WILL OF WILHELM II. THAT SWUNG THE SWORD.

Kaiser Franz Josef's Address in Bestowing the Great Cross on the German
Kaiser, September, 1914.


The glorious victories, so crushing to the foe, which the German
Army has won in battle under your chief command owe their begetting
and their success to your iron will, which sharpened and swung the
heavy sword.

To the laurel that crowns you as victor I wish to add, if I may,
the highest military honor which we possess, in begging you to take
in true brotherhood of arms and as a token of my appreciation the
Great Cross of my military Order of Marie Theresa. The decoration
itself, dear friend, shall be handed to you by a special envoy as
soon as it is convenient for you.


* * * * *


[Illustration: COUNT LEOPOLD BERCHTOLD.
Austro-Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(_Photo from Underwood & Underwood._)]




A PURELY DEFENSIVE WAR.