Republican farmer., 1919-04-18
HOW THE KAISER TOOK DEPARTURE FROM GERMANY Advised Grown Prince to
 Stick to Post for
 @ While. HE OFFERED TO BUT
 EBERT SAID "NO" Whereupon He Wrot e "Hindy" of His Deep
 Regret in Leaving.

Berlin, April 16-(SpeciaI Cores pondence)-The Deutsche Zeitung publishes a number of letters illus trating the attitude of the ex-Kaiser and the eX-Crown Prince during the Hateful November days of last year. The first is an autograph letter from the ex-haiser to his eldest son, dated November 9, which runs:
 My dear boy.--After the Court Chamberlain had informed me that he could no longer guarantee my safety at Main Headquarters and that the troops also were no longer trust worthy, l have resolved, after a se- were mental struggle, to leave the Army, which has collapsed, and to go to Holland. 1 advise you to stick to your post until the conclusion Of the Armistice. In Berlin two govern ments. under the leadership of Ebert and Liebknecht, are fighting against each other l hope to see you again in happier times.-Yo our faithful and deeply afflicted father,
 WILHELM.
 A Request Refused.
 The Crown Prince, on receipt of this letter, addressed the following to the then Imperial Chancellor, Herr Ebert, on November II:
 The Crown Prince urgently de- sires to remain at his post, to do his duty like every other soldier. He will bring his army back home in 2 well-disciplined and orderly manner, and undertakes to do nothing what ever at this iuncture against the present government. What is the governments attitude in this mat ter
 The next day the following answer arrived:
 After hearing the Minister of War. Major-General von Scheuch, the gov arnment must give it's refusal to the request of the Crown Prince.
 Crown Prince to Hindenburg.
 The Crown Prince accordingly de- cided to lay down the chief command which he did by the following letter to Marshal von Hindenburg:
 Highly esteemed Field Marshal In these most grievous days of our life, both for my father and for my self, l. too, must say goodbye to your ExceIency. With deep emotion I have been obliged to decide to make use of the authority granted me by your ExceIlenCy to lay down my post as Chief Commando" and LO take up my residence, in the first In- stance, in a neutral country. I have only been able to force myself to this step after hard internal struggles, as it is repugnaEt to my whole nature not to be able to lead my brave troops home
 II desire, however, at this hour once again briefly to explain my at titude Contrary to many unjust opinions, which have a ways tried to represent me a. a war instigator and a reactionary, I have from the be- ginning adopted the standpoint that this war was for us a war of de- fence. Again and again during 1916 and 1917 I made both oral and writ ten representa- tions to the persons con- cerned that Germany must endeavor by every means in her power to ter minute the war, and satisfied to maintain herself against the entire world on the basis of the status quo.
 "In many conversations with Gen. eral Ludendorf l for a long time pleaded for wise peace by under standing and expressed the view thai the most favorable opportunity fol attaining this end was reached when we occupied strong, powerful posi- tions before and also during the spring offensive.
 As regards internal politics I am the last person to oppose the liberal development of our Constitution Only a few days ago I set forth this view in writing to Prince Max o1 Baden Nevertheless, when the weight of events hurled my father from his throne I was not only not heard, but was simply passed over a. Crown Prince and as heir to tho throne.
 No renUnciation was either de- manded from. or made by me. Not withstanding these facts my stand point was to persevere at my post and my idea was, by holding my Army Group together, to avoid fur ther causes Of damage and disinte gra ton for our Fatherland.' z zBu E@AE N@RE "a