EX CROWN PRINCE

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1918, Page 3

EX CROWN PRINCE

REVIEWS WAR AT LENGTH. ■TROM .START TO FINISH. LIBERAL i:»li OF WHITEWASH. CRITICISM FOR OTHERS. ' . A CHA3ITJ.ON- AT SELF- . JCXCULPATiON. LONDON, December l\ Router, via America, says an interr view with the Crown Prince published, i declared the downfall of. the Germ an ! military power was the. result of a revolution, induced by four .years of hunger av.ioiig the civilians and troops at the rear, together with the overwhelming superiority of numbers, secured to the" Entente by America's entry, which undermined the confidence j of the German lighting force. I The Crown Prince added. My troops had no rest. Sometimes* -a whole dij vision had but -six hundred rifles., 1 had not been in Germany for a year, contrary to all statements madeabroad. I never desired war a ike thought the moment, inopportune. I was never consulted, and the report about the CroAvn Council being hel.l at Berlin to decide on the war, I deny on o^th. I was enjoying a stay at a wat'erplace' when the mobilisation was ordered. My father, also, I am sure, did ,not desire Avar. If Germany had' sought the best opportunity' for war she would have chosen cither 1 the Boer or Russian' War periods. From the beginning I was sure England would enter the Avar. This view was not shared by Prince Henry and. other members of my family. People blame nic for the Verdmi failure. 1 refused twice to attack ti.ovo with the troops at my disposal. On the third" | occasion my attack was successful in } tho first th'roo days, but I was improjperly supported. I thought the Veri dun attack a ■mistake. The Prince Avas bitter regarding the work of the General Staff which Avas responsible for numerous mistakes. Luderidori and staff continuously un-der-estimated the enemy's forces. They never believed • the American contribution woifd be great. He regarded the armistice terms as very severe and almost impossible of execution. If Germany had been victorious she' would iiot have made the terms so hard. The Prince said lie always ' ontirWy disagreed. 'with air raids on unfortified | cities, the fierce submarine warfare deportation of Avonien and bombing of Paris. J 'Gorman diplomats made awful 'mis-^ I takes, being unable to See tlie viewj uoint pf the countries Avlierp- they JAvere stationed and' the misreading of opinion in other countries. Referring to the notorious Boer war telegram the Prince declared: "My 'father Avas made to send the telegram by his political advisers.. Every time he disagreed he was toM to mind his own business of commanding tne ; armies. ! The Prince declared the air raids on London and the big gun used, to bombard Paris Avere useless miVitarilv, in I .fact *ne.v were silly, ~&q said: "I sug l gestedtwo years ago an international agreement confining air activities to i the Avar zone, but my opinion Avas dis- " regarded.. Orders to submarine eommancTors Avere' read differently by various officers some of Avhoni went much too far," ' 2 ._ -....