THE KAISER’S GUARD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11476, 2 March 1918, Page 2

THE KAISER’S GUARD.

MANY PRECAUTIONS FOR HEAVEN-BORN EMPEROR. How closely'the German Emperor is guarded wlien he travels through Belgium is told as follows by a correspondent, who has several times witnessed tbe Kaiser’s arrival:— “■Whenever the passage of the Imperial train is to take place thejfact is not known to the chief official until the same day, and to his subordinates not until a quarter of an hour before the arrival. In the station the lines are]all kept free. “All workmen on this occasion, whether Belgian or German, were despatched outside, and access to the station was forbidden. This applied to all passengers as well. The military' guards occupying parts of the station and the environs were ordered to leave their posts and pile their arms. The only persons allowed on the platform were the station' master, his employes appointed to signrds, and the military chief/ There was no guard of honour, no manifestation whatever.

“This clearing of the station tabes place at every station through which the train passes, which it does at the maximum regulation speed. At Brussels the detraining took place opposite the Place Eogier, which is a military post since occupation. “The space in front of the station,’ which is always forbidden ground to passengers, was occupied by several motor cars. As soon as the Emperor entered his car tlie small fleet ran swiftly to the Parc Rue Royale, where the Kaiser stayed several hours.

“During the presence of the Kaiser the officials always display the utmost nervousness in fear of anything taking place, and they always breathe a sigh of relief when their master bus gone. The fact that even the military are obliged to retire and pilo their arms seems to suggest a distrust of ins own army. ’