I WANT TO LIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1917, Page 10

I WANT TO LIVE.

KARL iFJITEDRICirS LAST HOIKS. SAYS AXZACS .ARE (HiIOAT Mlv.V. Fremantle, June l! 0. The Rev. Mr. Caldwell, minister of tlie Baptist Church at Streatham, was the chaplain at the general hospital in France at which the Kaiser's nephew, I'riiK-c Karl <Friedrieh, the airman, dlei. Interviewed for an English paper, Mr. Caldwell said:—"T visited the :Fr?nce c-Jieli day from bis arrival to his death. 'He spoke freely of his capture and his treatment. He said he was doing important work when he, was attacked by British airmen. The contest was keen and exciting, lie was on a fast machine, and was hit in a vital part. He was compelled to descend in full view of the Australians. He saw the predicament he would be in when he landed, so he decided to burn his machine and then run.

■The Australians," lie said, "were too clever fur me. They gve me a warm time when I look to my heels, f felt a twit-chin" sensation in my hack, and fell forward—done for. The Australians treated me with the greatest kindness. They are sportsmen and {Treat lnon - OlfiVers and soldiers who attended to me owning down the lines were very considerate, and the. whole atmosphere in this hospital is kindness, find is with me. When T was christened the pastor read a text from the Bible, which he repeated at my confirmation, and gave nic as my lifelong message from God. I fear I did not value it enough before T was wounded, but since then it has been a source of consolation to me. It. keeps returning to ray thoughts, ft is: "If God be with us, who can he against us?' What greater evidence could I have of its truth than the-Uin<lne<=s shown :nc now?

"1 have no regrets. I did my best for my country, and am not sorry I am finished with the war. f want to live. I am young, and when the war is over I shall go back and help to build up my nation again.' "An hour or so before he died," Mr. Caldwell concluded, "I prayed with him. When I finished he opened his eyes, and with a smile, said 'Thank you very much.' Ho soon became unconscious, and never recovered. "The Kolnische Zeitung published a letter which the Prince wrote to Mb parents. He -aid: i had lost very much blood, and was frozen stiff. Two soldiers, however, gave me their cloaks and covered me. T was carried an endless stretch, but always very carefully.'"