GIVE IN, KAISER!

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 November 1916, Page 3

GIVE IN, KAISER!

CHIEF HUN ADVISED TO THROW HIMSELF ON ALLIES' MERCY. By Horatio Bottomley (Editor of "John Bull"). In this wonderful article Mr Bottomley urges the Kaiser to face the logic of facts, and, ' realising that the game is up, to place at least one item to the credit of the great account he will be called upon to settle, by stemming the rivers of blood and tears with which he has flooded the world.

Tf to-day I advise the Kaiser to throw up the sponge and face the inevitable, it is not that I have the remotest atom of concern for his personal fate or that of his Empire, It it* solely because now that the issue cau no longer be in any doubt even to him (as it has never been to use), 1 am concerned to save as much huinon life, of our own flesh and blood, and that of our Allies, as possible —always provided that we can get the same terms of peace as those we should damand when our armies were marching triumphantly through the streets of Berlin. It may be that his fawning advisers are still buoying him up with false hopes and telling him that he is not half beaten yet; but I will give him a littfe story of the boxiug ring—not the one I mentioned some weeks ago about the dazed and battered " bruiser " who, on being assured by his seconds that it was "ten to one on him," replied that he would leave off " while he was a good favourite "; but of another much mauled exponent of the art whD, being cheered up with the assurance that he " wasn't half beat yet," replied : '* Then you can take the other half." Yes, if he is wise, the Kaiser will now give in.

If he weren't quite such a brute and beaat, I should be almost sorry for him. Everything has gone wrong with his plans. The war has been

one series of surprises and disillusions for him. When he started he was fai from sure that Britain would take a hand in the business ; and, at the worst, he reckoned only, on our .naval power. The idea that wo could ever put into the field an army four millions strong never entered into his calculations—or that, in a second, all our factories would be converted into munition works and arsenals. He never thought that little Belgium would show fight; he relied on Italy as one of the Triple Alliance ; and he confidently anticipated being able to purchase "the support of all the Balkan States ; while to the very last moment he believed that Rumania would either stand aloof or join forces with him. Russia has been a revelation —and Austria-Hungary a ghastly awakening. France, too, has shown that she has learnt much since 1870. I wonder the poor wietch hasn't ended his life !

So come, Kaiser, face the situation. There is yet time for you to place one item to your credit io the great aocount you will have to settle. Stop the rivers of blood aud tears from further flowing. All your dreams are shattered. Rumania is your crowning sorrow- —unless, indeed, Greece should now seize the opportunity of reviving some of her ancient glory by joining in the great battle for human freedom; for even your sister must now see the writing on the wall. It was a cruel fate that made her Queen !

Even your belief—if, indeed, you ever really eaterfained it—in your own divine destiny, must by now have received a rude shock. Do you remember that blasphemous declaration you made at Brandenburg as long ago as 1892 ? "Ou.r q}4 aWy, God,, w^ neyer le^ve me in the lurch. }$c 'has given Himself such endless trouble with my House that we cau assume that He has not done this for nothing !" How do these words sound upon your ears to day ? Gj-qd maj have taken •" end,ies.s. trftuhje" with yo.iir bui I a.m su.re he h s long since given it up a.s a hopeless task., G.ive in, KwiOTt

And tfhat do you think to-day of your Austrian and J Hungarian allies ? They detest and distrust you as umch as they detest and distrust each other --and that is saying much. St\^ I don't suppose YQU, b,av.e them much }o#g,6r.. %c doom o| Budapest and Vienna, is, s,eal,e.d^ and fte $ual Empire is. hejd together, hy the thin thread 0$ a doddering old Emperor's fast flickering life. Meanwhile, the Magyars o£ Hungary see their approachir.g fate, and they, too, curse Austria; and the spirit of Kossuth is abroad in the land. Wherefore, prepare to wipe Austria o,^t 0$ your calculation^ Turkey and* Bulgaria. 40,6,, \yi^l soon b,e gone. Po you j remember that speech you onoe made iat Damascus (^you, ae^ I have been : keeping $n eye o» you for years), I you. said ; '•' May the Sultan, j a.nd may the three hundred millions of Mohammedans 'throughout the world/- who reverence him as their Caliph, be assured that at all times the German Emperor will be their friend." Artful words, those I emphasised ; but India is fighting you—and the Turks loat!\Q you. Give in, Kaiser, (To. be Continued),.