THE EX-KAISER.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 5

THE EX-KAISER.

gUyCH GOVERNMENT ASTONISHED. &T BEQUEST TO WATCH WILHELM. By Telegraph.—Press Aa»n,—Copyright. Received July 11, 8.3S pjn. ,' Paris, July 10. fhe Dutch Government briefly replied to the Allies' Note regarding supervision over the ex-Kaiser, declaring that it is astonished fit such a warning. The Government has always been conscioffl of its international obligations.—AusN.Z. Cable Assn. THE CULPRIT'S COURAGE OOZING. Received July 11, 8.35 p.m. Amsterdam, July 10. ' ilie er-Kftlaer has telegraphed to the Queen of Holland asking her to intercede with Queen Marjf- to prevent his extradition.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A PRE-WAR INCIDENT. STOftY TOLD BY LORD FRENCH. ■A pre-war incident in recalled by . Ytammt French in his much-talked-of book dealing witli the early days of the Wi, It will'be of interest at this point to narrate a conversation I had with the Emperor William in August, 1911. When hi* Majesty visited this country in the spiing of that year to unveil the Btatue or Queen Victoria, he invited me to be hit guest at the grand cavalry manoeuvres to be held that summer in the ntfahbdrhood of Berlin. It tu an experience I shall never forJjist, and it impressed me enormously with tho efficiency and power of the German , cavalry. It was on about the third day of tiw .manoeuvres t}iat the Emperor arrived by train at 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 brilliant August morning, numbering some 15,000-horsemen, with a large force of horse artillery, jaeger and machine guns. When his Majesty had finished the inspettion of the line, and the troops had moved to take up their points for'manoeuvre, the Emperor ssnt for He waa Very pleasant and courteous, asked me if I Was made comfortable, and if I had got a good horse. He then went on to say th«t he knew all our sympa- " thies in Great Britain were with France against Germany. He said he wished me to see everything that could be seen, but told me'he trusted to my honor to reVeftl nothing if I visited France. . After the manoeuvres of the day were completed at about 11 or 12 o'clock, I was placed llext to his Majesty at luncheon, and we had another conversation. He asked me what I thought of what I had seen in the morning, and told me that the German cavalry was the most perfect in thd world; but he added: "It is npt only-the cavalry; the artillery, the infaiitry, all the arms of the service, are equally efficient. The sword of Germany is sharp; and if you oppose Germany you will find how sharp it is.'' Before I left, his Majesty was kind ' enongh to present me with his photograph, beautifully framed. Pointing to it, he remarked, semi-jocularly: "There is your arch-enemy! There is your disturber of the peace of Europe!"