The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-04
GROWN PRINCE IS
 STILL HEIR TO THE
 GERMAN THRONE
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 entente powers since Americas entry into the war, which had undermined the confidence of the German fighting forces.
 LOVED SOLDIERS
 My soldiers, whom l loved and with whom I-fived continuously, and who, if I may so say, loved me, fought with the utmost courage to the end, even when the odds were impossible to with stand,' the refugee prince went on They had no rest, and sometimes an entire division numbered only SOD rifles These were opposed by fresr sallied troops. among whom were Amer ican divisions containing 27,000 men apiece
 Describing how he left the front Frederick William declared: T was with my group of armies after the Kaiser left Germany. l asked the Der lin government whether they desired me to retain my command They re- piled negatively, and 1 could hot con- tinue to lead armies under orders of the soldiers and workmen'sN council.
 "Therefore l came to Holland, with out hindrance. No shooting or bomD ing occurred and I quit the army wish the greatest regret after having par ticipated in the trench life with the soldiers for so long.
 I have not been in Germany for d year and from the beginning of ths war | have taken only three or four fortnight leaves"
 DIDN'T WANT WAR
 Speaking of the beginning of the war Frederick William asserted:
 Contrary to all statements hitherto made abroad. I never desired war, and thought the moment quite inopportune
 l was never consulted. and the report about a crown council being held in Berlin to decide on the war. deny oh my oath. I was enjoying a stay at a watering place when mobilization was ordered.
 My father also, am sure, did not desire war If Germany had sought the best opportunity for making war she would have chosen the period either of the Boer war or the Russo Japanese war.
 From the beginning I was certain that England would enter the conflict. This view was not shared by Prince Henry and the other members of my family. q People have credited me with war like intentions. But I was only a SOL dier with desire to see army kept thoroughly efficient, and worked hard to bring this about. People blame me with the failure at Verdun. But I re- fused twice to attack there withi th= troops at my disposal On the third oc- casion my attack was successful for the first three days, but I was not properly supported.
 REALIZED MISTAKE "I thought that the Verdun attack was a mistake We should have attacked to | At1 .x.t,. T would have been great proability of suc- cess.
 The ex-crown prince was rather bit ter regarding the work of the general staT, which Ae asserted was responsible for nunferous mistakes. including the attack in March, 1918, which he was or dered to make, contrary to his own view, and was compelled to obey. He de- c,ared that Ludendorff was the main spring of Germany's war-like activities. while Won Hindenburg was a mere fig urehead
 I4udendorff and his stan continually .thderestimated the enemy forces, he declared, and never believed that Amer ca's contribution of soldiers was as great as it actually proved to be. Frederick William gdeclared himself to be an admirer of President Wilson, who he felt assured would bring about peace or JuStfce TOT tne 1eTindn pco- pie, and concluded:
 Any humiliation of a nation contain ing 70.00O,0O0 of people would only leave a feeling of revenge. Such a nation can not be crushed"
 The arnistice terms are very severe and almost impossible of execution. as ke entente powers are taking away a large portion of Inc means Of transport. Asked whether Germany..ff victorious, would net have imposed even mose SC were terms, he expressed the belief that such would not have been the case When, the Brsst- Iitovsk treaty was !, nentioned. he said it's terms were hard, 1 ,ecaase in Russia the Germans were com | sonted by the bosheviki. l W.to regard to air raids on unfortified | raies the fierce submarine warfare. the ,omba rdmept of Pay,- and the deporta- 1 lon of women epase .he occupied dis 4,icts 10 w9z4 ir Nelusny. Frederick l ,ad he a&a a.ssYs entirely disagreed ! 0a ,sese holseis~ [ f4s rs.staetlon w4ts -fnany's actions ] s se,sinrn al s!.e g5pnang of the war. J 2 si .sssgeWn prince said that the Ger , ss asaesai aff had Informed him tha 4s Harsnal Hsig was in Belgium in l A,y, 1si4 making a complete military I prvey for future operations When ' was suggested. that the German staff hay | sl.eV nothing about it.
 SOME LAWFUL MISTAKES eaaman diplomats. he declared, haG l made ''awfur'. mistakes being unable tc
 ee the viewpoint of the countries wnert l hey were stationed and misreading opin- on in other countries. Referring to the | notorious Kaiser telegram during the ioer war he said:
 My father was made to send this tele- ram by hs political advisers The former crown. prince is living 2
 sry simple life now. He strolls about
 lie island. chats with peasants and is
 earniag the Dutch language fuom 2
 naii bov He says he is interned. al l hough in reality not interned, as all the ,ther German officers have been permit l ed 10 leave Holland. He~does not ex ect his wife to come to Holland. Shf Nil tefnain in Berlin 10 superintend tho .dccation of their children Frederick William discussed various aibjscts quite frankly with Sthe core. .ipondent for two hours. but requested. ! Hat some of the matters under discus slon should not be published.