THE EX-KAISER’S LETTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14259, 9 January 1920, Page 5

THE EX-KAISER’S LETTERS

ADMIRAL OF THE ATLANTIC. NAVAL COMPETITION STRESSED. CONFIDENCES FOR THE CZAR. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Jan. 8, 5.50 p.m. LONDON, Jan. G. In a letter signed "Admiral of the Atlantic,” the Kaiser refers eulogistically to what ho had seen of the naval manoeuvres, and stresses Hie complete trust between the two monarchies, an instance of which is shown in the Kaiser handing Nicky the secret plans of his newest ships. Wilhelm says: “We both have the same interest in the development of our navies. The passion for the sea is born in us, and that will suffice to show that we regard the two navies as one great organisation belonging to one great Continent whose interests it will safeguard on its shores and in distant seas. This means practically the peace of the world. We hold the balance in Europe and the world. This is more necessary, as certain symptoms in the East show that Japan is becoming a restless customer. . The situation necessitates coolness and decision of the peace-lov-ing Powers. The news of the attachment of a Japanese general, Yamai, to reorganise the Chinese army for the unavowed object of driving, every foreigner out of China, is very serious. Twenty or thirty million trained Chinese, led by a fine, undaunted Chinese-hating Jap. officer, is to be contemplated not without anxiety, and is not impossible. In fact it is coming into reality of the yellow peril which 1 depicted some years ago, for which engraving I was laughed at by the greater mass of the people.” Billy No. 1 and Little Willy. In a letter written In January, 1903, the Kaiser signed himself “Billy No. 1,” and explains, “These letters will be presented by my boy. My sisters generally call him ‘Billy No. 2,’ ‘Little Willy,’ to discern him from his father. I place him under your kind protection and hope you will be 'satisfied with his manners. He is still very young, so should he make any blunders, kindly overlook them.” Passion for the Sea.

The Kaiser’s passion for the sea is the main theme of his letters published today, one of which he signs “Willy, Admiral of the Atlantic," in which he advises “Nicky” of the rapid expansion of the Navy. The Wittelbach class was on the eve of completion, which would enable Prince Henry to possess a

homogeneous fleet of “peace makers.” 1 The Kaiser then observes that the Russian warship Variag arrived at Koweit, which he declares is a wise thing for your flag to he shown there, for it does not seem impossible that another power was in the act of repeating the very successful experiment it made on llie Nile to haul down the Sultan’s flag, land men and guns, and hoist some flag or other under a pretext and §ay; ‘J’y suis; J'y reste’ (T am here; here I remain.’) In this case it would have meant the paramount rule of all the trade routes to Persia, even of Persia itself, and then ta ta to your proposed ■establishment of Russian commerce. The behaviour ot a foreign power at Koweit shows the enormous advantage of an overwhelming fleet ruling the approaches from the sea to places devoid of land communication, and which we cannot approach because our fleets arc too weak, leaving our transports at the mercy of the enemy. “This shows how necessary is the Bagdad railway, which I intend German' capital to build. If that excellent Sultan had not been dawdling for years with the question the line might have been begun years ago, and would now have offered you an opportunity of dispatching a few regiments from Odessa to Koweit, and turned the tables on that other Power by giving command of the lines ashore.” Germans to the Front.

The Kaiser sent the gift of a book about the South African war, written by an Englishman, condemning the war, and ends, “wherefor was the war begun.” He adds that the author maintains impartiality, a gratifying exception to the rule now prevailing in England. The bearer of the gift w r as Captain Von Usedom, who commanded the Hertha during the Chinese Boxer affair. The Kaiser adds: “It was Usedom who was the saviour of the Seymour Expedition and brought it safe back to Tientsin, and to him was given now the historical Order of which my Bluejackets are so proud, ‘Germans to the Front,’ when British sailors refused to go further.” In a further letter the Kaiser remarks: “Prince Henry’s projected visit to America, to our great amusement, seems to create toothache in England.”