied the countess. Ellis
majesty is aware Of the empress in.
tention, but he will not go. Such
a visit might be misunderstood, ever
though the kaiser was ready to meet
his SON."
II was three days later that the
ex-empress, accompanied by the
countess. left Amerongen TO visit
the crown prince. Naturally the
visit was kept secret. and the wild
est reports were circulated after tho
event. Whether or not the empress
succeeded in her mission cannot
say. Certainly she has not brought
father and son together again, and
certain is Il that the Journey which
! she undertook has given rise to
many suspicious, and has been d.
strictions which have been imposed
upon the royal exiles.
Suite Was Reduced.
With the signing OF the peace
treaty the kaiser's suite was reduced,
until only Count Gontard remained
10 act as secretary; Krausler as his
manservant; and DIR. Forester as his
medical attendant: while the ex-
empress had only the Countess Won
4 motor car which Wilhelm had up
till now, although he rarely used
It. was sent to Germany. and the
isolation OF the exlles was complete
| Wilhelm, however. bears all with the
greatest patience, and spends much
OF his time in prayer and devotions
Even Wilhelm's correspondence IS
now subjected 70 a censorship. OFF,
GERS Of the Dutch government oper
all his letters and scrutinize them
before they are permitted TO be for
warded. Incoming letters are sub
jectod 20 the censorship. and the
same applies 70 letters written or
received by members OF the suite.
No one in Holland believes that
the ex-kaiser Will be extradited an6
placed on his trial, and my owr
I opinion is that the ex-Iaiser him
self does not believe the allies will
force the matter.
Taking No Risks.
But. despite this belief, Count
| Gontard IS taking no risks. Shortly
after the new restrictions were
/ placed IN operation Count Gontard
| asked and was given permission by
\ Count Bentinck 10 burn a quantity
/ OF documents IN the castle grounds
\ Three men servants We're engaged
I for several hours in carting huge
! bundles Of papers. all carefully tied
up. from the royal apartments to
3 lit COu4 IEdlu near TIE llOdL. llt
/ bundles were deposited there, an6
one Of the men servants was entrust-
( ed to saturate them with petroleum
20 ensure their complete destruc-
{ ton.
Count Gontard himself applied
the match 20 the pile which burn
ed fiercely. The ex-kaiser watched
I the fire for some time, and then left
I the courtyard. Soon he returned
/ carrying beneath his arm the pack
/ age which I had seen once before
I He clasped It firmly. Just as he did
on the night that he returned from
I his mysterious journey. For a mo-
ment he stood motionless watching
+ the flames Then. taking the pack
age, he threw Il into the bonfire
The red tongues licked around *. eat
ing IL up. The side OF the package
was consumed. and some OF this
contents slipped down blazing &c
4 The foot OF the bonfire. Papers. Of
/ fciaI-looking papers with large red
| seals. appeared. The wax bubbled
. and spluttered in the heat. the pa
per turned from white 20 black
the writing on IL was gone for ever
consumed IN the flames. As J