ith
chivalry, humbly before God and battling joyfully before the enemy,
let us place our trust in the eternal Omnipotence, and may He
strengthen our defense and bring it to a good end!

To you, honored sirs, the whole German people, assembled about its
Princes and its leaders, look this day. Make your decision
unanimously and quickly. That is my heartfelt wish.

Gentlemen (addressing the Deputies directly): You have read what I
said to my people the other day from the balcony of my castle. I
repeat now that I no longer know any parties. I know only Germans.
And in order to testify that you are firmly resolved without
distinction of party to stand by my side through danger and death,
I call upon the leaders of the different parties in this House to
come forward and lay their hands in mine as a pledge.

* * * * *

TO THE GERMAN ARMY AND NAVY.

Proclamation by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

After three and forty years of peace I call the men of Germany to
arms.

It has become necessary to protect our most sacred possessions, the
Fatherland, our very hearths against ruthless destruction.

Enemies on every hand! That is the situation. A mighty struggle, a
great sacrifice confronts us.

I trust that the old spirit of battle still lives on in the German
people, that powerful spirit of battle which grapples with the foe
wherever it meets it, be the cost what it may, which has ever been
the terror and fear of our enemies.

Soldiers of Germany, in you I place my trust! In each one of you
lives the passionate will to conquer, which nothing can subdue.
Each one of you knows, if need be, how to die a hero's death.

Remember our great and glorious past!

Remember that you are Germans!

God help us!

WILHELM.

Berlin, Schloss, Aug. 6, 1914.

* * * * *

[Illustration: AUGUSTA VICTORIA,
German Empress.
(_Photo from M.E. Burner._)]

TO GERMAN WOMEN.

An Appeal from the Kaiserin.

On the summons of the Emperor our people are preparing for an
unprecedented struggle, which it did not invoke and which it is
only carrying on in its defense. Whoever can bear arms will
joyfully hasten to the colors to defend the Fatherland with his
blood. The struggle will be gigantic