BARRED THE KAISER

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1931, Page 15 (Supplement)

BARRED THE KAISER

DUTCH SOLDIER’S TALE. How Piet Pinkers, a young Dutch soldier, refused to let Kaiser Wilhelm enter Holland the day before the Armistice, 1918, because the Emperor had no passport, is told in Brussels by Piet himself, says. the San Francisco Chronicle. Because of young Sergeant Piet Pinkers, the Kaiser had to wait 25 hours before be was let into Holland as an exile. German history has it that the Kaiser never waited more than 25 minutes for anything or anyone before that day at the Dutch frontier. On November 9, 1918, -William 11. realised his army was defeated, his soldiers were deserting him, and the Allies had won the war. Four hours later the German Emperor fled to Holland. It was a dark night, with heavy fog over the Ardennes hills, making air attacks rather improbable. No diplomatic negotiations had been engaged with .Holland in view of the Kaiser’s arrival. The telegraph was no longer safe for the German war lord. His idea was to advise the Dutch Government as soon as he would be safe within Dutch boundaries.

About 4 o’clock in the morning on November 10 nine automobiles started from Spa on the road to the Dutch frontier. The Imperial emblems on the cars had been carefully covered with mud. At 6 o’clock in the morning the German Kaiser arrived at the Dutch border There Piet Pinkers unexpectedly spoiled the Emperor’s plans by refusing to let him in.

The Germans demanded that Piet summon his commanding officer. All the Dutch officers were at Maestritcht, 10 miles away. Pict finally telephoned to Major Van Dijl, who arrived at the border about 7 o’clock that morning. The Major decided to take the Kaiser’s party to the station at Eysden. All that day the major telephoned and telegraphed the military authorities at The Hague. The Dutch Government hesitated about giving instructions, and it was not until 9.42 on the morning of November 11 that the Kaiser and his party were permitted to proceed into Holland. Pict also tells of an interview ne had with the Kaiser during the wait at the border.

“How would you like the war to be over?” the Kaiser asked him. “That would be fine, excellency,” Piet replied. “Then we could go home. The war has lasted long enough.” “Yes, it has lasted rather too long,” replied the Emperor. “The Allies did not want it to end earlier. However, it is all over now.' To-morrow the Armistice will be signed.”