The Detroit times., 1914-12-15
DETROITER HAD !.
LONG TALK With
KAISER'S SON
Herman Preetz Met Prince Eitel
Frederick While Serving
. Cigars to Troops
SCION OF ROYALTY
PRED OFF THE LID
Note From Him Quickly Re-
moved Ban and Produced
Bottle of COgnac

In the railroad station In Stendal
Germany, Herman Preetz. GA years
old, a retired business man OF De
troit, bearing the insignia OF the Red
Cross on his arm, was serving cigars
and smoking tobacco TO the countless
thousands or grey-clad troops that the
kaiser was pouring into France, "a
hours after war Lad been declared.
A short and somewhat rotund man
In the UNIFORM OF an officer OF the
German artillery sat on cannon, out
side OF the depot, dangling his legs
like boy percned on the limb or a
tree. The short fat man was Prince
Eitel Frederick, second son OF Kaiser
Wilhelm, and he extended an eager
hand when he observed the approach
OF the Detroiter with the cigars.
well, the prince and | shook
hands said Mr.. Preetz. who returned
TO Detroit recently, after having
served 10 days as keeper OF smokes. .
He said 10 me; Where are you
FROM And | told him, Detroit.
Then he said, Oh and looked as II
he wanted TO hear more about De-
troit | told him about our city.
How long have you been away
from Germany? asked the prince.
told him | had lived in Detroit close
TO 40 years. Eitel Frederick laughed
heartily. and said he thought 1t was
about time | came back"
Further conversation, OF more in
innate nature took place. according
TO Mr.. Preetzs story They spoke
softly. II Preetz had replied to a
question by the prince in English
as II is spoken In the United States,
his answer would have been something
like this:
"No, they closed them all up after
the first mobilization order was is
sued, and right now, you couldn't pry
OF that lid with an army OF men
armed with crowbars."
Anyway, the prince wrote little
note, and Preetz says he took the
note to the station master, and got
a small parcel in return. He deliv-
cred It TO the prince Mr.. Preetz says
he who placed In the hands OF the
class cognac.
WGHl 10 otTIudIl1
rumors of war had been heard. 10
visit relatives. II was his first trip
back since he came to Detroit, In
1876.
II was sitting in cafe in Braun.
schweig, one evening"" he said. 'and
an army officer came in. He posted
a notice on the wall. 1t was brief
mobilization order. There was no ex-
element, no cheering Most OF the
men just put their glasses down, said
goodnight. and walked out. Twenty
four hours later the men from this
district were in Stendal, boarding
trains that were bound for France. !
went with some OF my relatives, and
found could not stay In the mob
ilization headquarters unless ] had
some business there. A cousin of
mine, an officer in Red Cross corps,
pinned Red Cross on my arm AT.
ter that. took charge Of the cigar
distribution. There were thousands
and thousands OF boxes, and we took
them and passed them among the
men who we're going to the front.
Coffee, chocolate, and sandwiches
were also given away.
Preetz returned to Braunschweig
from Stendal. and there he visited the
palace OF Princess Victoria Louise,
only daughter Of the kaiser.
"The palace had become hospital
while / was gone he said. Every
morning. the kaiser's daughter would
walk among the rows and rows OF
cots where wounded soldiers lay. One
morning, remember, she was at.
tracted by one poor fellow, who
seemed more wretched than the
others. The princess asked him II
he had been badly hurt He an
swered no. and said II wasn't only
his injury which was bothering.
"But I am TO lose my hand tomor.
row." he said, "and tomorrow Is my
birthday"
"The next morning the soldier
came out of the operating room, one
hand gone. When he was carried
back to his cot, he found beautiful
silver watch. with a note OF greeting
from the princess"
Mr.. Preetz resides at No. 1876 La.
fayette-ave. east.