South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-14
BY CONSTANTINE VAN DER
WEIR.
= Member Of Count Bcntinck',
Household.
Copyright 1870

When the kaiser frs. came 20
Amerongeu. he was particularly in
terested IN the surrounding country.
and spent much Of his time I'm the
open air, either riding On his motor
car with members Of his suite. or
walking about the village. where he
soon became known amongst the
villagers. on these walking tours
there was nothing of the autocratic
monarch about his manner. III a
particular cottage struck his atten-
ton. he would stop. and often con-
verse with the occupants
Despite his apparent freedom of
movement. whenever the ex-kaiser
INDUCED in "a walk ne was always
carefully guarded against intrusions
OF possible attempt on his life.
Suddenly these little excursions
ceased. and some wonder was ex-
pressed Wilhelm appeared 90 have
lost AN interest in the surrounding
country and in the life which the
villagers led.
Not Mere Changcablc Nature
The reason for this was never dis
closed I am able 20 state that the
ex-kaiser did not decide to forego
his pleasures simply because of his
changeahle nature. or that he had
lost interest in the locality. Behind
10 all there was "a series of highly
dramatic events. and Do became alb
solutCly NECESSARY that the eN-kaiser
should remain practically a prisoner
within the narrow limits Of the cas-
tie grounds If his life were TO be
protected. To my own personal
knowledge There was quite "a dozen
plots against his life within the first
three or four months of his coming
TO Amerongen.
At the bottom OF them all were
certain evil disposed people in Ger
many. associates chiefly OF the Spar
tacists. They sent their agents to
the little Dutch village. but their
presence was very soon known to
those responsible for tho kaiser's
safety. I'm fact iu two instances. be-
fore agents had actually crossed the
Dutch frontier, the object OF their
visits 70 Amerongen was known. so
carefully is the guard maintained by
the fallen war lords supporters in
Germany
Woman's Daring Mission.
One agent. extraordinary to re-
late. a young woman. succeeded in
reaching the village and staying
there for some time. She had been
selected by the enemies of the ex-
kaiser TO assassinate him. because
she had friends living i'm the village
and therefore when MS a stranger
she was naturally regarded with
suspicion. this anxiety was allayed
when il became established that she
had frequently visited the place
prior 10 the eX-kaiser's arrival and
was staying with her friends Her
passports were in perfect order.
For a time she acted the part of
0Onatide visitor TO the place Warn
ID that il was not customary to lin
ger in the vicinity of the castle. the
Young woman carefully avoided the
locality. During the period Of wait
ing she laid her plans carefully. and
very nearly succeeded i'm putting an
end to the life of Wilhelm IL was q
desperate attempt. and but for the
nervousness of the woman AT the
critical moment the mission would
have been fulfilled
Possessed OF the knowledge that
Wilhelm was in the habit of taking
walk each morning before break
fast tn the grounds OF the castle.
the youne woman made her way
through the woods which surround
the residence. and hid herself in the
shrubbery close to the moat. near TO
which the kaiser would walk Her
presence was entirely unsupported.
for she haC somehow cluded the
yards. Wilhelm made his appear
ance at the door of the castle about
$50 o'clock that morning. and at
sharp pace commenced to walk i'm
The direction where the woman was
iu biding As he was approaching
the spot he paused turned. and
walked in the opposite direction. To
the would-be assassin this action of
the kaiser's must have seemed TO
indicate that be had seen her, and
guessed her motive.
a small dark object about the
size OF tennis ball. came hurting
through the air. and exploded with
terrllnc FORCE ON the edge or the
moat some distance from the spot
hrr f-1f 4