The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-02

The Ex-kaiser lmpenitant
I propose now to furnish the reader
with an account Of the ex-kaiser's
opinions. 1t must be understood that
/ In this dispatch, which is an authentic
account Of the ex-kaiser's opinions
concerning the events which precipi-
tated the war. am attempting to
write simply. as secretary, OF his
state of mind. l am neither. attacker
nor defender, neither protagonist nor
historian. l set myself no other task
than most faithfully to present the
reader with the thoughts OF William
Hohenzollern, myself nothing more
important than the pen in his hand.
The former kaiser Is entirely i'm
penitent. He is not only convinced of
his innocence, he sees himself as one
who strove harder than any man In
the world to avert war. As for being
put on his trial. he laughs at such an
idea There Is no power on earth
that can try him. II he thought he
was to be arraigned before an inter
national tribunal he would destroy
himself, not out OF any fear of the re-
suit of such trial, but because ne
would regard such an ordeal as In
sufferably undignified. He says:
Il am answerable for my conduct
only to God, and God knows how I
strove, to my own peril, the peril OF
my throne. to avert the calamity Of
war"
He does not often protest his inno-
cence. It Is a more frequent occur
renee on his part TO express amaze
ment at the opinions of those who re-
gard him as the guilty cause Of the
war. Questioned as to any plot on
the part of Germany. he asks how 1t
was that with the consent OF his War
Minister. Germany, manufacturer OF
munitions, supplied Russia in the
early days of 1914 with 10000 ma
chine guns. 100000 rifles. and AGO.
100000 round of ammunition.
Puts Blame on Russia.
He declares he imperiled his throne
by withstanding his generals when
alarmed by Russia's action. In the
days of the crisis they pressed upon
him the instant need Of mobilization.
He says he received telegram from
the Car thanking him for his ef-
forts to avoid war; and telling him
that Count Taticheff was on his way
to Berlin with a letter which would
strengthen those efforts. He says
that, in spite Of the protests of his
generals. who said they would not be
answerable for the safety Of Germany,
he delayed mobilization in the hope
that this letter from the Gear would
save the world from war.
Count Taticheff never arrived. moth
ing more was heard Of him. Russia
modified in secret without the con-
ca nf he ~
to the German frontier. Germany, he
declares, was the last power on the
mainland of Europe to mobilize.
81 did not want, as Nicholas did not
want, war. George did not want
war;" he says with energy. mo ruler
wanted war. We were all dead against
war. The war was made BY the dip
lomats. The whole guilt Of the war
rests on the Russian government, and
there were secret forces at work In
the Russian government"
His argument is that the rivalry in
the Balkans between Russia and Aus.
tria led to the conflict of 1914. Rus
STA was beginning to get upon her
feet, Austria was falling more and
more into decay, France was financ-
STA of her friendship. The finances Of
Russia and her army organization
were in a comparatively sound con-
dition, and the Russian government,
feeling itself thus powerfully buttress-
ed, decided that the hour was ripe for
a definite contest with the worm
eaten empire of Austria. Germany
was drawn into the war because she
nj IN Infa
Russian aggression, and because she
herself could not be insensihle to the
increasing menace of Russian &C
tivity
He denies with kind Of fierce
ridicule the charge that there was
any war party In the German empire
He quotes with fiery energy the state
ment of Lloyd George that Germany
was just as much entitled to her large
army as England to her strong navy.
He says he was surrounded by enc
mics. He asks what England would
have done in Germany's geographical
position, with France financing Rus
STA In order that she should build
strategic railways to tho German
frontier.
Bernhard, he declares, was scarce
~ Hedru VI III Ierln2ny De1Oro Eng
fish TRANSACTIONS of his works had
made him kind of military Shake
speare. The people of Germany de-
sired peace. the Jingoes were a small
party among the serious statesmen of
the Fatherland. There was fear of
Russian aggression, but no movement
toward a war of defense.
Victoria Warned Against Edward?
Asked why he did nothing to enter
the entente, he replies that he could
not trust Russia. The entente
seemed to him an organization of ire
mendous power, aimed directly at the
German empire and inspired by fear
of German industry and envy Of Ger
man prosperity. He was governed in
some measure. in this respect. by his
feelings toward Edward VII. He says
Queen Victoria warned him again and
again against the influence of Ed.
ward. Don't have anything to do
with him. she would say. HE will
do you no good intellectually, morally.
and socially
He was antipathetic to Edward VII.
and the antipathy overlooked into
their political relations. He protests
his love of England. and is never tired
OF talking about his English friends.