The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-14
TOFEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM A TION
Blu RE U
FREDERIC J. HASKIN, Director,
Washington, d. c.
THE HOHENZoLLERN SIX.
Washington. D. c.

washington, u. e., Dec. l1-Iuc
six sons of William Hohenzollern have
definitely descended, during the past
few months. from the status of princes
royal to that of private citizens in
rather bad repute.
Their personal fortunes, which
would have enabled them to live as
gentlemen of leisure, and would Nm
doubtedly have won them social recog-
milton, are said to have been confis-
Gated.
The kaiser and the crown prince
are still very much in the public eye.
and both of them may be tried for
their parts in the war and sent into
or nothing is heard. One of them.
August Wilhelm. is reported to have
left for the Argentine with his wife.
OF the plans of the others nothing is
known. No one seems inclined to
modest them OF worry about them.
Apparently these sons of William Ho-
henzollern are to be allowed to take
such places in the world of men as
their respective abilities will enable
them to win.
Here, surely, is an interesting ex-
priment. Take six boys; rear them
on the idea that they are of a superior
cast to other men, and rulers by the
will of God; teach them state-craft
and warfare, but not how to make
living; and then pitch them out in the
world to take their chances with other
men. What will be the result?
Little is known in this country
about the personalities of these Ger
man princes. The crown prince as the
future sovereign during his fathers
reign was allowed whatever hmelight
the kaiser felt that he himself could
spare. 1t was desirable that the peo-
pie should be acquainted with anec-
doteS and pictures which showed the
tho signs of too much popularity were
quickly noted and suppressed by the
kaiser. who resented a competitor for
the public favor.
The given names of Count Williams
sons in their entirity would read like
a complete collection Of favorite
German names. To their particular
friends and enemies they are known
more simply as Frederick Wilhelm.
Eite1 Fritz, Adalbert, August Wilhelm.
Oscar and Joachim.
All Of the sons have the family
characteristics. There is the same
vain, bored, rather vapid look stamped
on each face-the usual expression of
the young man born to high position.
and having little opportunity to form
his character by work. The Prussian
traditions as to how to educate a boy
who might, if the candidates ahead of
him dropped out of line, be kaiser
some day, were followed strictly in
the upbringing of the six.
They received Instructions in how
to run both an army and a kingdom,
and when still boys of ten years or
Whereabouts were given commands in
the Prussian army SO that they could
get practical experience in leading pa
rades. Long before. Krupp, the mu-
nitions magnate, had presented them
with a 100000 miniature fortress of
| such. up-to-date structure that only
workmen Of proved loyalty were al
lowed to erect it in the palace grounds.
This was the favorite toy of the fam
| lily, especially of the crown prince, for
whose particular benefit the toy was
made.
Adalbert, being the on. prince who
took noticeable interest in boats, was
proclaimed the coming naval genius
of the family, and instead of receiving
military instruction and rank. was au-
thorized to help manage the imperial
navy.
Always the atmosphere OF military
| life surrounded the boys, whether in
| military school, at home or at court
This militaristic education, established
in Germany to an extent uneQualed in
| any other. court in the world, made
plans for warfare seem natural to the
young Prussians who expected some
| day to put their training to the test.
slipped into nominal command of the
different German armies. To the peo-
pie, they were the hero leaders. TIC
those who knew. they were the pup
| pets who would arouse patriotic re-
| Spouse as leaders of their people, and
who could be skillfully prompted by
veterans behind the scenes.
1t has been the subject of much
| sarcasm that the ex-kaisers soHs
whose deeds of daring in battle were
SO widely exploited in newspapers
| seemed to bear charmed lives. Thru
out the four years of war. only one OF
| the six suffered any casualty. Joachim
by some mistake it is said, happened
| to be standing in the range of fire
| and was slightly wounded in the les
| by Russian bullet. This incident was
| widely circulated by the HohenzollerE
press agents. The pathetic limp dis.
played by the prince was a source Of
| great pride to his entire family and
he was given the Iron Cross for BRAY
cry in action.
An honor which was held, bu'
lost. by the crown prince, was the
Order. of the Garter. the British order
| or chivalry. This honor was confer.
red upon Frederick Wilhelm in Eng
land in 1901. Shortly after the wal
| began, however, his membership II
the order was withdrawn on thu
charge of unchivalrous behavior II
|
OF the many tales of his conduc
during his leadership Of one of tn,
German armies. the most unprincel,
is the picture of him looting an(
desecrating the towns he entered, pos
sibly as an example to his followers
possibly in the mad JOY of destruction
Eitel Frederick was another of tn,
six militarists to achieve fame as al
advocate of pillaging as relaxation fo
his men from the strain of life in tn,
trenches. His own share in his sol
ders' recreation can be judged from
the title ''Robber Prince" which ha
stuck to him turnout the war
Souvenir collecting was an amusemen
in high favor with him, only object
Of value being considered worthy o
acceptance.
4 Now, however. any plumber carried
off by the former leaders of armie
will be confiscated. Their souvenir
of, the war will be limited largely t,