THE FORMER KAISER.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 January 1919, Page 5

THE FORMER KAISER.

0 STORY OF ABDICATION,

LONDON, December 17. The corespondent of the Times at Ihe Hague says that a member of the former Kaiser’s entourage gives an interesting version of the Emperor’s abdication. Hindcnburg, after a conference with the Kaiser on November 9, consulted 50 officers, repre-

senting the •army command, who said,

that the troops might be relied on to fight the enemy, but would not fight their comrades in B’erlin, and repeatedly urged abdication. When informed thal Wilhelm had

j abdicated as Germany’s Kaiser, but not as King of Prussia, they replied j “Too late. We have already published the abdication.”

The former Kaiser was distressed and irresolute, but under pressure from Hindcnburg, Admiral Hintze, then Foreign Minister, General Gron-

or, Chief of Staff, and Admiral Sclicer Admiralty Chief of Staff, who put into his mouth his abdication as King of Prussia, he was finally persuaded to escape maltreatment by leaving for Holland. He reflected that the Entente had emphasised its unwillingness to conclude peace through him, and, moreover, he felt that the Government’s (announcement of his abdication exempted him from further duty.