THE EX-KAISER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 8

THE EX-KAISER

HIS RELIGION ALL-SUFFL CIENT WHY GERMANY LOST. LACKED faith in god. “I would have the world know that I am at peace with God. and that the burden that oppresses me is not my personal misfortune, but that of my country.” This statement was made by the ex-Kaiser in an interview which has been widely published. Asked viy Germany lost the war, the ex-Kaiser implied: “'Because we did not obey God in all things: liecause we hesitated to bear the worst;; because we refused in the end to face ail risks in preserving faith. The German people performed miracles of endurance., but at last they failed. The supreme miracle can he accomplished only by faith. We should have fought to the very last carrot, the very last man, the very last round of ammunition.’’ The former war lord is then emoted as having asked Hindenburg in 1914 what he could accomplish, and Hindenburg is said to have replied : ‘‘lf the battle is man against man, we shall win. We can win one against two. We can even win one against three. One against four is a little harder. One against five is difficult. If the odds are six to one against us, well. I’ll try my best, and with the Lord's help beat them.” The interviewer quotes the exKaiser again as follows: ‘‘Actually the odds against us towards the end were 20 to 1. We could still have prevailed with complete faith in God. We should have trusted in God. not in human logic, and certainly not in the alluring proposals of our enemies and their 14 points.” The Kaiser is next quoted as saying; ‘‘l look upon mv fate as a trial imposed upon me by God. God wanted me to rule for thirty vears as Emperor. Then He discarded me and allowed'me to be dethroned, perhaps to try whether my faith would be shaken. It is not. It may please Him to let me end my days ih exile. If so, I shall find work to do.”

CONSCIOUS OF NO WRONGDOING. Asked whether he regretted the splendour of the past, the former Emperor is qpoted as saying: “I am conscious of no wrong-doing. Whether I did work imposed upon me by God well or not. He alone can decide. At present God needs me for other work, as He needs everyone for His appointed tass. Perhaps God wants me to teach the world the truth about the origin of the war—a studv to which I dedicate manv hours bv dav and night.” The former Kaiser declares that lie has no philosophy except his religion, which is ‘‘all sufficient.” He is declared to have said: ‘‘l have always judged every act of mine, weighing whether it was in accordance with the Word of God. I never knowingly closed mv ears to my conscience : the voice of conscience is the Voice of God.” He declares that he tried to rule his Empire for the glory of God. and, ‘‘whether 1 remain in the narrow confines of a Dutch village or whether the large world calls me again anywhere. I shall obediently accent whatever task the Lord has in store for me.” Asked what pleasures life still held for him. Wilhelm replied: “Life still' holds many pleasures for me. I enjov a good story. I enjoy my work in the garden. I enjoy observing the blunders of socalled statesmen. I enjoy a good meal. I enjoy the study of archaeology. Above all. lam happy in the love of my wife. I only miss the opportunity to work on a large scale for the redemption of my people and of those in the world. ’ The interview is accompanied by the latest official photograph of the former Kaiser, brightly hand-col-oured bv himself. He is dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant-general of cavalry, and wears at his throat the highest German military honour. “Pour le Merite.”