Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-15
CROWN PRINCE OF
GERMANY PRAISES
VAL0R OF HIS FOES


10 the western front. went 10 the
headquarters of the German Crown
I Prince. with whom he had inter
view He writes;
THE Crown Prince has his head
quarters in little Chateau, which
both in its interior and exterior is
much simpler and less pretentious
than the headquarters of Their com
msnders in the Prussian army We
were greeted and welcomed by the
officers Of the staff, and after a few
minutes the Crown Prince himself
I appeared. The Order Pour lie Merite
was the only decoration he wore He
shook hands with us most cordially
and invited us in to dinner. which
was about to be served, The food
was simple, beginning with thick
potato soup and ending with some
sweets The conversation at the table
was spirited. but nothing regarding
the war was touched upon
After dinner all the guests re-
turned to the salon. and the Crown
Prince did most of the entertaining
He was particularly interested in
hearing about Berlin, and questioned
rs regarding life there in war time
Then he spoke of the wonderful work
II his troop. saying that their pa.
tience and endurance were beyond
belief. considering that twenty nine
months the soldiers had been in the
renches under heavy fire.
He told of the many things he
had done to make the hard tasks of
his men less onerous, and to give
them some recreation occasionally
lie spoke as only soldier can speak
II the bravery OF the enemy, and he
was magnanimous in his praise of the
enemy's virtues. The French, he said
deserved particular credit consider
ing the fact that they were living in
trenches all these long months which
could not be compared with the
trenches of the Germans in cleani-
ness and modern hygienic appurte.
nanccs
"Ho was bitter in denouncing the
French for their inhuman treatment
Il German prisoners, but the next
moment he dwelt feelingly on the ex-
cellent behavior of the French in the
territory occupied by the prussians.
He loved the French children for
their courtesy and their nice man
ners.
II made 1t plain in the very be.
ginning said the Crown Prince, that
we were not making was on the
civil population. and | did everything
to make the lot of these people
lighter and easier to bear. A few
months ago the wives OF sixty French
officers in Montmedy were anxious to
leave, and | made it my business to
get the consent OF His Majesty to
permit these women to go as they
NiSuCu WiluOut ulnuTdIte.
The Crown Prince wanted to know
all about Berlin, and expressed regret
that the high price of food caused
Inconvenience to the people. He won.
Tered how many of the low salaried
officials were able to stand 1t. He
was interested in the Berlin theatres
and said it was his wish that any sol
der on leave should visit the theatre
freely, as he considered that one of
the best methods OF quieting his
nerves and making him forget the
horrors Of war.
Whenever possible he added, +
have established theatre near our
front, and where it was not possible
to have theatre we always had a
motion picture show The soldiers
appreciate this very much, and you
have no idea how it has kept up their
spirits and their courage
THE Crown Prince showed himself
familiar with all phases of European
7olities. He deplored Frances hatred
of Germany as being utterly wasted
He considered the note of the Entente
Powers to President Wilson as an in.
dication of weakness, stating that the
countries which went into war to
crush Germany now find 1t absolutely
necessary to drag in neutral nations
to help them"