| OCR Text |
Show FORMER CROWN PRINCEADMIRES PRESJILSON OOSTERLAND, Holland, Dec. 3. "I have not renounced anything and I have not s'lgned any document whatever." what-ever." Frederick William Hohenzollern, who still claims the title of crown I prince of Germany, thus answered the question of the Associated Press in the course of a lengthy conversation today, which took place in the small cottage of the village pastor on the island is-land of Wieringcn, where "he is interned. in-terned. "However," he continued, "should the German government decide to form a republic similar to the United States or France, I shall be perfectly content to return to Germany as a simple citizen citi-zen ready to do anything to assist my country. I should even be happy to work as a laborer in a factory. "At present everything appears chaos In Germany, but I hope things will right themselves.'!. Asked what in his opinion was the turning point of the war, ho said: "I was convinced early in October, 1914, that we had lost the war. I considered con-sidered our position hopeless after the battle of the Marne which we should not have lost if the chiefs of our general gen-eral staff had not suffered a case of nerves. "I tried to persuade the general staff to seek peace then, even at a great sacrifice, going so far as to give up Alsace-Lorraine. But I was told to mind my own business and confine my activities to commanding ray armies. arm-ies. I have proof of this." What finally brought about the downfall of the German miiltary power, pow-er, he declared, was revolution induced by four years of hunger among the civilians and the troops in the rear, together to-gether with the overwhelming superiority supe-riority in numbers attained by the entente en-tente powers since America's entry into the war which had undermined the confidence of the German fighting forces. "My soldiers, whom I loved and with whom I lived continuously, and who, if I may say so, loveM me, fought with the utmost courage to the end, even when the odds were impossible to withstand," with-stand," the refugee prince went on. "They had no rest and sometimes an entire division numbered only 600 rifles. rif-les. These wore opposed by fresh allied al-lied troops, among ivhom were American Ameri-can divisions containing 27,000 men each." Describing how he left the front, Frederick William declared: "I was with my group of armies after aft-er the kaiser left Germany. I asked the Berlin government whether they desired mo to retain my command. They replied negatively, and I could not continue to lead armies under orders or-ders of the soldiors and workers' council. "Therefore, I came to Holland, without with-out hindrance. No shooting or bombing bomb-ing occurred and I quit the army with thor greatest regret after having participated partic-ipated in tho trench life with the soldiers sol-diers for so long. "I have not been in Germany for a year, and from the beginning of the war I have taken only thrco or four fortnight leaves." Speaking of the beginning of tho war Frederick William asserted: "Contrary to all statements hitherto hither-to made abroad, I never desited war, and thought the momeln quite inopportune. inop-portune. I was never consulted, and the report about a crown council being be-ing held in Berlin to decide on the war, I deny on my oath. I was enjoying enjoy-ing a stay at a watering place when mobilization was ordered. "My father, also I am sure, did not desire war. If Germany had sought the best opportunity for making war she would have chosen the period either of the Boer war or the Russo-Japanese Russo-Japanese war. "From the beginning I was certain that England would enter the conflict. Thic view" was not shared by Prince Henry and the other members of my family. "People have credited me with warlike war-like intentions. But I was only a sol idler with a desire to see tho army i kept thoroughly efficient, and I worked hard to bring this about. People blame me with the failure at; Verdun. But I refused twice to attack with the troops at my disposal. On the third occasion my attack was successful for the first three days but I was not properly supported. "I thought that the Verdun attack was a mistake. Wc should have attacked at-tacked to the eastward of Verdun where there would have been great probability of success." The ex crown prince was rather bitter bit-ter regarding tho work of the general staff, which he asserted was responsible responsi-ble for numerous mistakes, including the attack. In March, 1918, which he was ordered to make contrary to his own view, and was compelled to obey. He declared that Ludendorff was the main spring of Germany's warlike activities, ac-tivities, while von Hindenburg was a mere figurehead. Ludendorff and his staff continually under-estimated the enemy forces, he declared, and never believed that America's contribution of soldiers was as great as it actually proved'to be. Frederick William declared himself to be an admirer of President Wilson, who he felt assured would bring about a peace of justice for the German people, peo-ple, and concluded: "Any humiliation of a nation containing con-taining 70.000,000 people would only leave a feeling of revenge. Such a nation na-tion cannot be crushed." "The armistice terms are very severe se-vere and almost impossible of execution execu-tion as the entente powers arc taking away a very large portion of tho means of transport." Asked whether Germany, if victorious, victor-ious, would not havo imposed even more severe terms he expressed the belief that such would not have been the case. When tho Brest-Lllovsk treaty was mentioned, he said Its terms were hard because in Russia the Germans were confronted by the Bolsheviki. With regard to air raids on tmfof-tified tmfof-tified cities, the fierce submarine warfare, war-fare, the bombardment of Paris and the deportation of women from the occupied oc-cupied districts to work in Germany. Frederick said he had always entirely disagreed with these policies. "The air raids on London and other towns and the big gun used against Paris were useless militarily, and, in fact, silly." said Frederick William, were read differently by various officers, of-ficers, who went much to far. Regarding Re-garding air raids, I suggested two years ago an international agreement confining air activities to the actual war zone but my opinion was entirely disregarded. I was again told my job was to command my armies." In connection with Germany's ac- . tious In Belgium at the beginning of the war the ex-crown prince said that the German general staff had informed him thatField Marshal Haig was in Belgium in July, 1914. making a complete com-plete survey for future operations. When It was suggested that the German Ger-man staff had done tho same thing Frederick said he knew nothing about it. German diplomats, he declared, had made "awful" mistakes, being unable to see the viewpoint of the countries whore they wore stationed and misreading mis-reading opinion in other countries. Referring Re-ferring to the serious kaiser telegram during the Boer war, he said: "My father was made to send this telegram by his political advisers." The rormer crown prince is living a very simple life now. He strolls about the island, chats with peasants and is learning tho Dutch language from a small boy. Ho says he Is in-1 terned, although in reality not Intern-! ed, as all the other German officers! havo been permitted lo leave Holland. Ho does not expect his wife to come to Holland. She will remain in Ber-lin Ber-lin to superintend the education of their children. Frederick William discussed various subjects quite frankly with the correspondent cor-respondent for two hours", but requested request-ed that some of tho matters under discussion dis-cussion should not be published. oo |
