THE KAISER’S ADDRESS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 3 August 1915, Page 3

THE KAISER’S ADDRESS.

ANNIVERSARY OF WAR

A CONFIDENT UTTERANCE

AMAZING CLAIMS,

(Reed 11.40 a.ra.) BERLIN, August 1

Th e Kaiser, in a manifesto to the German people, says a year has elapssed since 1 was obliged to call the people to arms unplrccejdent,ed in time and bloodshed has befallen Europe and the world. Before God and history, my conscience is clear. I did not will tilit] war. After preparations for a whole decade, a coalition of powers for -whom Germany was becoming too great, believed the moment had come to humiliate] the empire which stood loyally beside us as an ally in a just cause, or to crush it by overwhelming encircling forces. It was no lust of conquest that drove us to war. When all able-bodied men rushed to the colours iii August, and our tfroops marched to a defensive war, every German on earth felt he was fighting for the) highest good of the nation, for its life, its freedom, and what awaits us if the enemy succeed in determining th e fate of our people and of Europe as been shown by the hardships' endured.

My dear province, East Prussia,with the consciousness that the fight was forced upon us, has accomplished mira cles. Political conflicts hav e . be,en silenced, old opponents began to understand and esteem each other, in a spirit of comradeship.

I have governed the entire people in full .gratitude, and can say that God was with us.

Th e epemies armies, who boasted, that they would enter Berlin in a few months hav e been driven back with heavy losses in the far east and in th R west, on the numberless battlefield in various parts of Europe,, Naval battles on near and distant coasts testify to what German angpfr is in self defence, and what German strategy can do. No violation of international laws by our enemies was abl e to shake the economic foundation of our conduct of war. Communities of agriculture, industry, commerce, science and technical art, have endeavoured to soften the stress of war, by appreciating the necessity for measures being taken for free intercourse, and their wholly devoted care to their brethren In the field. The population have inerted their utmost strength to parry the common danger. With deep gratitude the Fatherland to-day remembers, and will ever (remember, its w*arriors; those who defying death show a bold front ot the enemy. Those who are wounded and have com e back ill: those above all who rest from the battle, on foreign =•05.1, fir at the bottom of the sea, I griev e with the; mothers, widows, and orphans for those beloved ones who died for the Fatherland. Our internal strength and our unanimous national will, in the spirit of tho founders of tiin Fmohre. guarantee victory, -'hich were ere'’*"''* naf’ori thef v "e wou’d op.oo p-in--o }nvo to defend what we had gained in 1870

have defied th e highest tide in the proofs of personal ability and national energy, I charish with bright confidence that the German people rße faithfully preserving the purification which they acquired through the war and that they will vigorously proceed along old tried paths, and confidently enter new ones. Great finals have mad e the nation firm in heart and in

heroic action. We suffer our work wtihout wavering, until peace comes, a peace which offers th e necessary military, political and economic guarantees for a future, condition, which is necessary for the unhindered development of our producing energy at home and on free scjas. Thus shall we emdrge with honour from the war fetr Germany’s rights and freedom, however long war may last and be worth victory before God who w e pray may henceforward bless our arms.