Since the foundation of the empire it has been for forty-three years the object of the efforts of myself and my ancestors to preserve the peace of the world and to advance by peaceful means our vigorous development.  But our adversaries were jealous of the successes of our work.  There has been latent hostility on the east and on the west and beyond the sea.  It was borne by us till now, as we were aware of our responsibility and power.  Now, however, these adversaries wish to humiliate us, asking that we should look on with crossed arms and watch our enemies preparing themselves for a coming attack.  They will not suffer that we maintain resolute fidelity to our ally who is fighting for its position as a great power and with whose humiliation our power and honor would equally be lost.  So the sword must decide.

In the midst of perfect peace the enemy surprises us.  Therefore to arms!  Any dallying, any temporizing would be which our fathers founded; to be or not to be, is the question for the empire which our fathers founded.  To be or not to be German power and German existence.  We shall resist to the last breath of man and horse, and shall fight out the struggle even against a world of enemies.  Never has Germany been subdued when it was united.  Forward with God, who will be with us as He was with our ancestors!

     Berlin, Aug. 6.  Wilhelm.

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JOY IN GLORIOUS VICTORY.

Speech of Kaiser at a Parade During Swift German Advance Toward Paris.

Comrades:  I have gathered you around me here in order to take joy with you in the glorious victory which our comrades have in several days of hot battle won with their swords.  Troops out of every nook and cranny of the empire helped one another in invincible bravery and unshakable loyalty to win great results.  There stood together under the leadership of the son of the Bavarian King and fought, with equal blades, troops of all ages, active, reservists, and landwehr.

For our victory we are thankful, in the first place, to our God, (unserem alten Gott.) He will not desert us, since we stand for a holy cause.  Many of our comrades have already fallen in battle.  They died as heroes for the Fatherland.  We will think of them with honor here, and shout to the honor of those still in the field.  Hurrah!  Hurrah!  Hurrah!

We still have many a bloody battle before us.  Let us hope for further successes like this.  We shall not relent, and we shall get to the enemy’s hide.  We shall not lose our faith and trust in our good old God up there, (unserem guten alten Gott dort oben.) We are determined to win, and we must win.

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FIRST SUCCESSFUL BATTLE.

Telegram from Kaiser Wilhelm II. to Chief of Troops in Upper Alsace, Aug. 15.