THE QUICK-CHANGE KAISER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 25 November 1915, Page 3

THE QUICK-CHANGE KAISER.

IMPRESSING THE PEOPLE

THE MAN OF MYSTERY POSE

A mcirdant study of the Kaiser at close range is contributed to the Pittsborg Dispatch by Mr. John L. Balderston, whose striking analysis cf Germany’s many war plans was printed recently in the Daily Express. Mr. Balderston has been at the front for some months, and as representing a neutral nation has had many opportunities of making himself acquainted at first hand with the dominant characteristics of the Kaiser and his generals.

The Kaiser’s latest Jrole, according to Mr. Balderston, is that of the silent, abstralted man of mystery. He thus describes the contrast between the exuberant, spectacular Emperor at the outset of the war and the present chastened mystic: "The Kaiser got ‘in bad’ at the begining of this war. He tried to imitate the methods of old-time conquerors and give an imitation of Achilles, Alexander, Caesar, Atila, Charlemange, and Napoleon rolled into one. Great crowds cf officers followed him, troops of cavalry, retinue s of household attendants. On the west front, where he spent most of his time, his comings and goings were heralded days in advance, so that his receptions might be worthy cf so mighty a monarch. SOMETHING HAPPENED. “At General Pleadquarcers at Mezieres he presided at a great round table over the meetings of the Great General Staff, pored over maps with serious mien, and in crisp, snappy sentences adopted or Irejeted plans that ‘had taken great strategists weeks of study to work out. “When the drive cn Paris was beaten back something happened. Perhaps it was the defeat at the Marne and the feeling that his was the blame; perhaps the chastening effect cf the famous and humiliating wait in the rain before cavalry in full dress uniforms, their splendid plumes and remnants drooping and dripping.

“For four hours the Kaser and his white Cuirassiers waited while ihe Bavarians, under Prince Ruppre'dit, stormed the lines of General de Castelnau. Thousands fell, but the sacrifice did not avail. “The Kaiser did not make his triumphant entry into Nancy at tlhe time scheduled, or at any time, and the War Lord went away from there, after ordering his cavalry back into service uniforms and directing that the moving picture films taken of the cavalcade be destroyed. “A great change early in the winter campaign became noticeable. The Kaiser wa s trying something new. He became a man of mystery. His staffs were dismissed. “He made no more speeches, cast aside all the pomp and ceremony which enveloped him in August. He travelled constantly in a train of two

cars, with no dstinguishing marks on it. POMP DISCARDED. “He would appear at some point cn the front, clad in service uniform, hurriedly inspect a few troops at tlheir work, and disappear again, having said little or nothing. He cultivated a reserve hithejrto unknown to him. Sometimes he attended the General Staff metings, but he would sit in absolute silence, his gaze fixed on the table, listening to everything, and perhaps leaving the room after an hour without saying a word. “His appearance in the great cities of his empifre was not less carefully staged to show the great change. He is seen in the streets of Berlin, now and then, sitting alone i a military motor-car, with arms folded, clad in field grey, with a cloth-covered helmet.

“Even hs moustache has been trained. It no longer fiercely bristles. His eyes are fixed on the far distance. His new role is that of a high priest.

“The Kaiser,” adds ‘Mr. Balderston, “nowadays keeps Ms fingers on the public pulse; he learns from his secretaries and from confidential advisers just what impression his conduct is making on his people, and moulds his behaviour accordingly.”