Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-04
GERMAN CROWN PRINCE
DENIES He ADVOCATED
Declares He Has Not Signed ANY
Document Renonncing Right
to Crown.
SAYS HE MAS OPPOSED TO WAR
Also Tells Correspondent That His
Father Did Not Desire Conflict,
and That He Never Was Consulted
Relative to Beginning It..
SAYS HE WAS OPPOSED TO WAR
nv Associated Press !

OOSTERLAND. HOLLAND December
S.-"I have not renounced anything and
have not signed any document what :
ever
Frederick William Hohcnzollern, who
still claims the title Of Crown Prince
of Germany. thus answered the uues-
tion of the Associated Press in the
course of lengthy conversation to-
day. which took place in the small cot
taGe OF the village pastor on the Island
OF Wieringen where he is intern.d.
However" he continued. should the
German government decide to form /,
republic similar to the United States
or France. | shall be perfectly content
TO return to Germany as Il simple cit
iZen. ready TO do anything to assist my
country. | should even he happy 10
work as lahorer In factory.
AT present. everything appears
chaos in Germany. but | hope things
Will right themselves"
Asked what. in his opinion. was the
turning point OF the war. he said:
was convinced early In October,
10 4, that we had lost the war. | con-
sidered our position hopeless after the
battle OF the Marne which we should
not have lost IL the chiefs OF our gen
eral stan had not suffered case Of
nerves.
II tried to persuade the general stan
TO seek peace then. even at great
sacrihce. going so far as To give up
Alsacc-Lorraine. But was told 20
mind my own business and coniine my
activities to commanding my armies.
have proof of this"
What finally brought about the down
fall of the German military power, he
declared. was revolution. induced by
four years OF hunger among the civil
ians and the troops in the rear, to-
periority in numbers attained by the
entente powers since Americas entry
into the war. which had undermined
the confidence of the German lighting
forces.
MES FOUGHT HEROICALLY
AGAINST GREAT ODDS
My soldiers. whom | loved and with
whom | lived continuously, and who.
IL ! may say so. loved me. fought with
the utmost courage to the end, even
when the odds were impossible to
withstand" the refugee prince went
on. "Thcy had no rest. and sometimes
an entire division numbered only. zoo
rifles. These were opposed by fresh
allied troops. among whom were
American divisions containing 27,O00
men apiece"
Frederick William deciarcd:
Il was with my group Of armies after
the Kaiser left Germany. ! asked the
Berlin government whether they de
sired me To retain my command. They
replied negatively, and | could not con-
tinue to lead armies under orders OF the
SoitlcTS ana workers. council
Therefore. l came to Holland with
out hindrance. No shooting or bombing
occurred. and | quit the army with the
greatest regret after having partici-
pated in the trench life with the SOL
dicrS for so long.
y have not been in Germany for Il
year. and from the beginning of the
war | have taken only three or four
fortnight leaves"
Speaking Of the beginning of the war.
Frederick William asserted.
Contrary 10 all statements hitherto
made abroad. never desired war, and
| was never consulted. and the report
about a crown council being held in
Berlin TO decide on the war | deny on
my oath. ! was enjoying a stay AT
a watering place when mobilization was
ordered.
My father also. am sure, did no,
desire war. IL Germany had sought
the best opportunity for making war
she would have chosen the period either
OF the Boer War or the Russo -Japan-
cse War.
From the beginning was certain
that England would enter the conflict
This view was not shared by Prince
Henry and the other members OF my
ADVISED AGAINST ATTACKS
MADE IN SEKDUN REGION
"Peopie have credited me with war
like intentions: But | was only a
soldier with desire to see the army
kept thoroughly efficient. and ] worked
hard to bring this about. People blame
me with the failure. at Nerdun. But
refused twice TO attack there with tho
Continued on Third Pagc)