The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-27
Young Hohenzollern Has
All the Old Ideas of the
German Lust of War
for Conquest, and Of
War for Wars Sake.
Former Ambassador Not Sur
prised at Such Action on
Part Of the Son of the Former
Kaiser, Who He Says Cannot
Be Reformed.

New York, June :s-The .es-
cape from Weiringen. Holland.
and entrance into Germany of
Frederick William Hohensol-
lern, former crown prince, prob
ably had a two-fold object-that
of seeking a safe asylum (if any
place IN the world is safe for such
as he), and being on the spot to
grab the throne should the junk
ers regain control and re-estab-
lish monarchy.
This was the belief expressed
today by James w. Gerard,
former American ambassador to
Germany. when he learned OF the
former crown princes flight from
his internment in Holland.
Mr.. Gerard 10 the author Of MY
four years In Germany" and face
to face with kaiserism,' in which he
yividly pictures Prussiansi1n and Ger
man kultur AZ he learned to know
them intimately while America still
maintained neutrality during the war.
Mr.. Gerard frankly confessed today
that his knowledge of the former
crown prince had led him to expect
some such action.
Il am not surprised at this move OF
the ex-crown prince to return to Ger
many" said Mr. Gerard I'm fact
some such attempt was to be expected.
i have always considered the posi-
bility of a plot to restore the Hohen-
xollern dynasty from the moment the
ex-kaiser and his son entered HoI-
land OF course. until we have more
details OF the escape. and learn ex-
actly what the ex-crown prince is
attempting to do and who IL support
ing him. we can only venture = guess
as to what will happen.
The ex-crown prince would natur-
ally try to get back into Germany
feeling that there would be at least
chance there Of escaping trial at
the hands OF an international tribu-
nal,
He may also well feel that he has
good chance OF reEaining the
throne. 1t is a chance that any man
with nerve in his position would
take.
mo attempt Of the Hohenxollerna
or of any body of the older order of
German 1unkers could ultimately be
successful, but n lot Of trouble and
bloodshed might result before the
junkers were thoroughly put down.
From my observations OF the ex-
crown prince and my conversation
and dealings with him. would ex-
pect such an attempt on his part
rather than . return to Germany by
his father.
The ex-crown prince II IN a far
different position than his father. The
ex-kaiser IL directly responsible for
the world war. whereas the ex-crown
prince L. mo- But the son 10 not q
whit more liberal than his father. He
has all the old ideas Of the German
lust of war for conquest, and almost
Of constant war for wars sake. He
Is not = man who could be reformed.
either.
Two years ago he remarked that
the world war was the most stupid war
that had ever been waged. That re-
mark charactertxes the man.
TT Is doubtful whether the ex-
crown prince would dare lead = forlorn
hope back into Germany without ex-
pectations Of strong support from the
old Prussian military class He could
count almost to a certainty upon that
support.
changed their ideas. The jukers are
a. defiant As ever, and their actions
show them to be openly bold and hos
tile. The personnel OF the peace dele
cation to Versailles ID PROOF that they
are still powerful In Germany 1t will
be very hard to educate the German
people to democracy and to rid them
OF their reverence FOR the Hohenxol-
iernS. ffuSatantSm HnRero among the
Germans even with the ex-kaiser and
the ex-crown prince gone. The mill
tarists are still the ruling class. and
the common people stili look up to
them ~ such.
"Prussianism will continue to linger
In Germany for years, possibly until
the German people are made to realise
the enormity. Of their crime and PEN
itcntly feel the error Of their ways.
1T would seem from this attempt Of
the ex-crown prince to lead the Ger
mans-if that really 10 his intention
that he considers the danger from the
revciutiontsts or Bolshevists At an end.
He WAS doubtless impelled to nee into
Holland through fear Of personal vio-
lenee. and he must consider that such
danger IL p9st And the time ripe for
hiH return.-
"A very coed friend Of mine in Ger
tContinusd On Pass Twol