THE KAISER

Evening Star, Issue 16409, 27 April 1917, Page 6

THE KAISER

WILL HINDENBURG SHOOT HDIF NEUTRAL ATTACHE’S VTE^S. i“ If there Is a revolution in Germany, it will be led by Hindenburg.’’ , This is the astounding statement made to a representative of the Montreal ‘Standard’ the other day by a neutral military attache with the Gennan army who has just' come from German Headquarters on urgent private business to London for a few days. “What I say is a fact,” he continued. “If the Hohenzollem dynasty is to bo overthrown, Hindenburg is the man who will overthrow it, and before tho war is over you may see Von Hindenburg the first President of the United German States Republic.” I expressed my anxiety to hear his reasons for this astonishing forecast of events. —Ripe for Revolt.— “ Well,” explained the attache, “ you see, Germany is ripening for a revolution. That you have heard; but Germany is riper for a revolt than many people imagine. It is not merely that the mass of the people are suffering greatly, and are growing daily more discontented and anxious for peace. However great their suffering and their discontent, the masses in Germany would probably never dare to break out into open revolt. There might be riots, but these would easily bo quelled by the military authorities. “But it is not the masses alone who ore discontented in Germany. The wealthy middle class are in an even greater state of anger and restlessness than the masses. Kow, wealthy merchants and bankers are not tho sort of persons to sit tamely down and watch their businesses rapidly dwindling away without making themselves heard. I happen io know that a couple of weeks ago there was a private meeting of some of tho most influential commercial and business men in Berlin. “The gathering was held at the house of Herr Ballin, tho great shipping magnate. Herr Balliu is one of the Kaiser’s most intimate friends, bub Herr Ballin is also a business man, and his vast private interests ape of much more concern to him than his friendship with the Emperor. Ho point-blank told the meeting that they had been utterly misled by the Emperor, to whom ho attributed all Germany's mistakes in the war and her failure to achieve victory. Our loyalty to the Emperor has cost us half our fortune already.” he said. Wo shall not .allow it to cost us the other half.” A resolution was passed at the meeting to send the following message to the Kaiser, which reached him at Headquarters whilst there: “ Win tho war or end the war.” —The One Man.— “ And if the Kaiser won’t win the war and won t end it, you mean that there will be a revolution in Germany?” I suggested to the attache. “Wait,” ho replied, “for a moment. I am coming to that. I believe that there would be a revolution in Germany tomorrow but for one fact: that no revolution in any country, least of all in Germany, is possible that is not supported by the army and tho only roan whom the army would fob low in a revolt against the Emperor would be Hindenburg. Von Hindenburg is at the pinnacle of his popularity. He is tho idol of . the German people. For every one who displays a Kaiser button on his coat twenty wear a Hindenburg button. All tie successes that nave attended the Gennan arms—and these successes have, of conree, been magnified ® ° , 1 ' 1 * ll6lr completeness and imporfcanoe to the German people-have been scored by the German idol. And if Hindenbur- is an idol to the civil population in Gennanv he is something even more to the rank mid hie of the German army. To tho soldiers he is something like a god. Officers of tho German Headquarters have told me that when messages from Hindenburg to th© *™° PS ar6 . r 4 ° u ad them on parade they are received with the wildest cheering, whilst messages from their King-Emperor now often received with no greater demonstration than the official salutes that must be sariSar&Esr “ *- - —Hindenburg was There , popularity of Hindenburg—a popularity far greater than the Raise? eve/possessed—is a most significant thing, audits significance has not been lost on the Kaiser and the Imperial family. Its significance consists m the fact that it makes a' revolution possible provided it is led . by Hinden-

Up to a couple of months ago there was not a shadow of reason to suspect that Hirdenburg was not as he still pretends to bethe most zealous, loyal, and devoted officer of his Emperor. Just now I told you of a meetuig or merchants and bankers held at Herr Baiun’s house. Well, two davs later v hem mGt 3gain at ihe residence of noted a wealthy banker and a noted republican leader. The meeting was strictly private and what exactly took place fab-p VI H b ?. l I h T eard on the most rehab e authority that Hindenburg was nresent, and that the prospect of a revolt PK+ a th ° I Hoh enzollem dynasy and the d^uitet m dTsL:Ll rePUbli ° iU Germany was “That the Raisa- heard of iHindenburg's piesence at this meeting is certain, and he mPy . sum ! coned t0 Imperial presenco to explain his presence at a meetimr at_ the house ot a notorious Republican " - an «T«erry who was pre“®?t a t that interview between the old general and his Emperor that the former apparm hr satefietl the Kaiser by saying, with a ha /hour Majesty, Heir Krumper the banker is a friend of mine. I know nothing ■StFI P““P er the Republican.’ tb; \ S ?} d equerry, ‘I will tell you this much-the Kaiser was not satisfied with th explanation, and he is „ ow watching t M closely as a cat watches ini "id f may see Hindenburg disfrom t-lie army any day.’ (( AVbat May Happen.— “And Hindenburg goes there will be Jausal 1 Said ’ 35 tbe aUacho “But Hindenburg won’t go,” replied the attache, for the simple reason that the Jt niiali't °n d “T afraid dismiss him. it might precipitate a revolution. But the Emperor knows now quite well the danger t at threatens the Honeuzollern dvriastv As hnm^ S mu 0 V t 'n ld ’ tbat dan « er become immn.cut should even a partial collapse of front 3 Th 3 *)- r “ IS , f ,lCe occur 0,1 He western tiont that would give Hindenburg and the Republicans the opportunity that they are now waiting for.” J “And then?” I asked. could German People Hindenburg . ’“i He evei }p of a collapse on the himsi f if’u’ rc P- led t He attache, “ present himself as the man who could not only have avoided deteat, but could have achieved viefS?d °whh bf '"r S hanl P ered and interel ed w.th by the Emperor. In such cirpliTelv U an ! HUldei d U ‘ r}? , U “S ht lead a «>mP a 3 immediately successful revolt *“ e . Im P e «al dynasty. cn .®. Iser would be accused of reponeib o tor the German defeat, and%lobably the same fate aa ho has meted out to others wou.d oe meted out to him—ho would wi A less leader like Hmdenburg, a revolt in Ger“a”y He Hohenzollem dynasty u J d be 1 /“«-ied out with a completeness executitt ld 7 cer Hin to involve the xecution ot the Emperor. Such a r6vo i u . 'r U:d not m - aU an immediate collapse of the German resistance. Hiudeu burg would probably attempt to carry on the war tor a short time; but ere the Allies reached German soil Hindenburg would -Lm fpt peace, lay the blame of defeat on the Emperor, and secure for himself and the Republic the best terms tl In such a way the war may yet end One thing is certain; The Kaiser knows the danger that threatens the Hohenzollcm rule and, believe me, it is a danger that noth but peace before the threatened collapse mi tile western front can avert —'Robbed of His Power.— dJu- e Sl lWb-° U °- f tbo Hmperor grows worso dadj. .Nothing is more noticeable and obvious. than his loss •of popularity with the u “ Tl T e bave teen occasions when the Dimmed w be T recolved b ? the troops, paraded before him at Headquarters prior to their aeparture for the fighting line in abaothat S ! r+l° Ulste ? d tho spontaneous cheers that m the early days of tho war would always greet him on such occasions. On one occasion not long since a general commanding a division gavo orders to tho troops to cheer directly'"the Emperor cam°e on the parade ground. The troops obeyed the order reluctantly and with a half-helrt-odness that was all the more noticeable on tIG Hemandous and spontaneous cheers .hey accorded to Hindenburg when he amved shortly afterwards. So furious was the Kaiser at this that he declined to utter more than a few words to the troops, and then rode off, bidding Hindenburg ad ■company him. Hindenburg was also to have addressed the troops, hut the Kaiser would not permit him to do so. “In the,decline of his popularity with the army the Kaiser sees the whole foundation an -

■pends crumbling away. In the popularllv of iua general with the troops he sees the Ai-r n of the new power, that will, replace the ruL of tho Hohenz oil eras,”