The Crown Prince’s Menoirs.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1922, Page 4

The Crown Prince’s Menoirs.

The memoirs of the ox-Crown Prince of Germany, which have just been published, place their author in a new and I not unfavourable ligld. His record ' before and during the war, and his pmihlic utterances, left the impression of arrogance, irresponsibility in word and conduct, and colossal conceit. As 1 a matter of fact, in this hook the Crown Prince reveals himself as a person of considerable shrewdness, and disarms criticism by pointing out that it would he a miracle if one of his antecedents and upbringing were not spoilt. A German Crown Prince lived in an atmosphere ol adulation and flattery, in which it. was difficult to preserve a proper balance. I lie menu ins make no very startling revelations, but are interesting for the picture they give of the imperial household, anil of the relationships of its various members, and also tor the description of certain phases of the war as seen through German eyes. The Crown Prince had a good ileal to say about the idiosyncrasies of his lather, and although his references to him are jo. r-eio'ni! loyal and respectful, lie does j i,t a line lilial devotion to suppress his i lit ical tacnlty. llis criticisms am just enough, hut the reader may feel that greater uticenee would have been in better taste. The ex-Kmperor has already critics and to spare; it is hardly necessary for his son to bear public testimony against him. The Ciown Prince mentions that his father and King Edward never got on very well together, and that the fault was his father’s, for Edward was the most urbane and agreeable of men. He believes that Edward could have, and would have, prevented the war; he was

a more skilful diplomat than any of his Ministers. The Crown Prince confesses to a warm admiration for England and the English, and speaks appreciatively of the welcome he received when he visited England for the Coronation. Moreover, he claims that he was one of the very few German soldiers who did not underrate England’s military strength. When he joined the general staff in IUIB he found the Bismarekiau view still prevailing. England had an unbeatable fleet, hut as a military Power she was negligible. But the Crown Prince was under no such illusion. He sought to impress his colleagues with the “great talent for organisation” possessed by the British, and their wonderful skill in organising. Again, ho insists that the Gorman Government did not believe that Britain would ever declare war, and that if this hail been foreseen Germany would have avoided war at all costs. He quotes a conversation which he had with Yon Bethmanii-Hollweg on August 2, when he told the latter that the news of Britain’s declaration would certainly he received within two or three days, i The Imperial Chancellor was thunder- , struck and incredulous. lie was satis- ! lied that Britain would remain neutral, | and when the Crown Prime persisted j in his prophecy lie observed that the . intervention of Britain would he the ; greatest misfortune that had over overtaken Germany. j

Indeed the Crown Prince {lives us numerous instances of his own perspicacity. He was we gather, one of the few clear-headed men in a. nation of bunglers. On several 'occasions durI ing the war. when he was in charge of I operations, as at the Marne and Verdun, he had the game in his hands, and victory was in his grasp, when lie ■ was thwarted hy instructions to withdraw, issued hy the “Highest Com- : mand.” His brother, Eitel Fritz had aj sijnijar experionco, lioth agreed J then it was very galling. He critieis- ! ed the policy which kept the German I public iu ignorance of the true state of affairs at the front; full knowi ledge he argues, would have nerved | the nation to greater eflorts. Hut he ! i s not always consistent. Frequently i lie refers with pride to the fact that the German armies were unbeaten, hut elsewhere he mentions that their condition was deplorable long before the Allied offensive in 1918. Indeed, it appears that while we were wondering how long the Allies could stem the German advance the German High Command was wondering howicing the inevitable collapse c-ouhl ho delayed. Discipline was slack; the veterans were worn out. “Men returned from leave, who had previously performed their duties in an exemplary manner, were inclined to insubordination and mutiny. The younger drafts were at host utterly wanting in enthusiasm, and generally showed an absolutely frivolous conception of patriotism, duty, and fidelity.” The behaviour of the French population in the occupied districts was, he adds, “correct,” but they did not disguise their delight at our obvious decline. Then comes the debacle, and the scene changes to headquarters at Spa, with its hasty comings and goings, its gloomy deliberations; its councils of despair, and preparations for hurried flight. Once again the _ spgne changes for the last time to a litt e grey wind-swept island off the Dutch coast, with its dreary wastes of satid, sodden meadows, and dull, depressing skv. Here ong day is as another, and here, to relieve the drab monotony of existence, the Crown Prince sits - down to write hi s reminiscences. 1