Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-12-06
FREDERICK WILLIAM TALKS
Crown Prince Denies Responsibility
for the War
SAYS HE is READY To GO To WORK

/
cation-Says the War Was Lost In
1914 BY Blunderine Of Those In
| charse-Says Verdun Was Great
Mistake.
Oosterland. Holland. Dec. 3, (By the
Associated Prcss)-'I have not re.
nounccd anything and ] have not sign
I'D any document whatever
Frederick William Hohcnzollcrn. who
still claims the title Of crown prince
in Germany. thus answered the qrics-
tion of the Associated Press in the
course of IA lengthy conversation to-
day. which took place in the small cot
| tagc of the village pastor on the is
! land OF Wicringcn. where he is intern
| cd
| "HOwcver." h" continued. should
| the German government decide 10 form
Il republic similar to the United Stat"S
or France. shall br perfectly content
to return To Germauy az Il simple citi
| zen ready TO do anything to assist my
country. should even he happy TO
work as a laborer in factory.
AT present everything appears
chaos in Germany. but hope things
will right themselves"
Turning Point in War.
Asked what in his opinion. was the
turning point of the war. he said:
81 was convinced early in Oct
obrr 1911. that we had lost the war. ]
considered our position hopeless after
the battle Of the Marine. which we
should not have lost if the chiefs of
our general staff had not suffered n
cas-" of nerves.
Il tried to persuade the general staff
To seek peace then. even at 4 great sac
rifcc going so far as to give up Alsace-
Lorraine But ] WAS told TO mind my
business and confine my activities to
commanding my armies. ] have proof
Of this
What finally brought about the
downfall Of the German military pow
cr." hc declared. was revolution in
cludcd by four years OF hunger among
the civilians and the troops in the rear
together with the overwhelming su-
pcriority in numbers attained by the
Entente powers since Americas entry
into the war. which had undermined
the confidence of the German fighting
forces.
Odds Too Great.
Many soldiers, whom | loved and
with whom | lived continuously, and
who. if 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. They had no rest, and sometimes
an entire division numbered only 900
rifles These were opposed by fresh
Allied troops, among whom were
American divisions containing $1,000
men apiece"
Describing how he left the front.
Frederick William declared: 81 was
with my armies after the kaiser left
Germany. | asked the Berlin govern
mcnt whether they desired me to re-
tain my command. They replied neg
ativcly, and | could not continue to
lead armies under orders OF the SOL
dicrs' and workers council.
Therefore. came to Holland. with
out hindrancc. No shooting or bomb
ing occurred and quit the army with
the greatest regret after having par
,icipatcd in the trench life with the
soldiers for so long.
Il have not been In Germany for a
year.. and from the beginning of the
war have taken only three or four
fortnight leaves"
How War Started.
Speaking of the beginning Of the
war Frederick William asserted:
Contrary to all statements hitherto
made abroad. never desired war. and
thought the moment quite inopportune.
| was never consulted, and the report
about the crown council being held in
! Berlin To decide on the war ] deny on
my oath. was enjoying a stay at
watering piuSt WYNN ''o'' ~
ordered.
MY father also. I am sure. did not
desire war. If Germany had sought
the opportunity for making war she
would have chosen the period either
of the Boer war or the Russo-Japan-
csc 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
family.
Failure in verdun.
People have credited me with war
like intentions. But was only SOL
dier with a desire to see the army Kept
thoroughly efficient and l worked hard
To bring this about. People blamed me
for the failure at Verdun. But re-
fused to attack there with the troops
at my disposal. On the third occasion
nv attack was successful for the first
three days. but I was not properly sup
ported.
Il thought that the Nerdun attack
was n mistake. We should have at
tackled to the eastward Of Nerdun.
where there could have been great pro-
bahiity of success"
The ex-crown prince was rather Bit
ter regarding the work of the general
staff. which he asserted was RESPONSE
BILE for numerous mistakes including
the attack in March 1918. which he
was ordered to make contrary to his
own view. and was compelled to obey.
He declared that Ludendorn was the
handspring of Germany's war-like ac-
tivities. while Won Hindenburg was
mere figurehead.
Ludendorff and his staff continually
underestimate the enemy's forces. he
declared and never believed that
Americas contribution OF soldiers was
as great as 1t actually proved be.
| r.olor;oi, William declares himself