The Detroit times., 1914-11-30
HEIR OF GERMAN WAR
LORD SAYS NATION WAS
FORCED lNIU CUNrLlCI
,ossuausa FROM paxs oasI


came our highest duty To anticipate
the struggle by every necessary anu
possible preparation Tor the defense
OF the tatherland against the Iron
Ring which our enemies have for
years been carefully and steadily
Welding about US The fact that We
foresaw and SO far as possible fore
stalled the attempt 10 crush Us With
in this ring and the fact that We were
prepared to defend ourselves Is now
being used as an argument In an al
tempt TO convince the world that We
not only wanted this conflict, but that
we are responsible for H.
mo power on earth will ever be
able TO 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 VIII md
the German people are OF grand unit
imbued with magnificent spirit OF
selfsacrifice."
The scene OF our conversation was
the drawing room OF q small French
villa, located q few miles directly
back OF the German lighting line. and
used by the crown prince as head
quarters for himself and stan. The
crown prince entered, accompanied oy
Major Won der Planitz, who, after
presenting me, withdrew. The young
commander OF the German forces was
dressed simply In the grey-green
khaki OF his troops In a uniform de-
void OF any decorations save very
small insignia of his rank as lieu
tenant-general. and his recently ac-
Quired black and white ribbon OF the
Order OF the Iron Cross. He carried
no word, but toyed with short
swagger stick similar TO those car
ried by English cavalry officers.
Our conversation had been In
progress but short time when IL
became clear to me that the crown
prince, like 80 per cent. or the Ger
mans have met on the firing line and
of OF II, holds England responsible
for the present war. The thing thal
impressed me most. however, was the
fact that despite the intensity OF his
convictions he displayed none or the
intense hatred or the bitterness
toward the English which | have seen
manifest as constantly among people
OF all walks OF life since the out
break OF the war. On the contrary
there was note OF regret and almost
one OF sadness as he discussed thls
phase OF the great issue.
| quickly gained the impression tha'
the crown prince is by no means the
man he has been pictured in Eng
land and America. There Is nothint
OF the fire-eater. or uncompromisint
warrior about him. He gave no eyi
dence OF gaining pleasure from his
military experience or OF delighting III
the conflict II was obvious that the
carnage he has already witnessed has
made a deep imprint upon his nat
urally impressionistlc mind. and ne
referred frequently 10 the losses oil
the suffering, not only OF his own, but
| OF the enemy's forces. He was ex'
lceedingly generous at all times In MS
praise OF the enemy as he had come
| I'm contact with them. II he was ever
possessed Of a reckless, daredevil
care-free personality, the last traces
| OF Il have apparently been removed
by his work OF the past few months
Early In the conversation, his Inn.
perial highness assumed the role OF
the interviewer and made evident his
deep interest In the sentiment oil
America and Americans and his lack
OF understanding OF the general at
titude OF our country toward Ger
manys position. Like great major
ity of all Germans he Is unable OK
actly TO understand why there Is not
more sympathy In the United states
for Germany.
There Is no use or no purpose 10
be served by our closing our eyes,
he said, ito the fact that very large
part OF the world IL against US. But
II surprises me that America, TO
which we are bound by ties OF friend
ship and blood as to no other neutral
country, America, where millions OF
our people have gone and carried the
German tongue and German Ideas or
liberty and freedom, should be so
totally unable to put themselves
our place. I would not be frank I'M
less / admitted that II has been a
surprise to me that Americans have
not seen more clearly up to this time
the position OF Germany, entirely sur
rounded by jealous enemies, fighting
for her existence; that they have not
had q better understanding, which
would necessarily mean a higher ap-
probation OF the unexampled sacri-
fees and heroism OF our people, max
ing this gigantic struggle with no
other objective than the saving Of the
fatherland,"
PARIS, Nov. 30.-The allied lines
are now being advanced south OF
Ypres. 1t Is declared here today that
a gradual withdrawal of the Germans
| is evident. British and French
| troops are pressing forward, occupy
ing the abandoned trenches.
| Throughout last week the artillery
attack OF the Germans gradually
slackened and II is now declared that
many of the trenches in the inundat
ed section OF Flanders have been
evacuated by the enemy. South OF
Ypres, which is in ruins from the
German bombardment. the allied ad
vance has been cautious. Heavy ar
ltillery fire has been directed against
the Germans, under cover OF which
new trenches were occupied. but a
general offensive has not yet devel
oped.
PETROGRAD, Nov. 30-The hope
of Russian arms now rests with the
great reinforcements which have been
rushed forward to the battle line in
Poland. II is still confidently ex-
lpected that the German armies on the
lime from the south OF Plock TO the