New-York tribune., 1922-11-06
Kaiser Fought
Loot ofBelgi,lrn,
Asserts Briton
Non Moltke Told Him 10
/. Sign Order or Abdicaie.
Says Sir Basil Thomson.
Old Scotland Yard Chief
'Phonograph After That
Generals Declared 10 Have
Tossed Him Bodily Into
Auto When Revolt Came

Inc Kaiser opposed the invasion of
Belgium and only signed the command
ordering 1t on threat of being forced
TO abdicate by the General Staff. ac-
eording to Sir Basil Thomson. former
head of Scotland Yard, speaking be-
fore crowded house last night at
the Broadhurst Theater. He said that
the Kaiser had always fought the in
sasion of Belgium, and that after he
was compelled to sanction it he never
had any real power in the German
army.
Il think we are wrong in believing
the Kaiser was at the bottom of the
invasion of Belgium" said Sir Basil.
u know from an authentic source that
at o'clock in the morning Won
Moltke awoke the Kaiser, and, thrust
ing the order for the invasion before
him, said: Sign this, your majesty"
Faced Abdication
when the Kaiser protested, Won
MoItke said Very well. Then the Gem
eral Staff will have to take in hand the
defense of the Fatherland. We have
decided This meant, of course, that
ne would be forced to abdicate. So the
Nv
Kaiser signed.
After that he was only kept around
as sort of phonograph for the Gem
eral Staff. He was very useful in this
capacity, but he was never afterward
allowed to have any real leadership
over the troops.
When the revolution came in Berlin
Won Bulow came and told him about it..
Very we'll the Emperor is said to have
replied, will go to Berlin at the head
Of my army
life would not be safe with his own
troops. He said that when the Kaiser
heard this his fact turned gray and
ne suddenly became as an old man.
The members of the General STAFF
realized that they would have to get
the Kaiser out of the country immedi-
ately or the army would be likely to
mutiny. When they tried to get the
Kaiser to. leave he simply remained
slumped down in his chair, with his
chin on his breast, and appeared not
to hear anything they were saying.
AT last Won Bulow and one Of the
other generals picked him up bodily
and put him into a fast touring car
which whisked him across the border
into Holland. So don't think we can
plane the Kaiser for not dying at the
head of his troops
Sir Basil also discussed the Fascist
movement In Italy, characterizin9 it as
really representative of the middle
class the world over" He said that
the movement was spreading like wild
nre all over Europe, and that even in
barcelona, Spain, similar organization
was springing to life.
we are not through with the Boil
shevists yet" he continued. "Bolshe-
v,sm is still very dangerous. The Boil
sheviki know their own minds and
nave no scruples. Think what that
MEANS"
He said, however, that the danger of
revolution In England was now remote.
although in March, 1919, his nation
mad never, in his opinion, been nearer
an uprising.
Tells of Rasputin's Murder
Sir Basil also confirmed the story Of
the assassination of Rasputin, which was
widely circulated year after the Rus
sian revolution. While he was head OF
tn Brietish Secret Service he examined d
1usapoff, one Of the chief conspirators
in the plot.
Yusapoff told him, he said. how he
succeeded in enticing Rasputin to tea
with him one afternoon after it be-
came known that the monk was trying
to influence the Gar to negotiate a
separate peace with Germany. They
had poisoned the wine and, although
Rasputin drank several glasses, he ap-
parentiy was not affected,
After this Yusapoff shot him, and a
Doctor, who was present as one of the
piotters, pronounced Rasputin dead.
lie revived. however, and grappled with
lusapoff, who again shot him. When
three shots failed to kill him they
tnally dispatched him with n club and
the Grand Duke took the BODY away in
his automobile and had it thrown into
river.
After the arrest of the assassins the
Czsrina was for putting them to death,
but the Car interfered and exiled
every one connected with the plot, Sir
Basil said.
Lcnine Among Exiles
Among the exiles was Lenine." said
the former head Of Scotland Yard. "He
went to Switzerland, and while he was
there he lived in a bare room, with
only the most essential articles Of fur
niture, thinking and planning all of
the time what he would do when he
got back to Russia.
There were attempted Bolshevist up-
rIsings both in Switzerland and Eol-
land, shortly after the war, but all tho
the Radicals we're packed into motor
lorries and hustled to the border
where they were flung into Germany