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Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1931, Page 4

The celebration of United Germany’s diamond juoile© earlier in the week is a reminder of the fact that the Bismarekian policy of crushing Austria and then France culminated in 1871 in the declaration of Wilhelm I as first Emperor of Germany, in the Hall of .Mirrors, Versailles. Over a trampled France, they built the German Empire, which a revived France (with Allies) knocked over 47 years later 1018). But United Germany survives us a Republic—icps of course, the parts taken away by the Versailles Treaty. President Bimß-’llbilrg was a smart young Prussian officer when France was defeated in 1870-71. and his “Memoirs” of the Great War include some glances back at the older campaign. He recalls how lie had formed the opinion that Napoleon TIT, was in the Sedan trap, and, when the trap was closed, he gave his opinion voice. Older officers laughed at him, hut he turned out to be correct. Thus, right at the outset of his career, he s n w the fall of an Emperor. He was destined to witness the flight of another. Stranger still, he. Hindenburg. the devout follower for half a century of the All-Highest, was destined to sit as President, holding the reins that his All-Highest threw away.