GERMAN VIEW OF THE KAISER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 28 October 1922, Page 3

GERMAN VIEW OF THE KAISER.

One of the greatest, and most costir mistakes the ex-Kaiser ever made was ii. his appraisement of the British Army. Another colossal mistake was bis ignominous flight into Holland (wrote Louie Arnold in the “ Dai’v Mail ”). Had the defeated War Lord re igained and faced the music, it i* doubtful whether he would ever hav < lost his prestige in Germany. Subsc quent punishment at the hands of the Allies would but lia\e served to crown his career with martyrdom in the eves of hiss subjects, for whom he provided that particular type of hero the nation loves and demands. Only when he ran away were his feet of clav revealed. Although theie i« still a strong military party in Germany, the ex-Kaiser has entirely “ lost face ” there. Hin.denbnrg and many other war leader still have their following. The ex Kaiser has practically none. His effigies and picture-, once to be found in every German house, are now l a rely to be seen. His famous palace in Berlin. its sombre walls defaced with bullets th a > were fired during the revolution . r 1918, is now a national museum. Where the Kaiser dwelt in arrogant splendour the curious now crowd wifc.i apparently very little sentiment for the fallen hero. An enormous canvas, portraying th? autocrat in his prime, :s inconspicuously hung in a dark corner of one of (he groat reception-rooms, and few are the visitors who pause before it—even out of curiosity The ex-Crown Prince, strangely enough, still holds a high place in th • affection of the German people. Through letters to the Press he is pro fossing with some success moderate and contrite views, and his supporters ar? gaining sympathy for him in hie exiE. Most of the younger members of th » Royal Family are held in esteem, and one is constrained to wonder what, fu tore developments will be. although the ex-saddler, President Ebert, has during the last two years earned ■> wide and genuine respect and much support. The derision that once was so generously bestowed upon him has almost entirely disappeared. One hears far mere of his administrative qualiti >s than of his modest ancestry. Whether he can successfully stifle the national cinving for a tin god time alone will reveal.