Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-25
KAISER
. DID NOT WANT WAR
Former Emperor's Own War
Correspondent Denies
''Demigod Theory"
RY GEORGE WHITE.
Special Cnblegrnm to The Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1919.

BERLIN, Germany. December q
The kaiser'S own war correspondent"
not much of u parsonage in the new
German republic On the contrary, he
aust needs live a life of retirement
devoted to the memories of time
when Wilhelm II looked upon him
With royalty benevolent condescen-
sion, lest these memories become be
mirched by principles that caused
he downfall OF the German monarchy
larl Rosner. whose faithful record
# how many eggs the kaiser ate be
ore the battle of scissors. what colo
he imperial iinger-bowl was ant
>ther minute details of the kaiser's
life attracted a good deal of atten
ion in America during ,he war, i
low living in a quiet neighborhood il
he western part of Berlin, where
ound him yesterday. He was in hi
tudy at a desk. on which was an au
ographed picture of the kaiser prom
emily in view, while scattered owe
he walls were other pictures of the
allen monarch. all bearing the nm
)erial handwriting.
Believes kaiser "Human."
Herr Rosner became eagerly elo
Iuent when / asked him about the
former emperor. He assured me that
l" was not pleading Wiihelm's cause
out that what he said We're his hon
ST convictions.
helltNN lT' KAISER WIS as no1tSl
md uprigh a human person as | have
met in my life" he declared. Il know
hat nobody hated war more than he
did. Many times ] have seen him re-
turn from the battlefields so thor
oughly shaken UP that he seemed to
be an entirely different man. And
still they accuse him of having
started the war. and still claim that
he had his mind set on conQuering
The civilized world.
you ask whether he spoke of wei
therrschaft' (world dominion). who
times thrice daily. never heard him
Express such thoughts. During the
spring drive in 1918. when we believed
hat victory was ours. the kaiser often
discussed conditions of peace. And
what were the kaisers ideas? All
hat the kaiser thought of keeping
temporarily in case of an emergenc
were the metal mines of the Eriey
'asin and the fortress of Liege. To
draw this man who has been so ut
terly crushed before an allied tribunal
would mean to add the deepest
humiliation to his already broken
spirit and at the same time deeply
1umiliate the whole German people
Il am not trying to plead the kaiser's
cause. l am merely expressing my
slncerest convictions of man with
whom l travelled in Germany, France,
mania, living on the same train and
speaking with him daily and even
hourly. The kaiser'S marginal nota-
lions on the recently published Off
cial documents concerning the begin
ring of the war have been used by
his enemies to make him appear as a
man who hated his enemies bitterly.
but / know that, though tempera-
mental and given to strong express
sions in the heat of the moment, he
was just in his judgment of all per-
sons of every political complexion who
were antagonistic toward him.
Denies Demigod Theory.
at has been said in foreign news
papers that the kaiser considered him
self denigod and constantly used
the words Itch und Gott' q and Cod.
I know that this is not true. The
kaiser was humble believer in
who looked upon his hav-
ing been chosen to the throne not as
elevating him to heights of divinity,
but as burdening his shoulders with
a gigantic task, for which he would
have to render an accounting some
day.
II have heard from Amerongen
lately that the kaiser is bearing up
with quiet dignity under the blows
which the heavy hand of fate has
dealt him and is living the serene
life of private citizen. while at the
same time he is keeping in close touch
with political developments not only
in Germany. but throughout the
world. I do not believe that he will
ever try to regain the throne or that
he will even return to Germany so
long as his presence here might
ruffie the political peace of the
fatherland."
Correspondent Rosner has tried re-
peatedly to go to Amerongen, but
has been refused passports because
he was among those whose surrender
was asked for by the allies together
with that of the kaiser. He is. how
ever, in close touch with the mon
archistic group in Germany and also
with the members of the Hohenzol-
Iern family who have remained here.
He showed me an autographed picture
of the kaiser heading, ITO my honor
ed friend Rosner." which the former
emperor had sent him recently.
A movement has been started by the
legislature of Vera Cruz to ask the
Mexican congress to prohibit more
in, nf4ica for IDENTITIES in