Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-01
GERMAN WAR !
PRISONERS J
NOTWAll1 WAR
Interviews Show ConAic,
Was Unpopular With
the People.
Most Of Them Hope to Come
to America When it
is Over.
BY q. q. LYON.

with the American Troops in
France, Sept. 2S.-President Wilson il
absolutely right in assuming It IL the
German autocracy, and not the rank
and hle. that Is behind this world
war
/ have just had the art privilege OF
interviewing q number Of German
war prisoners.
There was not an oficer amonl
them. They were all enlisted men, &c
their views are apt to reflect the senti-
ments Of the millions Of German
plunged into the war without any say
SO on their part.
There YER two spokesman for the
fifty odd German prisoners who gath.
cred around me. One was a man OF
80, who had lived in Buffalo, N. Y,
other was an architect of %, q gradu-
ate Of a great German university. Both
spoke excellent English. d
What are your feelings toward
America now that we have come into
the war against Germany" T asked
them. do you hate us?"
Have Friends in America
mot at all" the architect replied.
You'd be surprised how many Of ut
have relatives and good friends In
America. We can't forget them. I had
felt for a long time America might get
into the wal but I had hoped it would
all be owe before that"
He told his comrades in German
what he had said and they all nodded
approval.
How many Of you fellows
wanted this war;" was my next
question, directed at the German
from Buffalo. Take a poll"
He did. There was 4 chorus Of
"Naw."
why should've want war;" he
asked. Take my own cas I have
a wife and two children. I was get
ting a good start in America. Early in
1914 l returned to Germany to take
my family back to America My faith,
err got sick. I remained with him. The
war came on and I was sent into the
first line. l would have been an Amer
lean citizen by now" a
He added he and his family were
going to America as soon az the war
is over. d
People Have No Voice.
Eight or ten others in this crowd
Of prisoners are also going to America
to live he said. That wouldn't ipdi-
cate Dur masses hate America, would
it,"
1.-THE masses in Germany had
nothing to say in the making Of
the war;" said the architect.
1--WE were called out and we either
had to go or be shot.
Hundreds of thousands of us
have been killed., many more
wounded, our businesses ruined
and our families left to get along
as best they can Want war?
There isn't a prisoner that would.
n't'cry for. Joy II peace vert de-
clared today. We want to get
Again the crowd voiced approval
when he explained what he had said.
One young German pushed his way
through and offered me his hand, talk
ing rapidly in German.
The Buffalonian, Interpreting for
him, said:
HE says he has two cousins native
born Americans. one now a soldier
with the, American army in France.
He wonders If you know him 2"
1 didn't happen to, but I suggested
he ought to be glad he vas a prisoner
So he wouldn't have to fight his cousin.
What do you think Of your sub
marine warfare" I asked.
Sub War Disappointing.
mot as effective as we thought"
the architect replied. 1--WE believed we
could starve England in a few months,
but they e to be building ships as
fast as we can sink them. America
will probably make matters worse for
u.s."
He said he understood that Ger
many had $50 submarines.
The architect had been taken pris-
oncr since America entered the war.
lie exploded the theory, held in
America. that the German armies. had
been kept in ignorance of Americas
entrance.
II heard Of 1t within a few days.
You can't keep such thing secret. It
spread like 5wildfre. That was about
all we talked about for days"
do you honestly believe Germany
can win this WARP. This to the arch.
'itect. y
"Not now" he replied. II think the
hest we can hope for Is q draw. The
enemy has become too strong. America
has given the allies renewed couraEe
and VIII furnish q big army. The aver
age German would be satisfied. I thtnk,
with q draw"