Evening star., 1920-01-25

Former Commander Of the German High Seas
Fleet.
The number of those in Germany
who have come to the conclusion
that the former kaiser is and has
long been suffering from actual in
sanity is steadily increasing. Me-
galomania is stage of insanity that
is not so easily recognizable in a
ruler as in an ordinary individual
Wilhelm IL was from the first con-
WINGED that a ruler set upon MS
throne by the grace of Cod could
do no wrong. Out of this convic-
tion grew conceit which was
brought to a form of insanity by the
dangerous worshiping of those about
him who sought thereby TO 1urther
their own ends.
He finally came to believe that he
could be his own chancellor and chlef
of general staff. and that he him.
self understood more about the navy
than the most efficient, highly tram.
ed naval officers
whoever considered it his duty to
be of a different opinion from the
kaiser. and to disagree with MIN
was promptly dismissed II thus
happened that no honest men We're
to be found in the inner circle
around him. With his lack OF char-
acter. this of necessity leo TO catas-
trophe.
The kaiser had really no sound
knowledge. There was no field IN
which he was really at home Every
thing he did was accomplished In
playful. amateurish manner. Many
matters in which he at first display
Ell keen enthusiasm were soon orop-
ped because he lost interest.
Only Flatterers Surrounded Him.
No man of high intellectual stand
Ing could get along with him If he
did not hatter him. and. herefore:
Wilhelm III fell into the hands OF
weaklings and backboneless hollow
headS-and with him fell the "hoie
German people
Pleasure and diversion. bombastic
receptions and festivities meant
more to the German ruler than dio
when an admiral was announced 10
report on a very urgent naval mat
ter the kaiser admonlShed hlm TO
hurry because a fine deer had been
sighted in the preserve and ne was
afraid he would lose him.
one time Count Won Posadowsky-
wehner. then secretary of state,
called upon the emperor to discuss
state question Instead OF giving
him his attention. the kaiser amused
himself by sending one of his favor
it's dachshunds back and forth De-
tween the legs of the secretary OF
state. who finally became angry
broke off in the midst of. his dis
cussion and left the room. The em-
peror was highly indignant, and
few days later replaced Posadowsky
When the admiralty started a COM
petition for the best design OF an
armored cruiser. the kaiser lnsisteu
upop entering. 1t. He was very enS
thusiastic about !, the craft ne
draughted. buE it ever been built
and launched it would have ~turned
keel up instantly.
His boastfulness and conceit were
almost unbelievable. In art, litera-
ture and science it was the same
as in politics. naval matters or any
thing else. Frequently he would IN
vite scientists who had MADE sreat
discoveries to meet him at court
Presumably it would be for the pur-
nose of congratulating them upon
their achievements. but as matter
of fact the emperor would DO notn-
knew of their subject. and they
would not have the chance to utter
word.
Hi. Vanity Caused Suicide.
There is a well remembered incident
of his boastfulness and false. senseiess
pride which led to grim Tragedy: On
board his yacht, Hohenzollern, omcers
were celebrating one evening ana
Wilhelm ii took an active part. Mucn
champagne was consumed and even
the kaiser although he was somewha.
of an abstainer otherwise. lmplpeo
rather freely of the sparkling oever-
age and soon became the center OF m
terest.
The conversation shifted 10 tne no
bility and their services to the 1atner, ,
land the kaiser leading IN ms usudi
boastfui manner and claiming tnat tne
HohenzoIlerns were superior to any OF
the ruling houses in their ancestry as
well as in their accomplishments
Lieut. Otto Won Hahnke, first aid OF
the kaiser and a son of Lieut. Cen
Won Hahnke. listened patiently to the
kaiser's distasteful boasting until
finally he lost his temper and ex-
claimed in such a loud voice that the
kaiser could hear it. that his ancestors,
as far as their antiquity and services
were concerned, were at least equal II
not superior to the Hohenzollerns.
The kaiser was speechless. for mo-
ment. staring at the young onlcer IN
surprised awe And all along the Ia
bles the gay crowd was suddenly 81
fenced and struck with fear. thinking
that something frightful must happen
because of the audacity of the young
officer,
few officers. sitting near the
kaiser. had noticed how he paled when
the remarks of the young lieutenant
reached his ears and soon the former
emperor was thrown into mt OF an
ger He ordered. Lieut.. Won Hahnke
70 a far corner of the saloon ard there
The onlookers heard that the kaiser
demanded on apology of Won Hahnke.
Dealt Aid Blow in Face.
The courageous young officer refused
and the kaiser. now in violent rage,
dealt his aid a blow in the face
Won Hahnke did not finch. but he
became as white as n ghost and before
any one Of those near could intervene
he had answered the insult of his i'm
peral master with deadly blow over
the left eye which toppled the kaiser
over
This happened quicker than words
can describe IL.
Instantly pandemonium broke loose
In the saloon. Officers leaped- on Won
Iiahnke and overpowered him. taking
away his sword. while others looked
after their first war lord who had not
Eet gotten over the shock and was
furiously nursing a very bad black
eye.
Won Hahnke was put into irons i'm
mediately and was calmly awaiting
his fate when during the r;"ir the
door of his room was throw open
suddenly and he was told that he
could 20 ashore for an Indefinite leave
of absence.
The kaiser had realized in the mean
time that he would be an object of
r+dicule shouid the incident become
Known Every officer present was
e'edged on his honor that not word
of what had happened would ever
cross his lips
Dispatch Of WOIn Bureau.
The next day the semi official Wolff
Bureau sent out a dispatch. saying
that the kaiser had been hurt in a