HOUSE OF HOHEHZOLLERN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1907, 26 November 1918, Page 4

HOUSE OF HOHEHZOLLERN.

REIHV OF THE EX-KAISER

Til 111 TV YEARS OX TUROXE. Wilhelm. U., who was born on January 27(h, IHSO, became Herman Emperor and King of Prussia on June loth, ,1888. He had, therefore, reigned Just over 30 years. Ho is the eldest son of Friedrich Hi. On February 271 h, 188.1, he manned Drincess Victoria of Sch-leswig-Holstein, daughter of the late Duke Frcicdrich of Schleswig-Hol-stein. Their children are: The Crown Dririce, Frcidrich Wilhelm, horn .May (itli, 1882; .Drincc Wilhelm Eiell-l'T'iedrieh, born July 7th, 1883, Drincc Adalbert, born July, 1881; Drincc August Wilhelm, born January 2lJtb, 1887: Drincc Oscar, horn July 27th, 1S8S: Drincc Joachim, horn December 17. 1800; and Princess Victoria Louise, bum September 13lh, 1802. ■ It was evident from (ho time lie ascended the throne that Wilhelm 11, intended to take more than an academic interest in hi> new position. Drim-e Bismarck was the last person to realise this, however, though a few skirmishes with the young monarch ought to have warned him. On March 18th, 1890, the world was startled by the news that Drim-e Bismarck had resigned. Everybody knew why, and Duncli summed up popular fooling when it issued the now historic cartoon, •‘Dropping the Pilot.’’ The picture of the aged pilot leaving the ship while Hie new captain watched his departure with a sort of grim pleasure was pnite the lies! comment, on I he extraordinary incident. Wilhelm had seen that Bismarck was the one man who siood between him and. the accomplishment of his wishes, ami, therefore, the Iron

Chancellor was' the first victim of the mailed list.

■ Soon after his accession the exEmperor started a tour of'■European courts that proved to be the most warlike of “friendly” visits history recalls. Less than three months after his accession he went to sec the Tsar at Peterhof; then Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna, and Naples were visited. The rest oi, the world waited and wondered what the result of this hurst of activity would bring in its train, but any fears they might have possessed wore groundless, and when a little later he went to England he was received with enthusiasm. His lour with the ex-Empress in 181)8 was a journey during which the acts of Loyalty, all the trappings of pomp and power, were employed to lend dignity to the great procession to the reputed Tomb of Christ.

The Suiti> 11 of Turkey received (he Roy:il couple with (lie sort, of feeling’ (hut animates a mouse when interviewing' (wo cals, hut the exKaiser was geniality itself, and the Sick Man of Europe recovered for a lime. The war-lord was one of (he lies! diplomat is|s —when he wished to he diplomatic. Me was seen in his character of “War Lord” when addressing recruits. Some years ago he created one of his sensations by a speech in which he told his soldiers that if he asked pun sj>u[)uj ii.wo looijs o) umij) mothers they would he bound by their oath to obey that command. But all his military addresses were couched in the same strain. Patriotism he interpreted as implicit obedience to himself. He is, or used to be, a firm believer in (he divine right of kings—hence the vindictiveness with which he punished lose majeste.

In (he years immediately preceding the war (he ex-Kaiser was troubled by the growing power of the social democrats. The astounding progress of I Ids party amazed, en - raged and distressed him in turns. He knew that whim his own personality was removed Germany's danger would lie internal. Often in the days of peace lie was denounced as a firebrand, a disturber of peace, and as a general intriguer. On the very afternoon of Ibe day when In* succeeded Ids father a message was cabled (o an America]) paper to (lie effect ilia I the young Emperor “would die in bis bools," so strong was the idea amongst some foreign publicists at lliat lime that his thirst for war and his ambition for martial laurels would soon cover Europe with a sea of blood and carnage.