The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24

posing and accusing each other, rushed into
print since the armistice to set forth the
part they had taken in the greatest catas-
trophe of history, and to defend their activl-
ties and the systems for which they stood.
Karl Kautsky published the war documents,
German and foreign, kept in the archives OF
Berlin. The complete history Of the Ger
man end of the world conflict, one might be
inclined to assume, has been uncovered by
the numerous briefs replete with revela-
tons. the numerous campaigns of mutual
muck -raking. and the honest endeavors 10
arrive at and unveil the truth.
That is not so, as may be seen from
Matthias Erzberger's recently published
book "Ersignisse in Weltkrieg," Events IN
the World War;" which contains multitude
Of hitherto unknown facts and intimate de-
tails, and a scathing arraignment OF the
powers that were at Berlin.
Always Seeking the Limelight
The prominent part Er1berger played In
German public life prior to, during ana since
the war was due not much to his pelnS
possessed of dissecting intellect ana prolound
knowledge of political economy as 10 pc
culiarity of German party politics. Erz-
berger belongs to the Centrist party, winch,
I'm to 1912. when it took second place, nao
the numerically strongest representation III
the Reichstas.
The Centrist party is not a political party
hit a religious party catering to classes Oh
onposite political views and connlctlng eco
nomic aims and interests-to the arch-redc-
tionary Silesian junlSers and Rhenish INDUS
trial magnates as well as to the narrow
minded small peasants of Bavaria and the
radical workers of the Ruhr district with
Socialist and Communist inclinauons. That
nartv was always controlled by its conserVa-
tive wing To maintain their hold on the
masses the Catholic nobility and manulac-
turers had to have some agitators VINO
talked radicalism in public but TOOK care
If the interests at secret party caucuses
and when votes were needed in the Parlia-
ment.
such a Centrist Democrat is self-concelt-
sd E,rzbereer an exceptionally able spell
hinder. whose highest ambition 1t is TO De III
tho Iimelight. During the war he was only
100 willing to accept any official commission
or do errands, where others hesitated
For wears official reporter of the Reichs-
roo Committee on Military Affairs; after
ne declaration of war head of the Foreign
News Office: official and semi-official ennis
sary to Rome, Vienna, Constantinople, soma,
Bucharest, Warsaw and Stockholm; In the
confidence of the House of Hapsburg ana
the Holy See; on intimate terms with IN
Auential politicians in Austria, Italy, France
Belgium. Russia and Switzerland. with
nections during the world conflict; partici-
nant in numerous confidential conferences
If which nothing was known up to the pun
lication Of Events in the World war
chief of the German Armistice Commission
and a member of Cabinet under four con-
secutiye Chancellors-Prince Max OF Baden
EBERT. Scheidemann and Bauer-Erzberger
sheds new light on many phases and events
of the war, ALTHOUGH he withholds mueh
"rhe time has not yet come" he says, ITO
publish everything / know.
Wilhelm the Per6dious.
The central figure of Germanys perfdious
war policy aiming to deceive the Entente
cheating her allies, Austria, Hungary, Bull
garia and Turkey. and rewarding the Ger
man people for their untold sacrifices with
j, brutal rule of the mailed first after the
,,ar was the Kaiser. who went mad with
rage when Italy and Rumania did not make
common cause with the Central Powers
although the Berlin Foreign Office experts
on international law freely admitted that
Italy was under no obligation to render as
sstance to Germany and Austria Hungary
At confidential reception of representa-
tives Of all Reichstag parties with the ex-
cention Of the Independent Socialists, the
Kaiser hailed the resolution of July 10, 1917,
in which the German Parliament had de-
clared for peace of compromise and WIN
ont annexations because the Fatherlands
enemies may be thereby lured into laying
down their arms and offering an opportu-
nifty to strip them of their wealth and nat
ural resources in favor of Germany.
while the Kaiser publicly promised demo-
cratic reforms, he told the Reichstag Depu-
ties that no democracy must be allowed
where his Guards are, and that we must
go slow in making reforms" Clamoring for
humane warfare he broke out into exuber-
ART rejoicings over the indescribable misery
of Rumania's civilian population after the
defeat OF King Ferdinand's army and in
dulged in expressions that are not nv TO
print.
During audiences an uninterrupted flow of
oraggadocio ran from the lips of the Kaiser.
who did not permit others to take an active
part in the conversation, thereby manifest
ing lack OF good taste and showing an utter
disinclination to listen 10 or take under con-
sderation an opinion differing from his own,
no matter how well founded
No wonder Wilhelm was not informed of
the avowed aims of the Reichstag at the
July. 1917 reception OF Deputies who were
amazed when the Kaiser spoke Of the war
as Second Punic War" and Of the coming
destruction Of England by German French
alliance
But when her army had broken down, and
Germany had no choice but TO sue for an
armistice under any conditions. the same
Kaiser refused to touch politics, thereby in
aiuuatine that responsibility for the terrible