The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-01
KaiSer's Son. in Interview.
Says Germany Was Forced
Into Conflict.
ASKS do AMERICANS
THINK ME- \ THIEF?"
ny Karl ". NO> WIEGAND,
UnNted Press star Correspondent
Fopyriokt. 1914, By TRted Press. Copyright II

ny KARL ". NO> WIEGAND,
United Press stag Correspondent
Woppr'oht 1914. By rnited Press. Copyright in
Great britain
From yesterdays EVENING SUM
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY
OF CROWN PRINCE IN FRANCE .,by
courier VIA Namur. Aix-Ia- Chapelle and
The Hague to Londou, by cable to New
York;. Nov. POI Undoubtedly this is
the most stupid. senseless and unneces-
sary war OF modern times. 1t is a war
not wanted BY Germany. | can assure
you. but II was forced on us. and the
fact that We were so effcctually pre-
pared To defend ourselves is now being
used as an argument to convince the
world that we desired conflict"
In these words Frederick william,
the German Crown Prince and heir to
the throne OF the Kaiser, opened the
first interview he has ever given 10 a
foreign newspaper man and the first
direct statement made TO the press by
any member Of the German royal fam
lily since the outbreak of the war.
arrived at the headquarters of the
Fifth German army In an automobile
shortly before midnight. At daybreak
DIR Plinitz. personal aide-de- camp to
the Crown Prince. who stated that his
Imperial Highness wanted to welcome
me. but that he was leaving for the
firing line and would see me a little
later in the day.
When some time later the Crown Prince
returned I was presented. lie greeted me
cordially and without any of the stiffness
or cool reserve that might have been ex-
pected.
II am very pleased to see YOU here"
he said land | hope that you will fnd
plenty 10 interest you. | want you TO
feel at liberty to go wherever you like
~ hope your Imperial Highress will
pardon my Amsricanized German ! said
I'm stating to him some OF the points in
which | thought American readers would
he chiefly interested.
give. Interview In English.
Then let US talk English If you feel
that we can better thuL express our
selves" was his quick reply. Acting
on the suggestion the Crown Prince pro-
ceeded to give his first interview in
English.
81 am a soldier and therefore cannot
discuss politics." said the Crown Prince,
shut II seems to me that this whole busi.
ness, all Of this action that you see around
here. Il senseless, unnecessary and IN
called for. hut Germany was LEFT no
choice in the matter. From the lowest
to the highest we all know that We are
fighting for our existence. know that
soldiers OF the other nations probably
say. and a great many of them probably
think the same thing. This does not alter
the fact. however. that we are actually
fighting for our national life.
Since We knew that the present war
was to lie forced on us 1t became our
tyhn lnffr!nufs
by every necessary and possible prep
aration for she defence of the father
land against the iron ring which our
enemies have for years been carefully and
steadily welding about us wherew,h TO
crush us
defend ourselves is now being used as
an argument in an attempt to convince
the world that We not only wanted this
conflict but that We are responsible for II.
NO power on earth will ever be able
10 convince our people that this war was
not engineered solely and wholly with
view to crushing the German people. their
Government, their institutions and all that
they hold dear As result you will find
the German people are one grand unit
imbued with a magnificent spirit of self
sacrifice
The scene OF our conversation was the
drawing room OF small French villa
German fighting lines and used by the
Crown Prince as "A headquarters for him
self and staff The Crown Prince en-
tered. accompanied by Major Won der
Planitz, who after presenting me with
drew.
The young commander of the German
forces was dressed simply in the gray
green khaki of his troops. in uniform
devoid Of any decorations save very
small insignia OF his rank OF Lieutenant
General and his recently acquired black
and white ribbon OF the Order OF the Iron
Cross. lie carried no sword, but toyod
with "A short swaGger stick similar to
those carried by English cavalry officers
Holds England Responsible.
Our conversation had been in progress
but a short time when IT became clear
To me that the Grown Prince, like ?? per
cent OF tho Germans | have met on the
firing line and off OF 1t, holds England
responsible for the present war.
The thing that impressed me most, how
ever. was the fact that despite the in
,ensity of hts convictions he displayed
none Of the intense hatred or The bitter
ness toward the English which ] have
observed so constantly among people OF
all walks Of life since the outbreak of the
war ON the contrary, there was a note
Of regret and almost one of sadness as
he discussed this phase OF the great issue.
quickly gained the impression that
the crown Prince IL by no means the
man he has been pictured In England
and America.
There If nothing OF tho fire eater nor
uncompromisinC warrior about him He
rave no evidence OF gaining pleasure
from his military experience or Of delight
ing In conflict 1t was obvious that the
carnage he has already witnessed has
made A deep imprint on his naturally i'm
IRRESPONSIBLE mind and he referred fire.
nuently to the losses and the suffering,
not only OF his own but of the cnemy's
forces.
He was exceedingly generous at all
times in his praise OF the enemy as he