WHY GERMANY LOST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 14

WHY GERMANY LOST.

THE EX-KAISER'S VERSION. " LACK OF FAITH IN GOD." EXPECTATIONS OF HINDENBURG. [from ouk own correspondent.] LONDON, Oct. to. " 1 would have the world know that I am at peace with God and that the burden that oppresses m.e is not my personal misfortune, lint that of my country." This statement was made by the ex Kaiser in an interview which has been widely published. Asked why Germany lost the war, the ex-Kaiser replied: " Because we did not obey God in all things; because wo hesitated to bear the worst; because we hesifused in the end to faco all risks in preserving faith ! The German people performed miracles of endurance, but at last they failed. The supreme miracle can be accomplished only by faith. We should have fought to the very last carrot, the very last man, (ho very last round of ammunition." The .former war lord is then quoted as having asked Hindcnburg in 1914 what he could accomplish, and Hindenburg is said to have replied: "If the battle is man against man, we shall win. Wo can win one against two. Wo can even win one against, three. One against four is a little harder. One against five is difficult. If the odds are six to one against us, well, I'll try my lurst, and, with the Lord's help, beat them." The interviewer quotes the ex-Kaiser again as follows: "Actually the odds against us toward the end were 20 to 1. Wo could stiil have prevailed with complete faith in God. Wo should have trusted in God, not in human logic, and certainly not m the alluring proposals of our enemies, and their 14 points." " Conscious of No Wrong-doing." The ex Kaiser is next quoted as saying : " I look upon my. fate as a trial imposed upon me by God. God wanted me to rule for 30 years as Emperor. Then He discarded me and allowed me to be dethroned, perhaps to try whether my faith would be shaken. It is not. It may please God to call me back. It- may please Him to let me end my days in exile.. If so, I shall find work to do." Asked whether he regretted the splendour of the past, the former Emperor is quoted as saying: " I am conscious of no wrong doing. Whether I did work imposed upon me by God well or not. He alone can decide. At present God needs mo for other work, as He needs every one for His appointed task. Perhaps God wants me to teach the world the truth about the origin of the war—a study to which I dedicate many hours by day and night.'' file former Kaiser declares that he has no philosophy except his religion, which is " all sufficient." He is declared to have said: " I have always judged every act of mine, weighing whether it was in accordance with the wprd of God. I never knowingly closed my ears to my conscience; the voice of conscience is the voice of God." He declares that he tried to rule his Empire for the glory of God, and. " whether 1 remain in the narrow confines of a Dutch, village, or whether the large world calls me again anywhere, I shall obediently accept whatever task the Lord has in store for me." Pleasures of Present Life.

Asked what pleasures life still held for him, Wilhelin replied: " Life still holds many pleasures for mo. I enjoy a good story. 1 enjoy my work in the garden. 1 enjoy observing' the blunders of socalled statesmen. I enjoy a good meal. I enjoy the study of archaeology. Above all, f am happy in the love of my wife. I only miss the opportunity to work on a large scale for the redemption of my people and of those in the world." The interview is accompanied by the latest official photograph of the former Kaiser, brichtlv band-coloured by himself He is dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant-general of cavalry, and wears at his throat the highest German military honour.