WILLIAM IN EXILE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 7

WILLIAM IN EXILE

SOME INTIMATE DETAILS

THE INJURED INNOCENT

By Telegraph-Press Aesociation-Oosyrisht

(Uec. April 10, 7.25 p.m.)

London, March 31 (delayed),

Mr. Harold llegbie, the "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Aiuerongen, (list-loses intimate details of the Kaiser's exile and his personal' views on the war. Mr. liegbie a'says: "The Kaiser is entirely impenitent. Ho declares that 1 e strove harder than any man in the world to avert Avar, and laughs at the idea, ot being tried. There is no power on earth that can try him. He would destroy himself if ho thought ho would be arraigned before an international tribunal, because such an ordeal would be insufferable. 'Only God knows,' he declares, 'how I strove, at my own peril and (ho peril nf my thvoiie, to avert the cal* amity!'" Replying to the question of tliß (iern\an war plots, the Kaiser points out that tho Gorman manufacturers in 111-l, with tho War Minister's consent, supplied Russia with thrsoit thousand ma-chine-guns, half a million rifles, and four hundred million rounds of ammunition. Jl3 imperilled his throne by withstanding tho generals* demands l'ur mobilisation in (he early days of the crisis. Germany \vh? tho last Power on the mainland of Europe (o mobilise, lie adds: I did not want war.. The Tsar Nicholas did not want; Avar. King" George did not want war. The rulers were all dead against it. The war was made by tho diplomatists. The wliolo kniilt rests with tho Uussian Government. Tho rivalry in the .Balkans between Austria ami Russia precipitated the conflict. Ger-many wan drawn in because she was pledged to do* lend Austria/' ~ „ , , The Kaiser added that the Entente Powers were seized of his tremendous power, and aimed at the German Empire. Tao late Queen Victoria constantly warned him against the late King Edwards influence. She said: "Do not have ,auy* thing to do with him. He will do yon no-pcod." Tho Kaiser protests his love for England. The Kruger telegram was sent awinsi, his wishes, owing to .Prince Hohenlohos insistence. The Kaiser laughs at those who refer to him as an aufcocratnic power. He was never allowed to know his generals' strategy or the truo course 01 hostilities. Tho Kaiser hotly resents the charge of organised atrocities, and say*: '"The Lusitania was a great blunder, but. England's attempt, to starve the women and children of Germany maddened tho (levman people." He deplores the cxee-ntion of Nurse Cavell, which was ordered by a general the worse for drink. The Kaiser ordered that no moro women should bo shot without his personal sanction, and defends the methods of the occupation or Belgium. , . Ho regards Bolshevism as a. criminal alias for Freemasonry, and Freemasonry for him is Satanism. His love for England remains. ITc continually exclaims: "Can my English friends believe these outrageous tilings about me?" Then he moans: "Thoso wonderfully happy days in Ejielaml are gone! gone! gone!"—Aus.KCable Assn. THE EX-CROWN PRINCE ON HIMSELF "NOT AN TTIIOT OR A DKGEXETUTK" (Bee. April 10, 7.25 p.m.) Copenhagen, March 31 (delayed). The ex-Crown Prince, in an interview, admitted that ho was not luo popular, and added: "I am not an idiot or a degenerate." Ho repudiated resnonsibili.y for the war, a.nd says that Tirpitz and the Army chiefs were well-educated liars. Ludewlorff's communiques in 1918 were so mendacious that they were ridiculous. Ho owed his position to his reckless energy and brilliant organisation, which, however, were not sufficient for a long war.' —Ans.-N./i. Cable Assn. ANOTHER.STORY OF LAST DAYS OF KAISERM leaderslncouncil Berlin, April 7. The newspaper "Freihcit," ("Freedom") publishes a memorandum recording Schulenbnrg's plot "to save the situation." On November 9 Hindenburg and von Groner visited Spa, and raged the Kaiser to abdicate, declaring that tho position of the army was hopeless, that the Revolutionaries were in power, aim that the army was untrustworthy.

Schu.lenburg agreed that it was impossible to order the army to turn their back on the enemy, and march back to quell an internal revolution, and urged that if specially-selected troops, equipped with poison gas and flame-throwers were sent to Vervicrs, Aix-la-Chapelle, and Cologne they could quickly restore order. The country would rally if it was tricked by a tale that the sailors and profiteers were cutting off the food supply of the army. The Kaiser agreed, but von Groner said he feared __ that things had gone too far. The Kaiser demanded the written opinions of ven Groner and von Hindenburg on the condition of the army. Von Groner answer, ed: "The army can retreat in good order under its generals, not under your Majesty's leadership." Von Himienburg said that abdication was an absolute necessity. • The Kaiser replied: "If the higher commands declare that the army is no longer loyal, I will go; but not before. In the meanwhile the Chancellor's telegram, recording serious disturbance!) in Berlin, arrived—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.