Heartless Kaiser.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 43, 5 June 1917, Page 2

Heartless Kaiser.

Those who remember the Kaiser’s conduct when his grandfather died in March, 1888, are scarcely surprised at his hatred of England and his heartlessness to-day. Every sort of mental annoyance was inflicted upon his father, the luckless Emperor Frederick, who only reigned ninety-nine days, and everyone was in terror when William came to see his father, lest he should suggest that he became Regent.

It was when Frederick died in June of 1888, however, that Prince William showed his true character. As soon as the Emperor had drawn his last breath, he doubled the guard round the New Palace at Potsdam, where the dead man lay, and allowed no one to leave or enter. He then declared .that all the property of those within, his mother, sisters, and attendants, was confiscated for a time, and personally “went through’’ their bedrooms, boudoirs, cupboards, desks, strong-boxes, jewel-boxed, and every other receptacle.

The reason for this search of his mother’s home was that his father was said to have kept a detailed diary, one volume of which proved conclusively that the whole German Emperor idea was originated by Frederick. As Bismarck had arrogated to himself all the credit for this, he had instilled into William the necessity of confiscating all the volumes for fear of State secrets being revealed.

He told his mother’s officials, says; Clare Jerrold in “The Widowhood of l Queen Victoria” (Bveleigh Nash), | that now' he was master, and only | his orders were to be obeyed. He tore up the list of persons who might be admitted to look for the last time on the dead Emperor which the Empress Frederick had given to her chamberlaiu, and .substituted an order for the admission of high army officers. In fact, he heaped insults upon ; his dead father ,and his living mother. | When the Empress Frederick left her home three months later for, good, she is reported to have said to her servants and officials, “If you ever want to see your old mistress again you must come to Berlin, where : 1 will make you welcome. May palsy strike my iect if ever I thrust them over this threshold again.” ] She is said never again to have entered the palace in which most of her womanhood had been passed. ; Thus did William help to build up a hitter enmity between himself and the Royal Family of Ehsrland.