DEATH IMMINENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 5

DEATH IMMINENT.

THE GERMAN KAISER DOOMED. THE END'NEAR. ALL HOPE ABANDONED. TELEGRAM TO THE PRINCE* OF WALES. BERLIN IN GLOOM. ALL THE THEATRES CLOSED. THE EMPEROR RESIGNED. [press association.] London, June 15. The Prince of Wales has received a telegram from Potsdam, stating that the death of the Emperor is imminent. Intense gloom has overspread England at the news. Reports received state that Berlin is wrapped in sorrow at the impending fate of the Emperor. His Imperial Majesty is said to be quite resigned. He is suffering from convulsive fits and swoons, which rapidly succeed each other. All the theatres in Berlin are closed. Berlin, June 14, 3.57 p.m. The Emperor Frederick is worse. Lockjaw lias now set in. He is sinking fast. All the family arc now present waiting for his end. Later. The Emperor's lungs are much inflamed. He suffers no pain, and is conscious. Berlin, June 15, 5 a.m. The Emperor is weaker. Secretions from the throat are impeding his breathing. All hope is now abandoned.

THE COMING RT7LER OF GERMANY. In view of the impending death of the Emperor of Germany, some particulars of the young Prince, who in that event will succeed to the throne, will be read with interest. Prince Frederick William, who is now tho Crown Prince of Prussia and the heirapparent to the thrones of both the Empire of Germany and the Kingdom of Prussia, is the eldest son of the former Crown Prince and Princess Victoria of England, being thus both the grandson of the late Emperor of Germany and of Queen Victoria. He was born at Berlin on the 27th January, 1859, and his birth was the occasion of great rejoicings in Prussia, as the direct succession to the throne was thus secured. His birth was attended with great anxiety, and at one time grave fears for the life of the child were entertained, but fortunately he proved to be a fine healthy boy, to the great joy of his parents and the nation at largo. Congratulations from all sides were showered on the Crown Prince and Princess, iucluding an address from the Prussian Landtag, in reply to which the Crown Prince replied that, if it should please God to spare his son's life, it would be his most oarnest desire to train him up in the sentiments which bound him to his dear Fatherland. The child was christened under the full name of Frederic William Victor Albert, and his early training and education were naturally the object of much tender solicitude on the part of his parents, who seem to have fully appreciated—in view of the high position which he might one day occupy—the immense importance of training his youthful mind in the right direction, and in this respect they succeeded admirably, for Prince William is held in the deepest love and respect throughout the whole of Germany. 1 he early years of his life, spent at Berlin, do not, of course, offer much material for record. The education of their children was a matter of most vital importance to the Crown Prince and Princess, who visited the nurseries and schoolrooms together each morning, the Princess repeating her visits frequently during the day. The Crown Princess was an excellent mother, and carefully saw to every detail, however trivial or unimportant, which could tend towards the physical or moral health of her children. The general education of Prince William and his Brother Henry was entrusted to Dr. Hinzpeter, a gentleman peculiarly adapted for this important task ; and after Princc < William's confirmation his religious education wjvs supervised bv Dr. Persons, a man of enlarged views. In this peaceful and happy home atmosphere, in the company of younger brothers and sisters, the young Prince spent his life until he reached the age of 15, when he was entered, together with his brother, at the public school of Cassel, which was considered to be one of the best Latin grammar schools in Germany. By the express desire of his parents the young Prince was treated in exactly the same way as tho other scholars, and he associated on an eoual footing with them. He is said to have studied with great industry and zeal, and to have Passed his final examinations with distinction. In 1877 Prince William completed his ISth year, and was, according to the Royal law, of age. He then quitted Cassel, and entered his father's old regiment, the Ist Foot Guards, in order to study the practical work of an officer before entering the University at Bonn at the conclusion of the year. He remained at the University for two or three years, going through the usual course of studies, and on leaving commenced his military career by joining the regiment of Royal Hussars, forming a portion of the Imperial Guard stationed at Potsdam. Since then he has given great attention to his military duties, and has risen step by step through the various grades of the service, until ho now holds tho position of colonel commanding the regiment. The Prince has, of course, had no opportunity of showing his capabilities in active service, as the period since he entered the army has fortunately been one of peace for Germany. On the 2nd June, 1880, the Prince was formally betrothed to his present wife, the Princess Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, who was then about 20 years of age. The betrothal—a ceremony of much greater import in Germany thanm England—took place in the Babelsberp Palace, and waa attended with great festivities, the Emperor giving a banquet to the members of both Royal Families and other distinguished guests. On the 25th February of the following year, the bride and bridegroom made a public entry into Berlin, and on the next day the marriage took place, the event being marked with the usual national rejoicings attendant upon an occasion of this kind. 1 he marriage may be said to have been entirely a love match, as it was not prompted by any considerations of statecraft, and it met with the universal approval of the German people, especially on account of the fact that the bride was thoroughly German in her descent, t training, and sympathies. The royal pair have resided since their marriage at the Marmor Palace, close to Potsdam, and here their first child, a daughter, was born on the 6th May, 1882. Since then three eons have been born, so that there is no probability of the Prussian throne being left without heirs in the direct line. The last few years have been largely devoted by the Prince to acquiring a thorough knowledge of the official working of the German Empire, and to attain this ob.ject he has spent much of his time m the various Imperial Chancelleries. The Prince is generally reported to be of a warlike and determined character, anxious to settle once and for all the question of German supremacy by an appeal to the sword; but many Germans combat this idea, and state that his disposition is by no means so ardent as is generally supposed, and that more matured experience will convert him into a

strong and capable ruler. Perhaps the following passage from a work on German society, by a modern writer, will afford the reader a means of judging his character. " He is the most intelligent of the Imperial Princes. He is also brave, enterprising, ambitious, gay, and attractive, and so full of entrain, brio, and wit in conversation, as to lead one to doubt his being German. He adores the army, by whom he is beloved. He has contrived, in spite of his extreme youth, to make himself popular with all classes of society, is well educated, well read, forms plane for the well-being of his cotuitry, and has remarkable perception in all things relating to politics. He will certainly be a distinguished man, and probably a great sovereign. Prussia will perhaps have in him a second Frederick 11., but without the scepticism of the first; he has also sufficient gaiety and good humour to soften the little asperities of character which, as a true Hohenzollern, he possesses. He will be essentially an individual king; will not allow himself to be led, will have sound and healthy judgment, prompt decision, energetic action, and firm will. When he ascends the throne he will continue the work of his grandfather, and undo that of his father, whatever it may have been. In him the enemies of Germany will find a formidable adversary; he may become the Henry IV. of his country." In physique the Prince is tall and strong, and of attractive appearance ; but he suffers from one curious physical infirmity. He has no power over his left arm, which is in fact no better than an inert mass. At table he uses a special kind of combined knife and fork, using it first for one purpose and then for the other, with his right hand only. The Crown Princess, in giving birth to the Prince, was subjected, it is said, to an operation, in the course of which the infant's left arm sustained damage which it has never outgrown. _______________