The Detroit times., 1914-11-30

There rs no war party In Germany
now, and there never has been
cannot help believing that IL will very
soon dawn upon the world that so far
as Germany Is concerned. this con
fiict il not war Waged by some myth
ical party. but is a fight backed by the
unity and solidarity Of the German
empire. This unity Is the best answer
20 the charge with which England ts
endeavoring TO terrify the world-that
the war is being pushed by an ambi-
tious military clique"
The young soldier laughed heartily
when | told him that the Russian
press bureau had recently reported
that their troops nearly captured the
kaiser during recent engagement
near Warsaw.
81 must tell father about that am
sure II will be news TO him. and that
he will enjoy IT," he said.
Switching TO the subject OF the en-.
envy, the crown prince said:
"The French soldiers are surpassed
by none for their bravery They
have fought splendidly. individually
the French soldier Is equal in every
respect TO our-own In intelligence and
in some things is quicker and more
agile. But he Is defensive fighter
and lacks the logged determination
and staying power OF our troops when
II comes 10 offensive work. Events
have shown that French Leadership
has been excellent and IL has CON-
handed our admiration"
After a half hours interview we
we're interrupted by an oficer who re-.
ported 70 the crown prince that his
staff vas mounted. and waiting out
side. First inviting me TO have dinner
with him that evening, his highness
excused himself. and mounting his
horse, galloped away to the scene Of
the days fighting.
During dinner he returned 10 the
subject OF America and his desire to
visit our country.
Il had all arrangements made for a
visit two years ago." he said. "but
political objections prevented my trip.
/ had determined upon a visit this
year and had planned hunting trip
with Ambassador Gerard. but the war
has, Of course. spoiled that. Some
time, however, / intend TO make the
trip. I am especially interested IN
your big Industrial centers like Pitts
burgh and Chicago, and In your more
beautiful cities like Detroit, San Fran
cisco and Portland. am most anx.
ious TO see one Of your baseball games
and one OF your baseball crowds. You
know / have been greatly interested
in sports and in furthering them with
consideration to the physical training
OF our young men. Personally II has
been big disappointment to me that
the war has made impossible the
scheduled Olympic games at Berlin"
A glance at the reading table in the
crown princes room nailed the gener-
ally repeated story that everything is
clipped for him. | saw on his table
leading American. English, French
and italian papers with several num-
bers of Puck" and Life" | asked
him what he thought OF American hu-
NOR, and he replied that Life" was
enc Of his favorite magazines because
of It's clever political satire, its wis
dom and its faculty for puncturing
conceit. The conversation developed
that he has an acquaintance with
Jack London.
London is one OF my favorite
American authors" he said, "and
would like very much to meet him.
think that his portrayal OF nature and
the breath OF the outdoors, together
with his forcefulness give his writ
ings great power"
/ reminded him that London was q
Socialist.
THAT would not make me want any
less to know what kind of man
writes such books" was the quick re-
ply
Our conversation drifted along free
ly, skipping about from war to litera-
ture, TO sports and TO human nature
generally. It was impossible. however
for me to get from hts highness for
quotation any statement of political
nature. Our general talk, however
served to convince me that II this
young man, who will in all probable
ity one day rule the German empire,
was ever the hotheaded and bolster
Gus youth he has been painted, the
From my conversation with him
gathered that the crown prince Is
strongly opposed to bureaucracy and
everything standing between the peo-
pie and their ruler. II developed from
my conversations with members OF
his staff that It is almost impossible
to get him TO sign the death sentence
OF convicted spy or franctireur. Re-
Gently, when the French stormed the
German trenches in the Argonne and
were hurled back at one point with an
unusually heavy loss, the crown
prince offered the French truce in
order that they might gather up their
wounded who strewed the ground be-
fore the German trenches. When i
asked the crown prince about the IN
cident, he replied:
Yes, there were several hundred
dead and wounded In front OF our
trenches, ! simply could not stand It,
thinking OF those brave fellows, badly
wounded, and lying there, many of
them dying within few yards Of our
doctors and nurses while others were
trying 10 drag themselves inch by
inch toward our, or their own,
trenches. / almost had a row about
II with my chief OF STAFF, who opposed
me In the matter, saying the French
would only report that We had asked
for a truce because we were defeated.
But insisted upon white flag bear
er being sent TO the French trenches
with an offer TO give them time TO get
them. They refused. and as a result
hundreds Of these wounded fellows
who might have been saved, persisted
miserably. Some OF them lived three
or four days without food. water. or
medical attention. The whole thing
seemed to me an instance of sense