The New York herald., 1922-12-31
Kaiser in Fear of Own Troops
Slipped Away at Night Into
Holland After the AbdicatiOn

generals. but not under the leadership
Of your Majesty"
There was no reply by the Kaiser.
He had nothing to respond. He sup
pressed an impulse to speak.
Further conversation was made i'm
possible by anew demand from the
Chancellor's office for a decision. It
was now ii o'clock. The Kaiser walked
out into the park and requested the
Quartermaster-G General to ask the
opinion Of the commanders at the
front.
While the other officers engaged
in their various activities Baron Grue-
nau walked on alone with the En-
peror ana improved the opportunity
to urge abdication upon the monarch.
He unfolded the point OF view of
Chancellor Max of Baden.s
Only twelve hours previously the
Emperor. when approached by Prince
Max over the telephone. had Violently
reje ted the suggestion. Now. however
some one at his very side was plead
ing with moving entreaty. The Kaiser
could not remain uninfluenced. Sadly
and bitterly he replied that he was
unwilling to be the cause OF bivvo-
she'd At the same time, for him to
abdicate would mean the establish
ment Of the republic and this in turn
would lead to the dissolution of the
empire. The Socialistic Government
had done nothing to ward off attacks
against him, although he had been
ready to accede to all suggestions for
reforms.
For a moment he paused. Then:
"If this is the will of the German
people L am ready to abdicate. have
reigned long enough to know what a
thanlsless task 1t 10. I am certainly
not welded to my post have
merely done my duty in sticking to
my post, In order not to leave the
army and my people without leader
ship. Now let the others show whether
they can do any better"
Commanders Silent on Result of
Questionnafre, to Profecr Kaiser
The Generals had Just received word
that even the Second Division of Royal
Guards, which had been brought into
the neighborhood OF Brussels to pro-
tect General Headquarters against
revolutionaries. could not be depended
upon. sGen. Groener was called to the
phone. From the Chancellor's office
an urgent request was made Of him.
as well as of Gen. Won Plessen to exert
pressure upon the Kaiser. Both de-
clined.
Again and again members OF the
Kaisers encourage tried TO calm the
Chancellor's office, from. which reports
of disturbances in Berlin rained thick
and fast. by saying that the decision
was only matter Of minutes.
An automobile drove up quickly.
The Crown Prince jumped out OF 1t
and hurried toward the Generals.
Haven't the handful of sailors been
lined against the wall YETI" he
shouted.
He ioined. his august father. WHO
.no,se with the Crown Prince also.
visible to everybody, with those liveiy
gestures that were characteristic OF
him.
Bv 1 o'clock Col. Heye was able to
make his digest Of the reports or the
commanders at the front. Fifty com
manders of the best and safest troops
had been summoned; thirty-nine ap-
neared. the automobiles of the re-
manning eleven had remained by the
wayside. Here were the Questions and
answers:
/. what is the attitude'of the army
toward the Kaiser? will II follow him
into a fight for regaining his father
land?
Answer: /. '"Yes-the army VIII FOL
low Internationally" 10, doubtful:
| 23, no.
O. what Is the attitude of the army
toward Bolshevism? Will 1t march
against the internal enemy?
Answer: s, doubtful; IL, Possibly
after matters have been explained to
them--if their families are In danger.
thew viii probably march" 19. no
| Voluntarily the commanders pledged
themselves to keep silent about this
ouestionnaire, lest the Kaiser be later
indicted for having melted toward
civil war. Consequently IL has only
now become public for the first time.
Col Heye closed his report, after
| reading to the haiser WHAT t'io co'
manders had reported. with these
words Every hour nearer the armis-
tice is vital"
The Kaiser agreed to this and then
added:
IAN armistice Is. Of course, what
we ali desire. But must see clearly.
Unless I see clearly I won't abdicate.
VIII the army march home in orderly
fashion without me? Gen. Schulen-
burg thinks yes; Gen. Groener. no."
Once moro Count Schulenburg took
n hand In the debate. He emphasized
again the reliability OF the Prussian
troops. But when Admiral Won Hintze
inquired. "But will the Prusslan
troops be ready to flsht?' he con-
fessed hesitatingly: "No."
The Emperor had Mt last made his
decision. lie wanted no civil war. He
wanted TO prevent collapse Of the
army. Erzberger should be directed
to conclude an armlsticc. He would
abdicate as Kaiser. but not as King
OF Prussia. He intended to Join a
Pi-issian division and with II return
home peacefully.
He left the generals and officers
and retired 10 the villa. While the
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