South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-12


BERLIN. Feb. III am able to-
day TO make public for the first time
the only interview with former
Kaiser Wilhelm. since he crossed
the German boundary into Holland.
The circumstances under which the
interview was obtained are given
below.
In answer TO a question as 20 why
Germany lost the war. the kaiser
said.
We would never have lost the
war II any people had remained true
TO themselves. / always assert with
Martin Luther that If the world
were full OF devils who would
swallow US up we still would sue
coed II we did not fear for our
selves We had already overcome
hunger and need-despite the fact
that America had Joined hands with
our eternal enemy-Brtain. The
betrayal Of Germany signified her
death Sentence.
EVIL Revengcs Itself.
And notice how God scourges the
whole world-all evil revenges itself
here on earth"
Through the good offices OF Count
Oldenburg Bentinck, l was invited
10 Amerongen TO be presented per
sonally 10 the kaiser by Gen. Won
Gontard. court marshal.
When I entered the garden I saw
quite distant. the kaiser marching
up and down with the court marshal
in military tempo. The kaiserin
had seated herself In a quiet corner
on bench and sat there alone.
When Gen. Won Gontard claps
his hands then you must hurry
over" l was told. When the court
marshal signalled. I ran over and
stood, hat in hand. At the same
moment. the kalserin departed. The
kaiser was In brown hunting cost
ume with a dark gray cape and
wore a small hunting cap with a
feather. Suddenly he turned about
and viewed me with an eagle glance.
1 stepped up and as Won Gontard
presented me, the kaiser grasped my
hanG firmly. / went IN quick mill
tary tempo on the kaiser's side.
Directly behind us went Won Con-
tard and listened attentively. The
kaiser said:
Lends Pleasure In Past
Please put on your hat and tell
me about your study. You are a
Hollander but your father is Ger
man."
He comes from Lippe -Detmold,"
1 replied.
IT always think back to that place
with pleasure" said the kaiser. ain
the beginning OF my government in
the year OF 1SSs,-that's a long time
ago-in the month OF September. I
was there, on a through trip. In
the next month I visited as kaiser
and king of the German empire my
unforgettable friend, Franz Josef In
Vienna.
The world looked different then
than now. When you were still a
baby I arrived at Rome. Who could
then have guessed that the friend
would become the enemy or the
world? 1 was sometimes warned and
IL was not without intention that I
showed the Italian Victor Emanuel
in July, 1913. my fleet in Kiel.'
Attention Diverted.
Gen. Won Gontard diverted the at
tention Of the kaiser hurriedly from
political questions with the neutral
question:
If your majesty will permit, this
young Hollander is a higher teacher
of the German language"
The kaiser understood the inten-
ton of his constant companion. He
was silent a moment and then said:
so 1 hope you understand things
OF the middle ages. You recall Wal |
ter Won Der Voegelweide. The af-
fairs OF his home land were a mat
ter OF holy seriousness with him,
and what wonderfully beautiful lines
he has produced over the glory of
his fatherland."
The kaiser looked with glowing
eyes past me and said softly:
For the middle ages have an
charm and il won't be
light for you to prove 10 me that we
are better off now than then. I pass
my days partly n the past OF the
wonderfully beautiful. heroic middle
ages.
Ignores Intrusion.
THE problem OF the Nioelungen
also interests your How strong and
sound must the people have been
who produced such heroes. All the
more Il will be revenged when such
a natural folk bellies Itself. that Is 20
say its national pride"
4 new Won Gontard intruded with
a comment:
Your Majesty will permit me TO
note that Il Is gradually beginning TO
rain. May l bring an umbrella?
The kaiser looked coldly and IRON
icaIly at the general. said nothing.
and motioned equivocally with his
right hand. That could mean dis
appear" or could mean fetch the
umbrella" The general evidently
did not understand He hesitated a
moment. then hurried nervously
away
How does your Majesty hold il
possible that his people have fallen
so low?" I asked Immediately.
Betray Themselves, He Says.