The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-09
BY WILHELM HoHENzoLLERN

6Y WILHELM FfOf1 ENZOLLEn
From the start | concerned myself
with the completion of the railway
system. From the reports relating to
national defense and the complaints
of the General Staff, as we'll as from |
personal observation, l knew of the
absolutely incredible neglect suffered
by East Prussia in the matter of rail-
ways. The state of affairs was alb
solutely dangerous, in view of the
steady, though gradual, reinforcing of
the Russian troops facing our frontier,
and the development of the Russian
railway system.
During the last years of his reign
Emperor William the Great had COM
manded Field Marshall Moltke to re-
port on the situation, since the Rus
sian arimes, under the influence of
France, were being posted ever more
conspicuously on the eastern frontier
of Prussia, arousing apprehensions as
to the possibility of irruptions of great
masses of Russian cavalry into
Prussia, Posen and SiIesia. Quarter
master General Count Waldersee and
/ l were present at the reading of this
report. From it came the resolve to
shift Prussian troops eastward and to
push toward completion the neglected
railway system.
! The measures ordained by Emperor
William l. and begun by him required
time, particularly as the new railway
bridges over the Vistula and Nogat
had to be built by the military auth
critics in the teeth of strong official
opposition (Maybach). Since the rail
ways were considered a national
lpocketbook," there was a desire to
build only paying lines, which caused
prejudice against OUTLAWS for military
lines designed for the defense OF the
Fatherland, since it diminished the
fine surplus funds by which such great
store was laid.
Not until my reign were the pla,N
of Emperor WilliamI. brought to real
ization. Any one taking up a rail-
way map of 1888 will be amazed at
the lack of railway connection in the
east, particularly in East Prussia, es-
= pecially if he compares it with 1914
) map showing the development in the
: intervening years. If we had had the
old network, we should have lost our
: eastern territory in 1914.
Internationally, Minister Won May
bach rendered valuable services in the
l promotion and development of the rail
7 way system He had to take into &C
! count the wishes and demands of the
t rapidly developing industrial sections
l of Western Germany, in doing which
he naturally considered military de
Esires also, as far as he could. But
9 during his regime Eastern Germany
was very badly treated with regard tt
: railway lines, bridges and rolling stocl
Had there been mobilization at tha
= time, it would have been necessary
: to transfer hundreds of Locomotives
: to the east in order to maintain
. schedules capable of meeting ever
) part of the requirements of the Gener
:, al Staff. The only means of com
!. munication with the east were the twt
\ antiquated trestle bridges at Dirschal
q and Marienburg. The General Stat
! became insistent, which brought quar-
q rels between it and Maybach.
n Canal and Rail Prospects
" Not until Minister Thielen cam
" into office was there a change occas
If toned by his self-sacrificing work, 70
n which thanks are due him. Realizing
g correctly what military requirement
p were, he pushed forward the compile
d ton of the eastern railways. Thiele
II was an able, diligent, thoroughly re
liable official of the old Prussian type
faithful to me and enjoying my hig
s. esteem. In common with Miguel, h
k stood faithfully by the side of his SOY
e. ereign in the fight for the Centra
Canal. Characteristic of him were tn