GERMANY'S GENESIS

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 5

GERMANY'S GENESIS

Kaiser Bill's Progenitors History of the House of - Hohenzollerns , (By "Campeador.") When the Swabian Conrad of Nuremberg, through the grace of Frederick Barbarossa, somewhere m the 12th century, leaped into petty significance a human brand was kindled that has culminated m the great red blot that now disfigures Belgium. There is something great, besides being sinister, m that burning touch, which not all the upheavals that Europe has given birth to have been able to alter from its fateful destiny. Some might say it's frightful destiny, but of this history has yet to tell, when men's minds are clear of the bias ofto-day. It seems a long cry from the evolving Hohenzollernfc of Culmbach and Brandenburg to Kaiser Bill of to-day; but long as the period is, it took it all to develop modern Germany. Though many of the llohenzollerns were flatheads, they were all without exception Prussian patriots of the sternest mould. Now and then since the days of Conrad some really remarkable men sprang from the family, and Impelled the nation forwards by caresses and blows. It was "VORWAERTS! IM>IER VORWAERTS!" with them, and though often disliking it, the nation expanded and marched onwards. When Frederick 111. assumed the title of King of Prussia, a great many klnga. Queens," and emperors laughed. This first king of Prussia achieved little more than the kingly rote, but his assumption of the royal title was really a great achievement m itself— lt was an ominous landmark m history. For, it is from the royal dignity, strange as it may seem, that the morahand material might of the Hohenzoliems have been derived. Though Britain, France and Austria laughed loud and long, the Httje Prussian state felt mighty In its king, and, as the Great Frederick remarked, "Frederick I. by erecting Prußsla into a kingdom sowed a seed of ambition In hia posterity which was certain to bear fruit."" Yes, the easy going third elector of Brandenburgh achieved a terrible lot m that single seed. Shall the modern William's venture blast the blossom for ever? Perhaps. With the advent of Frederick William, the foundation of Prussian militarism was laid. Frederick William was little better, however, than a harmless lunatic. Rough, wild, and ignorant as he was, he welded together the first great army that Prussia ever had. Further, there were no standing armies m times of peace In Europe at 1 that period. Frederick William, madman and boor, altered all that, for he set Europe the example. Though there were no standing armies m Europe up till Freddy Bill's time, their absence did not conduce to peace. Th© Russian , WARLORDS NEVER CARED FOR PEACE, and never will; their only care has been Prussia. Despite Freddy Bill's many manias, from tall rccrulta to eccentric Bham battles, all hla acts were not foolish by any means. His army was the first m Kuropo, and the simple expedient of iron ramrods Instead of wooden ones gave the Prussian soldiers such an advantage In the battle of Mollwltz that, despite the fact that Frederick tho Great had retired. hlB gallant infantry stood and carried tho day against tho Austrian. Old Freddy Bill's iron ramrodß "did the trick," and to his eccentric father the Great Freddy owed the victory. The needle gun was a Prussian invention, and achieved the great victories of 1866. What will be the story of 1914-16? In the present great war tho German artillery la claimed to be wonderful apart trom some other Inventions she Is said to have solely tocher advantage. 1741 ! 1870 ! 1»14 ! What fateful opochH for Europe. Kvoryono has read Carlyle's Frederick tho Great; anyone who hasn't should pro and do «o. It's about thw

best study to enable one to arrive; at a proper estimate of Germany] and the. present Kaiser. Germany must be studied from, the past, for it is from the past that Kaiser Bill has garnered his all. Frederick and William state the whole case for Prussia; they stand out, black indeed, but terribly prominent against Europe. They have literally made Europe their footstool, and played with the powers as they willed. The Great Freddy leagued himself with Britain and smashed Austria. Kaiser Bill leagues himself with Austria and attempts to deal the death stroke to Britain. He means to smash Britain as a mighty power, if he can, as the Great tFreddy doubled up Austria* Shall he succeed? That is the Issue being fought out to-day iii Europe.