EX-KAISER’S BIRTHDAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 January 1929, Page 5

EX-KAISER’S BIRTHDAY.

MAKE-BELIEVE AT DOORN.

WIFE GETS CHICKEN-POX.

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 26. News from Doorn states that the exKaiser is celebrating his seventieth birthday. The castle is crowded with guests, but there was no appearance of Princess Hermione, who is stated to be indisposed, otherwise she is reported to be piqued, in consequence of the attitude of her husband’s children.

Wilhelm held court early on Sunday morning, every guest filing past. The officers, nobles and officials were in full military or court uniform, with decorations. A service followed, Doctor Vogel, Chaplain to the former Imperial Court preaching a pure Christian sermon, no politics. Count Westarp, Leader of the Nationalist Party, sent a message joining the ex-Kaiser in mourning for the fate of the "Fatherland and sharing in faith that the German nation will again be great and free.

LATER.

A message from Doorn states that Princess Hermione’s illness is stated to be chickenpox. A rash developed over the whole body a quarter of an hour after breakfast. She is confined to her room. Her illness has prevented the attendance of Prince Henry, the ex-Kaiser’s only brother. Many other Hohenzollerns arrived. A mixed choir of residents serenaded Wilhelm while Burgomaster Schimmel-Penninck presented two garden seats. The gifts include many wreaths, also five bells to be hung over the garage, inscribed, “The Kaiser, from Hermione Hohenzollern, from members of the family of Treue, from the household of Heimath, from the faithful ones in the Homeland, who refuse to be denied affording the ex-Kaiser pleasure and from Brandenburg Province.” Fifty Dutch families presented a silver salver.

GERMAN COMMENTS.

BERLIN, January 27.

The Republican and Democratic newspapers do not comment on the ex-Kaiser’s celebrations at Doorn, but all the Nationalist journals combine jin describing him a.s a man not deserving his fate. They say it has been proved that he tried to prevent the war, and always sought peace. Every newspaper, except the Monarchist Press, agree that the Republic has been so firmly established that it cannot be shaken by an Hohenzollern attack. Wilhelm must be regarded as the last of the German Kaisers. Thousands of the old generation still regard the ex-Kaiser with veneration. The Monarchist organisations met throughout the country and sent messages to Doorn; also the ex-soldier “steel helmets,” and the ex-imperial army and navy bodies despatched, a message. Even the Nationalist leaders sent congratulations.

ANTI-WAR CLAIMS.

ADVICE TO UNITED STATES.

(Received January 28, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 27.

Coincident with his birthday, the exKaiser has become suddenly communicative. In an exclusive interview with the “Sunday Express,” he declared that the centre of gravity had shifted to the United States, which was master of the world. Asked if America’s naval expansion would lead eventually to a collision with other Powers, he replied that he saw no cause for alarm in the Atlantic, but as regards the Pacific, if the United States desired to avoid conflict in that sphere, it must refrain from even countenancing colonial imperialism of certain European Powers, and must recognise the right of Asia for self-determination. He expressed satisfaction that American scholars were unravelling the intrigues which led up to war, and said he did not doubt that when their conclusions were released, the American people would “set themselves to repair the wrong committed against my country, and use their paramount position to free Central Europe from the nightmare of the Peace Treaty.” The “Sunday Times” publishes an article by the ex-Kaiser, through the British United Press, in which he asserts that he continued the peace policy of his grandfather and father, thereby securing for Europe fortythree years’ peace. He stresses Germany’s restraint at the time of Fashoda, the Boer War, Morocco, and Bosnia crises, and declares that Germany never formed any alliances bearing the stamp of offensive policy, whereas “the Allies succeeded in forging around the Central Powers, an iron ring of military and naval conventions, which were defensive alliances, only on paper.” He concluded by affirming that documents published have proved to the world that the statement Germany was responsible for the war, which was the great lie of Versailles, does not bear examination.