THE AUSTRIAN EMPEROR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 7

THE AUSTRIAN EMPEROR.

FACES SUPREME CRISIS. Before the war Kaiser Karl, the head of the ramshackle Austrian Empire, with its 51,000,000 inhabitants. 11 languages, and 19 legislative assemblies, was (Fays a. correspondent of the ,l Daily Express'') an almost unknown army oflico.r. and was regarded by (ho. exclusive Austrian aristocracy as a. simpleminded feather-head of rather common Pastes and. habits. Since his accession last ye.ar he has .surprised the. world—and especially Germany—by the prominent part which he has taken in the troubled life of his country. His succession was, duo to two tragedies. First came the mysterious death of Uie old Emperor's only son ; Rudolph. Then followed the assassination of the Aiehduko Francis Ferdinand —the German pretext for the war. Francis Ferdinand was a. son of the old Emperor's brother, Louis. Karl is the son of the notorious Grand Duke Otto, the seeond son of Louis. He is a. nephew of Francis Ferdinand and grandson of the old Emperor. Otto shocked even the Viennese. One of his 'amusements was to keep an ox without water for days, and watch it die in agony when it had gorged itself with water. On one occasion he appeared on the stairs of a. fashionable Vienna restaurant, where lie. was entertaining a private party, clad in gloves, a military cap, and a, sword—and nothing else. Karl, possibly because of the warning afforded by his father's life, is a. man of simple, domestic tastes and democratic leanings. Ho was educated first at the Sehotten High School, but later came under the domination of German tutors. Thev appear to have their work badly. lie and his wife were described before the, war as active, sensible, and jolly. They were fond of attending cimm.'i theatres and sitting among the people. One of Karl's chief pleasures was to wheel his children about in a. perambulator. lie always used a public vehicle in preference to a private carnage. On Sundays 'tho couple entertained at the Castle of Warthols the local mayor, parson, school teachers, and other worthies.

Karl's wife is the Princess JJHa of Bourbon and Parma. She has large, blue eyes, fair hair, and a strong chin, and is even more democratic than her husband. Her peace efforts have lost her the favour of the Kaiser "YVilhelm. Possibly she learned sense at the Beuedeetine convent at Ryde, Isle of Wight, where she spent a "finishing" year, and where her sister Marie was a. nun under the name of Sister Maria. Benedicts.

Karl, who is in his thirtieth year, is now faced with a, supremo crisis. There is substantial evidence that he has had enough of tho war and is kicking over tho German traces. Naturally, considering the pressure put on him, ho has also shown signs of wobbling. Will lie prove to be Austria's strong man, and save his country from the fate which is predestined for Germany?