Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-04
Alleges American Soldiers
DO Not Know Why They
Are Fighting. (
REFUSES TO ADM
THEY CA'yp' iHT
Prince Explains Gsrma. Fears Be-
cause Of Retreat Are 8ased On Mis-
understandings - England Blamed
For Wanting War and Accepted
Belgium az prctest - Annihilation
Not Germany's Aim.

Amsterdam. Sept 4.-The German
idea Of victory as defined by the Ger
man crown prince In an interview pub
lshed in the Budapest Azest. ~ an in
tention ito hold our own and not let
ourselves he vanqu!shcd."
. The crown prince is quoted as saying
that this was clear to him at the MON :
vut England entered :hc war. The
crown prince denied he was "hrc
eater" and continued:
III Germany wanted war we would
not have chosen this moment. No
moment could have been more unfavor-
able for Germany"
In reply TO the question as to how nc
thought the end Of the war would come,
he sad, the enemy perceivtng that they
arc not equal to the winning OF theif
collasal stake. and that they can not
win as much as they are bound 10
lose"
"Explainsr Retreat.
In discussing the operations on the
western front the crown prince said:
'--The enemy attacks ard the with
drawal on our front at several places
IL often wrenslysS interpreted In some
circles Some OF our people are to'
accustomed to a continuous advance
and when battle occurs wherein the
enemy makes attacks and we have ia
defend ourselves the situation Is not
always correctly understood, In Juds-
ing the situation. both military and
$rr
thing--that we are waging war oil
defense. The war Is one OF annihiia-
tion only for the enemy, not for u.s. we
want to annilhiate none Of our enemies
We mean. however, to hold our own"
Slap at Americans.
Regarding the American forces In
France the crown prince said:
"fve found that the majority don't
know what they are lighting for. but
we feel the effect OF the entry OF the
Americans. They are sending over very
much material and very much human
material. The word victory must not
be understood to mean that we want to
annihiliate the enemy. but that we
mean to hold our own. The moment
England entered the war that was clear
to me and always empha sized It,"
when the interviewer remarked that
the crown prince was considered n "hre
eaterS he answered.
= IL am aware OF these accusations Dc
need To say that not word OF them
Is true?"
Shifting War Blame.
Reverting to the question Of what
nation wanted the war he declared that
1T was clear that England would take
advantage OF the opportunity"
Belgium. after all, was only pretext
he continued. England lntervened be-
cause German competition was unbear-
able. We are fighting for our exist
ance.. repeat our aim can only be to
safesuard ourselves"
"Thc enemy assault doubtless will
continue for some time" the crown
prince said, but our enemies must
themselves see that they will not be
able 10 attain their aim Our troops
ar" frhting splendidly."
Discussing tho fighting qualities OF
Germanys enemies he said:
I "The French fight brilliantly and are
bleeding to death. They do not hesitate
at any sacrifice With the English the
individual man is vsry good but the
leadership Ia deficient Among the Am
orleans found the majority do not
know what they are fighting for.
asked an American for what they are
fighting. and he answered, 'Alsace TIC
the question. where Is Alsace"' he re-
piled. IL Is big lake"