Eitel Friedrich "gunning" for alleged defamers

March 12, 1922

Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia is not a happy man. He and his wife "walked home unattended after church services" today in Potsdam, and spoke briefly to a New York Times correspondent, where he "reiterated yesterday's denial that the Princess has confessed misconduct in the Plettenburg divorce case."

As the couple walked toward their home, they looked like the "ordinary burghers of Potsdam."  Princess Eitel Friedrich wore "a simple tailor-made suit of brown, with a white hat," while her husband was dressed in a simple "black cutaway, with the only the black and ribbon of the Iron Cross in the lapel."

Princess Eitel Friedrich looked tired, "peaked and worn," which is not unexpected due to the Anglo-American interest in the divorce case.   Prince Eitel Friedrich, however, is "gunning" for those who he said have allegedly defamed his family.

"On my word of honor as a man and an officer, there is no truth in the whole story.  There is nothing to this whole Plettenburg business.  My wife was summoned as a witness, as anyone can be cited.  And under oath she testified to the exact contrary of what has been reported.

"Why do they pick on us and concerns themselves with our persons and affairs?  Why don't they write about the new rulers -- about those now in power," he asked.

Prince Eitel Friedrich reiterated his intent to go after anyone "who writes against the honor of my wife."  But when he was asked about a specific plan, he said the real difficulty "is to get those responsible."  I can't go to America. I haven't dollars enough."

He realizes that it will be impossible to go after the American newspapers "for printing the report of the confession."  But he intimated that he might take action against German newspapers if they print anything he considers to be untrue.  So far, no German newspaper has reported on the divorce case.

Prince and Princess Eitel Friedrich live in a modest home, Villa Ingelheim.  The prince's office on the ground floor overlooks a back garden.  His desk was like a "Hohenzollern altar," with plenty of family photographs of his parents, the former Kaiser and Kaiserin.