The Detroit times., 1914-11-30

BERLIN, via The Hague, Nov. 30.
The kaiser is now on the eastern
battle front. This was officially an
nounced today and this with the pro
motion of General Won Hindenberg 20
the rank OF field marshal as the re-
suit OF the success with which the
commander OF the eastern forces has
been In keeping German territory
clear Of Russians caused tremendous
enthusiasm In Berlin today.
Victory In the fighting in Poland -
not claimed by the German war office.
as 1t is admitted that desperate fight
ing Is still In progress. The report
Of Field Marshal Won HindenberB
that the Russian offensive has been
completely halted, however. as reused
hopes OF a resumption of the march
toward Warsaw In the near future.
The position of the German troops
In Poland Is now declared to be sat
isfactory. The fighting in the vicin-
ity OF Lodz Ia described as "unim-'
portant" in late dispatches and II is
assumed that the real center OF con-
fiict has again shifted.
Imperial Chancellor Won Bethmar1
Hollweg. In replying TO telegram
from the kaiser congratulating him
on his birthday, declares:
"The German nation Is one with the
kaiser In the trust OF our forces ana
confidence of final victory in a just
cause"
The following interview with Crown
Prince Frederick Wilhelm of Germany
Is the first ever granted by the young
man destined To be Germany's next
emperor and is the first statement
made to the press since the outbreak
OF the war by any member OF Ger
many's imperial family.
By KARL II. VON WIEGAND.-
tStdG Correspondent United Press.)
Copy right. 1914, by the United Press.p
Copyright by Great Britnin, all rights
HEApuoARTERs TffsRss1l OF THE ARMr
OF THE CROWN PRINCE IN
FRANCE, Nov. 20.-(By Courier via
Namur, AK La Chapelle and The
Hague to London. by cable to New
York; k)--"Undoubtedly this Is the most
stupid, senseless and unnecessary war
OF modern times. IL is war not
wanted by Germany I can assure you,
but II was forced on us and the fact
that we were so effectually prepared
10 defend ourselves is now being used
as an argument to convince the world
that we desired conflict"
In the above words, Frederick Will
helm. crown prince OF Germany and
heir to the throne OF the kaiser open
ed the first interview he has ever Civ
en- to foreign newspaperman. With N
these words he prefaced the first di-
rect statement made TO the press by
any member OF the German royal fam
lily since the outbreak of the war &
II arrived az the headquarters or
the fifth German army In an auto
shortly before midnight. At daybreak
| received a call from Major Edlef
Won Der Planitz. personal aide-de-
camp to the crown prince, who stated
that his imperial highness wished to
welcome me but that he was leaving
for the firing line and would see me
later in the day
When, some time later the crown
prince returned, | was presented. He
greeted me cordially and without any
OF tho stiffness or cool reserve that
might have been expected
"I am very pleased 20 see you here"
he said. "and hope that YOU will ind
plenty TO interest you. want you 70
feel at liberty 10 go wherever you
like"
II hope your imperial highness win
pardon my Americanized German"
said. In stating 10 him some of the
points IN which | thought American
readers would be chiefly Interested
Then let us talk English, IL You
feel that we can better thus express
ourselves" was his quick reply Act
ing on the suggestion the crown prince
OF Germany proceeded 10 give his first
interview In English.
II am a soldier and therefore can
not talk politics. said the crown
prince, "but IL seems 20 me this
whole business. all OF this action that
YOU see around here. Is senseless. un-
necessary and uncalled for. But Ger.
many was left no choice In the mat
ter. From the lowest TO the highea&
we all know that we are lighting for
our existence. | know that soldicrn
OF the other nations probably say. and
a great many OF them probably think
the same thing. This does not alter
tContiauea ON Page TNel.