The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-20
AUSTRIAN BARON IS CONFIDENT END IS ALREADY IN SIGHT VOn Welden Here Says Teu- tons Are Assured of
 Glorious Victory EXTOLS GREATNESS
 OF GERMAN KAISER Baron Was Banished From Austria Twenty-Five Years Ago at Time
 of Historic Crown Prince
 Rudulph Tragedy

Banished from Austria following the murder Of Crown Prince Rudulph and his mistress 25 years ago. Baron Nor Welden landed in this country, young man without money, acquaintances oi ability to speak the English language He is now a member of the publish ing firm of Vincent-Parke Co. of New York, and as representative of that house is in Birmingham.
 During the week just gone he has been looked upon by shrewd and sus- picious local detectives as a possible agent of the German government, and 1t is reported that officious members of the local constabulary, without Knowledge of the manager or other officer of the Tutwiler hotel, ransack ed his baggage and found letters writ ten in a foreign language. If this re- port is true. however. the baron was not aware of the outrage.
 "Of course" said he, T have been suspected of being a German agent. That suspicion, however, is ridiculous Openly l talk for Germany. l have no secrets, and if my room was searched 1t is quite possible that letters writ ten in German were discovered
 Sees Peace Within Three Weeks
 Baron Won Welden talked entertain ingly of the European situation He believes that peace will be declared between the belligerent nations with in period of three months.
 "Germany will win handsomely" he said "1t unfortunately happens that the American public receives it's news from English sources. As a result very little is known by the people general iv of the actual situation. But there can be little dispute regarding my con tention that Russia Is badly whipped and that France is considerably grog- sy England is accomplishing nothing, Is so unimaginat tive that it can accom- plish nothing
 of course the allies have signed an agreement to fight to the end. But what is an expression on a bit of pa per? Russia is badly beaten and in July will be crushed. Russia will sue for peace. And then the destruction of the armies of England and France will be consummated beyond all ques- tion of debate The war. as a matter of fact, has lasted this long because of Germany's inability. incident to it's necessity of meeting all corners at the
 
 Everybody at the Front
 Everybody of high or low estate In Austria and Germany is at the front. For instance. in the beginning of hos tilities seven of my nephews were en- gagged, three in the Austrian army and four In the German One has been hIiieu and another, in movement { which gained the iron cross for him. has lost leg. This is simply indi- cative of the fact that everybody is at the front. Germany and Austria are. m fact' one united nation. keyed up by unparalleled patriotism, and no Kingdoms can prevail against them.
 At the conclusion of peace Kaiser Wilhelm will become renowned the world over for his greatness of heart and spirit: for then all the facts will be made known. It will then be clear that England. when under Edward VII it formed the triple entente. real ly prepared the way for war and on account of its jealousy of Germany's progress and development, precipitated hostilities.
 And then will the sentiment re- rarding the Kaiser veer. He will be appreciated as the man who. not dc sirous of war, fought splendidly in such fashion as to startle the world. when it was necessary through love of country and honor to join battle. He will be appreciated as one of the strongest characters of the worlds his tory, one of the manifest men"
 Little to Say About Tragedy
 Regarding the tragedy which caused his banishment, the baron had little to say. He recalled the fact however. that the crown prince and the young countess. the illegitimate daughter of Franz Joseph. were found murdered the morning following a drunken de- bauch. that the mystery surrounding fhe murder has remained unsolved even though Franz Joseph still lives. The baron at that time was young lieutenant of the crown princes suite and he and all other members of the suite were banished, unjustly. he de- clares.
 After residence in America for 25 years. the baron has become prosper ous and instead of receiving his an nuity from Austria he Is sending money each month back home-to the wives of his warning nephews
 He is featuring at the present time the works of Anatole France, the well known French novelist, who incident ally. according to the barons an- nouncement. will lecture the coming November. and in the interest of char ity. in Birmingham.