THE KAISERS JOKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 26 April 1913, Page 10

THE KAISERS JOKE

Tzzet Pasiia, the new Turkish Generalissimo, is an old acquaintance of the (ierman Emperor, whom he has accompanied as aide-de-camp of the Sultan on liis first journey in the Near East. The Emperor decorated him with the Order of the Red Eagle under somewhat peculiar circumstances. At the head of a brilliant cavalcade the German Emperor and his brother, Prince Henry, and a number of (ierman and Turkish generals, sallied forth from the Beylerberg Palace, where the ex-Sultan Abdul Ilamid now lives. When the Kaiser turned in his saddle to give an order, Izzet Pasha, who was some way behind, galloped up to him, but on his way he received a nasty kick full on his leg from the horse ridden by General Hobe. Seeing the kick, the Emperor uttered a cry of alarm, but felt reassured on noticing that Izzet took no notice of it. The cavalcade continued, and Izzet remained in his saddle in spite of acute pain in his leg. , On returning to the palace, with the help of some of his brother officers, he dismounted, but scarcely had he done so when a messenger arrived to say that the Emperor wished to see him on his yacht. He went aboard, and found the Kaiser at dinner. The latter was in particularly good spirits, and, stretching out his sword, he said to Izzet: "Come, colonel, jump over this." Izzet did as he was requested, in spite of the agony he was suffering. "Splendid." said the Emperor, returning the sword to its sheath; "that shows your injury isn't serious. Now," he added, pointing to a sofa, "lie down and don't stir!" Izzet obeyed this time more readily. Then the Emperor rose, took a plate, knife and fork from the table, and brought them to Izzet, who in his confusion would have leapt to his feet had not the Emperor's command restrained him. So he ate and drank, for the Emperor brought him as well a bottle of champagne. At length Izzet was at liberty to go home. hi the evening an aide-de-camp came to present him with the insignia of the Red Eagle. Izzet does not know to this day if he earned it by jumping over the sword or as a compensation for the kick.