KAISER'S LAST HOURS

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 3

KAISER'S LAST HOURS

AS THE ALL-HIGHEST. A personage in the entourage of William 11. has communicated the following particuln.ii3 of what took place at Spa immediately before the flight to Holland On November 3 the Kaiser was still saying: "I do nob think of abdicating. I ask every oflicer to resist to the end, and «s the Highest War Lord I reus' hold out also. The crassest Bolshevism will break over Germany if 1 go, and thero mvst bo a strong hand to save her from chaos. Moreover, I am gladly working with the new Government, and several gentlemen with whom I have spoken aro very sympathetic in their co-operation. On November 9, in the forenoon, long discussions took place. One of the first to appear in the Imperial Villa Fraineuse was Hindenbiug. After his first audience with the Kaiser ho had a lengthy discussion with 50 Staff officers of the several armies, each of which had been ordered to send live or six representatives to Headquarters., Each officer stated in writing his views of the loyalty of hia trocpJ. At his second audience at 1 o'clock at the Villa Fniineuee Hindenburg laid before the Kaieer the verdict of the officers, which was almost unanimous—tint the tror.pj were to be depended on against the enemy, but would not fight a:ain'st their comrades. Meantime, urgent telephone messages were arriving from Berlin that the Kaiser must abdicate, and others asking who I her he had already abdicated. More discussion followed, and an the reeult the answer to Berlin was formulated. THE FINAL ACT. The Kaiser abdicated as German Emperor, but not as King of Prussia. At 2 in the afternoon, when tk'fl reply was communicated to Berlin, there came an answer bick-> "It ia too late. We have already published tho news of live abdication.' The Crown Prince arrived about 12 noon at Spa, and returned about 3 to hre army. The Kaiser taid to him a* ho took 'cave: "Tell the troops that it is not true that i have abdicated as King of Prussia." pat or H.inrtenburg civmo with Greener and Hintze, and shortly after Admiral Schoer, and representations were made to the. Kaiser in favor of renouncing also the Prussian Throne. EXIT THE ALL-HIGHBST. Whets he left tho audience chamber William fraid to Graf Dchna Schlodlcn, who was waiting in the ante room, "You no longer havo a Highest War Lord," and went to lus woiluoom. In the evening one of the members of his nearest circle oajne to persuade him to go to Holland. Tlie Kaiser refused. During tho evening ho remarked: "They want mo to flv; but I will not go." And ; later ho said to his lidjutaut: "I em so fear- j fully ashamed. I cannot do it. I cannot go away. If thero be but one faithful battalion here I will remain at Spa." In the court train, where he dined, c'sme one Job's comforter after another. One brought ; the news that the Bolsheviks were in Her- | bepthsil, another that, returning troorw were | threatening Sp:u The Kav-er would si ill not consent to go, but he agreed to preparations being made. Ho remarked to those about him: "I have always known what w do, but now L.camiot help myself. One oi bin adjutants was asked by tho Kaiser to give his view, and renliod : "If I personally j had to decide, I would remain, for if we ; troops will not defend your Majesty teen we can form a bodyguard of officers, ana j wo can occupy all the posts." At 10 m uie j evening Hintee, representing the Foreign Office, urged the Kaiser's departure once more. "Your Majesty." he said, "in a few hours it may be too late," and referral io tho disquieting reports from the various towns. A MOMENTOUS DECISION. \t first Castle Bruehl, near Cologne, had been thought, of as a place of sojourm and there wis also the question of the Kaiser joining the Crown Prince with his army; but the roads were no longer open to Bruehl, and reports brought that those to the Crown Prince's arinv were no longer safe. The narrator siys the Kaiser tad oonside-ed the probability that the Entente would never conclude peace with him, and he declared finally: "I will go to Holland, to make it easy 'for mv people to obtain peace. If I wont to Germany it might bo assumed that I wished to form a new party to make a rising in my favor." He also expressed the view that from the moment he laid down the position of Highest War Lord he was without powffiG of command. Ho was a purelv privato person, and. as ihe troops would not fight against thi ir advancing comrades, he felt that the annv had aband.ned him, and thus the possible reproach that he had abandoned the army fell to the ground. Moreover, he felt released fjom the duty of taking political decisions for the Empire, since the G-ovenvmr.ni of their own iaitiativo had published his abdication.