#  47

Kaiser Wilhelm And Staff Prepare to Discuss

Secret Matters Of War and Peace.

 

In spite of the dense fog, the Borkum fishermen diligently worked, preparing their netsfor the days catch.
The half-dozen or more men joked as they loaded their boat with nets outlined with
orange floats.
Speaking in quaint Frisian, speckled with Dutch, German and Danish idioms, the
atmosphere was alive with jocularity.
Suddenly, the fishermen stopped their chores and looked out towards the North Sea.
From out of the fog emerged a large white yacht slowly heading for the nearby wharf.
Bells rang out, engines roared and anchors splashed heavily into the sea.
“Can thee see the name of yonder yacht?” asked a fisherman.
"It’s the Hohenzollern!”

A dozen or more passengers disembarked from the yacht and walked along the strand
and onto a gravel path curved up toward a large gated-estate. Several servants greeted

them and led the way up a pathway to the front entrance.

“Then we best get a move on!” said the boat owner watching the visitors. “The

haddock are biting, as are the herring! I smell fish and money!”

His mate asked, “How long do thee think they will stay on our little island?”

“Hopefully, long enough to eat at least three square meals!” laughed the headman.

The estate, a simple affair, suited to its littoral surroundings, belonged to Baron
Johann von Dichtener. His was an old German family that settled in Lower Saxony

before the Crusades. The stuccoed home was a two-storied building with narrow

hallways. On the lower floor were rooms filled with animal and fish trophies. Floor-to-ceiling

windows allowed sufficient daylight to enter otherwise dark rooms and gave the

place a pleasant aura. Floors lacked rugs so that people walking on the wide wooden

planks created a clackety-clack that echoed along the hallways, making conversanearly impossible.

Johann and his wife Johanna greeted the Kaiser and his entourage with great
cordiality. The hosts were middle-aged folks who gave the impression of a warmhearted
couple, still in love after decades of marriage. The Baron was bald, with a clean-shaven,

jovial face, so that in any light his head literally gleamed. Petite Frau Dichtener, dressed

in a bright blue dress set off by a golden pendant, held her husband’s hand, kept standing

on her toes in order to see each visitor’s countenance. Her tightly woven blond hair ended
in a bun at the back of her head.

There were yellow roses in a vase in the vestibule, which each visitor took a moment

to smell. The aroma provided a relief from the fishy smell of the sea air. Every nook and

cranny was home to various potted flowers.

Wilhelm, dressed in civilian attire, removed his straw hat and shook his host’s hand

vigorously. Then with a gallant flourish, he kissed Frau Dichtener’s small, white hand.
“Thank you both so very much for allowing us to visit with you on such short notice.

Your home seems to be the most appropriate place for us to meet and to discuss matter
of national importance. I am certain that you both understand that our presence be

attended by as much secrecy as possible. Your beautiful Borkum Island is perfect for the

privacy that we desperately require.”
The Baron raised his right hand as though taking an oath and said, “You have my
word of honor, Willy that this meeting will be kept from the local people and th
newspapers. My wife, I call her Jo to distinguish her from me while amongst company,

will have the servants show to your rooms. After that, with your permission, we will
prepare a lunch to share with you and your colleagues. It is a simple Frisian meal, but a
very hardy and tasteful one. When you have an interlude in your discussion, please send
us word and we will meet you in the dining room.”

“Danke schön, mein Freund!” said the Kaiser, smiling broadly.

Von Moltke, who stood behind the Emperor, waited for a few moments and then
walked up to Frau Dichtener and to the surprise of everyone grabbed her around the

waste and lifted her easily into the air.

“Meine liebschen! It is so good to see you again. I hope that you and Johann have

missed me as much as I have missed you.”

Then he turned to the group. “This lovely lady is my wife’s sister! She and Johann are

my favorite kind of people!

“Oh, stop it, Helmuth!” said Jo sweetly. “You are too kind!”
Wilhelm laughed at the antics of his Chief of the General Staff. He then introduced the
remaining members of his entourage.

“Of course, you know our Chancellor Herr Doktor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg.
As you can easily observe, the Herr Doktor is an intellectual, a genuine scholar, a
philosopher and a lover of peace.”

Bethmann greeted the Baron and his wife by bowing low. The Dichteners also bowed

low. When the host offered his hand to Theobald, the chancellor absent-mindedly shook
Johanna’s hand first. When he turned to shake the Baron’s hand, a book he was carrying

beneath his armpit slipped to the floor. Johann bent down and retrieved the volume. He

read its title and said, “I see that you like Friedrich Schiller’s poetry. I also happen to

admire him as one of Germany’s greatest poets.”
Theobald’s kindly gray eyes and mild, cordial manner gave his hosts little to fear from
the six and-one-half foot giant. In fact, his height and deeply lined face gave him a rather
Lincolnesque appearance.
As he stepped back, Bethmann attempted to click his heels, but could not affect a

sound for he wore soft oxford shoes. In addition, as he snapped his head, his monocle fe
from his eye saved only by its thin gold safety chain.
 

The Kaiser laughing at his Chancellor’s antics then placed his hand on the shoulder of
General Eric von Falkenhayn.

“General Eric von Falkenhayn is my new War Minister and, like all the rest of these
guys, has given me an honest appraisal of where Deutschland stands in the midst of its
hostile neighbors.”

Eric said, “Thank you, Your Majesty! Herr und Frau Dichtener, it is a pleasure to

meet you. Your beautiful Frisian estate reminds me of a seascape, only I feel that today I

am a part of the painting.

He then bowed to Johann and softly kissed Johanna’s hand.

Tall, bald and overweight, Admiral Alfred Tirpitz stepped forward. His white,

inverted v-shaped beard bobbed up and down as he bowed, shook one hand and kissed
another. In a quiet voice, he chivalrously thanked his hosts. “You folks are most gracious
to allow this rough crowd to visit your beautiful home. I assure you that we will be most
careful with your china, but do count your silverware!”

A broad smile lit up Johanna’s face. “Oh, Admiral, you jest of course! My husband
and I are thrilled that you honor our home by your visit. We trust that we can make your

stay here a pleasant one.”

“Not to fear, dear madam!” laughed Moltke, “we are les miserables, not miserable.”
 

The last two persons introduced were Dick Hentsch and Herbie Schornstein who, up

to now, prudently remained in the background.

“The other fellows,” quickly explained Wilhelm, “are my Chief of Intelligence,
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hentsch and my A.D.C., Captain Schornstein. However, dear

friends, you need not worry,” he chuckled, “They don’t eat much.”
Both men bowed without saying a word.

The Baron put his arm around his wife and suggested that his guests retire to their
bedrooms and refresh themselves.
Stopping before the door of his bedroom, Wilhelm motioned for Hentsch and

Schornstein to enter with him.
“Our meeting is top secret and is limited to the General Staff members. You two men

disappear for several hours, verstehen Sie?”