EX-KAISER IN HOLLAND

The ex-Kaiser arrived in Amerongen (40 miles east of Rotterdam) on Monday afternoon.

He was accompanied by General von Falkenhayn and a large number of officers.

He did not show himself when the train left Eysden, near the frontier, but all along the route crowds of people gathered, despite the rain, and hissed and hooted as the train passed.

The imperial train of 11 carriages and two baggage trains reached the little station at Marn at 3.30 in pouring rain. Two or three hundred spectators waited the arrival of perhaps, the first guest whom Holland had not welcomed to internment here. At the station General Onnen, Chief of the Department of Internment, received the ex-Kaiser.

The Kaiser was in uniform, and, contrary to his appearance on his first arrival at Eysden, looked utterly miserable.

One of the Dutch railway staff expressed the general feeling accentuated by the grey, chilly and wet November day when he said: “It is like burying a living corpse.” An old lame general who accompanied the Kaiser was Von Platen (Von Plessen?), not Hindenburg, as some had thought. The old man could hardly restrain his tears as the party left the station buildings to enter motor-cars and drive through the drizzle and haze of the early evening to Count Bentinck’s chateau at Merongen. Hardly a word was uttered, though the Kaiser appeared to be thanking various people for their services.

It is reported here that the Crown Prince was shot dead in Belgium on his way to the Dutch frontier. There is confusion between the Crown Prince and Prince Adalbert. It seems uncertain which escaped with the Kaiser.

The ex-Kaiser has become quite grey and his skin is of a yellow tan colour. Two deep wrinkles run along his nose, but his blue-grey eyes look as arrogant and as haughty as ever. His suite consists of one or two very old generals, one of whom had the impudence to try to prevent a Dutch photographer from taking a snapshot of his Majesty.

The Kaiser’s flight was decided on after the Entente’s conditions had arrived at Headquarters, together with the German Government’s communication, made without the Kaiser’s previous knowledge that he had abdicated. Although the Kaiser refused to sign an act of abdication he realised that the game was up.

On hearing the armistice conditions he became fully aware of the terrible situation, and complained bitterly to the Supreme Command that he had been misled. One general counselled against flight as being unworthy of the Kaiser. Hindenburg appointed Falkenhayn to accompany the Kaiser.

It is learned that the ex Empress of Germany is staying in Homburg, near Frankfort-on-Main.