THE BERLIN SENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 30 October 1907, Page 3

THE BERLIN SENSATION.

HEKB HARDENS DEFENCE. SCATHING DECLARATIONS. ■ A POPULAR DEMONSTRATION. Berlin, October 29. In his defence, Ilerr Harden implied that he could have shown the whole of the cavalry regiments to be infected, had he desired to dwell on the disgusting orgies, also that immoral proposal? had been made to the Prussian Minister of tbf Interior, but his only desire was to avert disastrous political developments such as in the case of Morocc.), which had brought two nations on the T ®rge of war. He declared the Kaiser's decision was contained in his cry, "Away with Eulenburg! Away with 'llolienaii for ever!' The Kaiser, he added, had nothing definite against (ieneral Moltke, but hud decided that lie must 'clear himself or be stoned." Meanwhile the General had been placed on half-pay. Hrrr Hardee, concluded his address thus: "I prefer to serve the Kaiser by telling him the truth, not by worshipping him." Immense crowds had gathered outside Ihe court. They cheered the prisoner Harden u iMlv when his wife kissed him m the street. M. LECOMTE INTERVIEWED. RIDICULES POLITICAL ROLE CREDITED TO HIM. Received Oct. 29, 9.47 p.m. Paris, October 20. JL Lecomte, interviewed here, denies that he hurriedly left Berlin. He ,idmitted he was a friend of Prince Eulenburg, though he saw him seldom. He was not intimate with Counts Molcke and Hohenlohe, and was not acquainted with Count Lynar, at whose house the orgi<» are alleged to have taken place. 1 He ridiculed the political role Herr Har- 1 den had assigned to him. '

M. Lecomte, formerly First Secretary of the French Embassy in Berlin, was suddenly recalled about the time of the downfall of the camarilla. He was al leged by Herr Harden to have been one of the Eulenburg cb'que, and to have tried to arrange a meeting between the Kaiser and the French President on the pretext that the reconciliation of France and Germany was possible. A STERN DECREE. ISSUED BY THE KAISER. OFFICERS ADMONISHED. Received Oct. 21), 10.50 p.m. Berlin, October 29. The Kaiser has issued a stern decrse to the leaders of the army, insisting en the objectionable practices referred to at the Berlin trial being suppressed. Officers are admonished to lead exemplary lives.