Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-04
tBy Morning Journal Special Leasee wIre)

Special Leased Wlre)
happy TO work as laborer in a fac
tory,
AT present everything appears
chaos in Germany but l hope things
will right themselves"
Asked what in his opinion was the
turning point OF the war. he said;
II was convinced early in october,
1914. that we had lost the war con-
sidered our position hopeless after the
battle of the Marne, which we should
not have lost if the chiefs of our gem
| eral staff had not suffered case OF
nerves.
Told TO Mind His business
81 tried To persuade the general
staff TO seek peace then. even at q
great sacrifice, going so far as to give
up Alsace- Lorraine. But was told TO
mind my o~n business and confine
my activities to commanding my ar
miea, | have proof of this"
What finally brought about the
downfall Of the German military
power he declared, was revolution in
| duoed by four years of hunger among
the civilians and the troops in the
! rear, together with the overwhelming
| superiority in numbers attained by the
| entente powers since Americas entry
| into the war, which had undermined
J the confidence Of the German fight
n,S forces
FMy soldiers. whom loved and with
/ whom / lived continuously. and who.
! il may say so. loved me. fought with
| the utmost courage 10 the end, even
/ when the odds were impossible to
withstand" the refugee prince went
| on. "They had no rest, and sometimes
! an entire division numbered only 600
/ rifles. These were opposed by fresh
| allied troops among whom were
| American divisions containing $4,000
! men apiece
! Describing how he left the front.
! Frederick William declared:
II was with my group of armies af-
ter the kaiser left Germany. | asked
4 the Berlin government whether they
desired me to retain my command.
They replied negatively and I could
not continue to lead armies under orr.
ders OF the soldiers and workmen's
council
J Therefore I CAME to Holland, with
out hndrance. No shooting or bomb
ing occurred, and Quit the army
i with the greatest regret after having
participated IN the trench life with
the soldiers for so long.
4 81 have not been In Germany for
year, and from the beginning of the
war, have taken only three or four
fortnight leaves"
Did Not Want War.
Speaking OF the beginning of the
war Frederick william asserted:
Contrary to all statements hither-
to made abroad. I never desired war
, and thought'the moment quite inop-
, perfume. / was never consulted and
, the report about n crown council be-
ing held in Berlin to decide on the
war, | deny on my oath. ! was en-
joying a stay at u 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
J, she would have chosen the period
either of the Boer war or the Russo
Japanese war,
From the beginning | was certain
THAT England would enter the con-
flict This view was not shared by
Prince Henry and the other members
of my family.
People have credited me with
warlike intentions. But | was only
a soldier with a desire to see tho
arm kept thoroughly efficient, and
worked hard to bring THIS about.
. People blame me with the failure ar
Verdun. But | refused twice to att
tack there with the troops at my dis
posal. On the third occasion my at
tack was successful for the first
three days, but / was not properly
: supported sAK
II thought that the verdnn attack
twas mistake, We should have at
tackled to the eastward of Verdun,
where there would have been great
probabilities of success.
Bitter Toward Staff.
The crown prince was rather bitter
regarding the work of the general
staff. which he asserted, was resp0n-
sible for numerous mistakes, inclnd-
ing the attack in March, 1918. which
he was ordered to make. contrary TO
Ibis own views, and was compelled to
obey. He declared that Ludendorff
, was the main spring of Germany's
, war-like activities, while Won Him
denburg was q mere figurehead.
Ludendorff and his staff continual
Nv underestimated the enemy's forces
ne declared and never believed that
America's contribution of soldiers
was as great as It actually proved to
he
Frederick William declared him-
. self to he an adfnirer OF President
!, Wilson, who ne felt assured would
bring about peace Of justice for the
German people, and concluded
ANY humiliation Of nation cons
:. tanning seventy million people would
s only leave a feeling or revenge. Such