Evening star., 1918-08-01
cable to Attack New York."

when the war started, that 1t would be
over by Christmas.
cable to Attack New York"
"our unrestricted submarine war
fare has Just started" he said, "and
we're going to bring England to her
knees within three months. ThatS
positive. Some think that this Will
bring America into the war. put we
land and compel her to deliver her
fleet to US. America would not then
be SO foolish to go into the war ana
run the great risk of being disas-
trously defeated simply to fight the
cause, with England's feet and our
own. we shall be able to. attack New
York;
This story struck me as so prepos-
ferrous that couldn't help laughing
in the princes face. Very shortly
afterward. however, the German pa
pers announced that 100000 tons of
shipping had been sunk in single
day, and day after day from that time
on the daily sinkings, according to
the German papers, aggregated any
that rate I began to fear that per-
haps, for once in his life. the prince
had correctly forecast coming devel-
opments.
Later on, when I read of the inter-
cepted note from Won Zimmerman to
Won Eckhardt, in which the foreign
secretary declared that "the employ
ment of ruthless submarine warfare
now promises to compel England to
make peace in a few months" real
lied how high in the councils of the
nation this optimistic prince was, but
whether he got his optimism from
the kaiser or impaired some of his
own to that arrogant monarch, don't
know.
From the beginning of 1916 until
army headquarters was located in the
princes palace at Pless, and during
most of that period he was there. too.
Naturally he came in contact with the
kaiser and was of the high command,
and felt that at this time anything
he said was merely an echo of what
he had heard in the army councils.
Peace Note Not Sincere.
After the kiaser issued his first
peace note. which, because of its OBJ
vious purpose, was summarily turned
down by the allies. Won Pless called
to see me, and our conversation
"Of course. they refused it!' he de-
clared in the most satisfied manner.
I'VE knew they would refuse it. We
wanted them to refuse it. If they
hadn't refused 1t we would have made
our terms SO harsh that they would
have had to refuse it. But it accom-
plished its purpose. just the same; it
got the French and English into hot
water trying to explain to their peo-
pie why they didn't make peace when
Germany was willing to do so. In
this way we may be able to split the
allies. Russia is going to quit 1ny-
way. There's going to be a revolu-
tion and Wen be able to throw all
our forces on the western front and
crush the enemy there!
IT always liked England" he added.
"but Lloyd George is running that
country and now he'll certainly have
his hands, full explaining why he
doesn't make peace"
thing. We've got the English and
the French governments in nice pre-
dicament," he said. trying to explain
peace" He laughed hilariously as he
added. They're wild with rage at us
for surprising them in this way" The
socialist meeting which followed at
Stockholm was what Germany want
ed. but the allied governments were
clever enough to see the ruse and
prevented the delegates from leaving
their respective countries.
'"America Won't Fight
After America declared war. Prince
Won Pless readily admitted that his
prediction in that regard had been
wrong. but he was nevertheless bold
didn't think America would do it. |
admit" he declared. with all his old
optimism. ''but. anyway, America
won't fight. She had to go into the
war to protect her honor. and she will
avail herself OF the opportunity. per-
haps. to raise an army for use event
ually against Japan. but she won't
fight in Europe--you may depend on
that. She hasn't the boats to carry
the men. and boats amt be built over
night, you know
Since then, of course, the prince has
been shown again how unreliable his
representations seem to be, but for
tunately ! am not on hand to crow
over him. Tho day left Berlin
received telegram from him asking
me to reserve time for him on Janu-
ary 23-two days later-when no
doubt I would have heard some addi-
tional prophecies.
Referring to the princes optimism
came current in Berlin during the
war and which may not, perhaps, have
made its way across: The Berliners
are optimistic and gloomy; the Wen
nese are pessimistic and gay"
More Honest Than Kaiser.
There was one point upon which the
Prince Won Pless was more honest in
his statements than the kaiser. I re-
fer to the kaiser's complaints against
America for supplying munitions and
money to the allies.
I'VE haven't a leg to stand on" he
frankly admitted when we discussed
that question. ''Why, in the last twen-