Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-23
VON PAPEN CLAIMS
RECORD IS CLEAN
Germany's Recalled Military At
tache Takes Departure
From New York.
ISSUES FINAL STATEMENT
Declines to Answer Questions,
but Intimates He Will See
Actual Service.

NEW YORK. December 22.--Captain
Franz Won papcn. Gcrniany's recalled
military attachc. left New York for
Rotterdam to-day on the steamship
Noordan, bearing "a safe conduct to
Germany from the entente allies. De-
parting, he issued this final statement
to the American people:
I'm leaving this country. where
received so many proofs OF Kindness
and hospitality from Americans and
others. deem 1t my duty to thank all
those who did not permit their friendly
personal feelings to be poisoned by the
hatred created by the war among the
nations.
My thoughts turn back to-day cx-
pressiy TO those unforgcttable days
when had the honor and good fortune
to spend some time with the cxpedi-
tionhry force at Vera Cruz. where
learned TO admire the splendid SOL
dierly quality and devotion 10 duty Of
the United States Army.
personally speaking. no greater sat
tsfaction could be given to me than the
fnlhilincn, of my arden, desire to be
called home, whore soldiers arc far
more urgently needed than here.
LEAVES WITHOUT ANY
FEELING OF BITTERNESS
II leave nay post without any feeling
or bitterness, because ! know too we'll
that when history il once written 1t
will establish our clean records, despite
all the Instrumentation and calum-
MES spread broadcast at present.
The New York World which Ger
tainly is not open TO the suspicion Of
harborirr friendly feeling for my coun-
try. stated very fairly, when discuss
ing my recall nov that the matter is
settled. the facts should be emphasized
that the stat" Department made no
charges against Captain Won Papen and
Captain Boy-E.d which reflected in the
slightest degree on their honor az Of
hcers. Certain newspapers have made
reckless charges which could not be
supported hy evidence. but the United
States government never intimated that
1t believed these charges TO be true
ITO this have nothing to add
After all. this war will not be won by
the Providence Journal and the Even
ing Telegram with their hyphenated
success Of the invincible German arms
II go home with the unshakable CON
viction that no efforts. however in
sistcnt they may be. will accomplish
the fervent desire of our enemy to en-
broil our country with this great ma
tion. Our neutral relations will and
must, on the contra.r, inevitably and
gradually improve as il becomes clear
TO every Intelligent and clear-mindcd
American that Germany is engaged in
n fully justifiablc and rN ole fight for
existence and the Very life OF the ma
ton"
GLAD OF OPrnHTUNIT
TO co TO TRENCHES
Although Captain Won Papen declined
to answer any OF the questions of re-
portcrs after he had handed out his
formal statement. III saying good-b 10
German friend. he said:
Il am glad OF the opportunity to go
to the trenches for nay country
II wish to assure ALI that i feel most
grateful To the great number OF Ger
man-Americans in this country for
their support and sympathy.
81 have been charged with lots of
things. but when this war is over you
Will see that everything will come out
oil right. am sure. have been here
Tor my country and tried 10 serve il,
hut have not done anything against
diplomatic courtesy. ami | leave here
feeling grateful that | can at last be
among the real action in the trenches"
The captain was accompanied to the
pier at Hoboken by a few friends, with
whom he chattcd while his baggage
was being examined. The examination
of all baggage going aboard ship was
by the Holland American Line. Of
Ncials Of the line declined to give any
specific reasons for it,
Won Papcn was appo' 'uted military
attachc OF the German embassy i'm De-
cember, 1913. Public attention was di-
rected to him in September last, when
q letter which he wrote To his wife
was found among the papers seized by
the British government from James
j.. j. Archibald while he was carrying
them TO Europe. In his letter. Won
Papen alluded to "bloodsinning Yam
KEGS" which was translated as
"idiotic Yankees" He said this term
was applied to New York newspaper
publishers in whose papers his activi-
ties have been criticized
RECALL REQUESTED
ON DECEMBER
His recall and that Of Captain Karl
Boyle the German naval attache
was requested by Secretary Lansing on
December 2. Mr.. Lansing regarded
their oTenses as culminative, but gave
no particulars. The German govern
ment asked for an explanation for the
reason for Mr.. LansinG's action, and
was Informed that the request for the
withdrawal OF the two attaches was
Formal notice of their recall was re-
ceived from the German Emperor De-
cember 10, and the United States gov
ernmcnt Immediately aGked Cireat Bril-