31 AUGUST 1912, Page 2

On Monday it was announced that the German Emperor had

been suffering from rheumatic swelling of the neck, attended by considerable pain and difficulty in speaking and swallowing. He was, in consequence, obliged to cancel his engagement to attend a banquet in honour of the Province of Saxony at Merseburg, and the Swiss Government were officially notified that his visit might have to be abandoned. Happily the anxiety caused by Monday's bulletin was speedily relieved, and on Tuesday the Kaiser's condition had so far improved that he was able to leave his bed and transact business. It is now hoped that he will be able to proceed to Switzerland to witness the manceuvres.