Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10
HOW WILL THE EX-KAISER MAKE
HIS DEFENSE?

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military party around the monarch.
He knows the anal decision in all
matters OF state were made by the
ex-emperor. He knows who infu-
enced the ruler. He knows whose re-
ports reached him. He was the on
cial spokesman Of the kaiser and his
government. He made all explanA-
tions and signed all public and private
treaties and Documents Either as =
witness for the kaiser or a. the man
to assume all responsibility he Is des-
tined to be the chief figure at the
trial next to his imperial master.
DR.. Won Bethmann Hollweg. At
sixty-two years Of age, 10 to be made
the goat" according to the kaiser's
plans Of defense.
To q greater degree than one might
expect after q revolution, william OF
Hohenzollern also has loyal press In
Germany. The Lokal Anseiger, the So
called "kaiser's paper" published by
his intimate friend, August Scherl;
the Tages-zeitung Of Count su Re-
ventlow: the Kreuz-Zeftung. the
Taeglische Rundschau. the Cologne
Gazette, Hamburger Nachrichten and
the Germania Of the Catholic party,
all may be expected to back him In
his defense. just AZ many OF them
are already advocating his return to
Germany and to the throne.
Fortunately for the kaiser-who-
was, death has already removed many
Of the leading men whose testimony
might be exceedingly discriminating.
especially under cross-examinatton.
Count Stefan Tia1a, who was minister
president Of Hungary and the DOM
mating power behind the former
Emperor Franz Josef, the man who
ordered Count Berchtold, the Vienna
foreign minister. to send the ulti-
matum to Serbia, was assassinated
during the Hungarian revolution. The
German ambassador to Austria-Hun-
barry. who transmitted all communf-
cations between Vienna and Berlin.
monarchy with full instructions in
the days when the two kaisers were
preparing for war. is dead. SO is Gen.
Won Moltke. former minister of war
and chief of the German general
stan, who was present with the EN-.
peror at all conferences at the be-
ginning Of the war and who had
charge of all military preparations
for . European war. Alfred Ballin.
former director general Of the Ham,
barg-American line. An intimate adj
wiser of the former emperor. died
only recently. Count Czernin. former
Vienna cabinet Official. adviser Of
Franz Josef and the late Emperor
Charles. and Admiral Won Holtzen-
dorff. former chief Of the German ad-
miralty stan, have passed away from
the political stage Of Europs since
the revolution. and the two governors
general Of Belgium under the oceu-
patton. Won Kissing and Won der Coils,
are No more among the living.
4
But there still remain fnnumerahle
men who may testify 1t the trial both
for and against the chief defendant.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg. still
the IDOL Of Germany; Gen. LudsndorR,
Gen. Won Fslkenhsyn. chief Of the
German general star during the bat
ties Of verdun: Grand Admiral Won
Tirpitz, Field MarshaI Won llacksn-
sen. Gsttlieb won Iagsw. secretary Of
state for foreign Affairs throughout
the controversy with the Untted
States; DIR. Kari HsiRerich, minister
Of finance; Prince Henry Of Prussia
and the crown prince remain to face
the International tribunal which viii
fix the responsibility for the war and
pronounce the punishment.
All Of these men. II called upon to
testify, will be Witnesses for the de-
Tense. The kaiser could rely upon
them in war and they can be depended
upon at hin trial. Their game II his.
The responsibility must be borne by
Germany. not individuals. unlee. Il b.
poor Bethmann"! Did not the ksissr
and his naiAtarists always maintain
that there was no distinction between
the German people and the imperial
German government?
The kAiser's reply to the indictment
of the International tribunal to be An.
pointed to try him win be, Of course.