EX-KAISER'S BOAST.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 July 1919, Page 3

EX-KAISER'S BOAST.

A PRE—WAR INCIDENT, STORY TOLD BY LORD FRENCH; _A pre-war incident is recalled by. Viscount French in his much-talked-of book dealing with the early days of] the war. Lt will beef interest at this point‘ to narrate aconversation I had with‘! ~ Emperor William in Augusfi’ 1.911, When his Majesty visited this coun-' try in the spring of that year to un--veil «the statute of Queen Victoria, he invited me to be his guest at the grand cavalry manoeuvres to be hem that summer in ma neghbourhood of Berlin. ' It was an experience I shall never forget, and it impressed me enormously with eificieney and power of {the German cavalry. It was on or about‘ the third day of the manoeuvres that the Emperor arrived by the train lat five in the morning ;to find the troops drawn up on the plain close by to. receive him. I have never seen a more magnificent military spectacle than they presented on that brillant August morning, numbering some 15,000 horsemen, with a large force of horse artillery jager, and machine’ guns, ' VVhen his Majesty had finished the inspectioii of the line, and the troops had. moved up to their points forman-oeuv-re, the Emperor sent for me. He was very pleasant and courteous, sand asked me if I was made eomfortzible, and if I had got a good ho'l"s‘e. He then went On to ssv”rliat. he Enew -all our syiiipatlzics in {lran i';i;_c..;.; »..~.\ with France and against Germany. He said he wished me to see everything ‘that could be seen, but. told me he } trusted to my honour to reveal nothing iif I visited Fnavfice.

After the manoeuvres of the day were completed, at about. 11 or 12 o’clock, I was placed next Ito .1115 Majesty‘: at luncheon, and we had‘another conversation. He asked Erie What I fhought of what’ I had seen in the morning, and told me that the German cavalry was the most perfect‘ in the World; but, he added: “It is not only the cavalry; the artillery, fiche infantry, all the arms of the service, are equglly efficient» The sword -5f Germany is sharp; and if you oppose Germany you will find How sharp it is.” Before I left, his Majesty was kind enough to present me with his photograph,,‘ and in referring -to it; he ‘remarked, semti-Ziocularliyr “There is your arehenemy! There is your disturber of ' the peace of Europe!”