The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-11-08

Discipline In the German Army.
Translated for the Chronicle by G. WI
We read in the Volksfreund, Of Octo-
ber 26, an example of unequaled BRAY
cry and execution of a given military
order.
AS consequence of the capitulation
of Strasburg, it was agreed upon that
on "Wednesday, September %, early, at
s o'clock, certain gates should be occu-
pied by several companies of German
troops, and specially appointed regi-
ments were ordered to take their posi-.
ton at the same time.
An officer of the Queen Augusta Reg
iment, from the Coblenz Garde Land
wehr Battalion, was ordered to repor. at
s o'clock in the morning in Strasburg
to the. newly nominated German com
fnander, General Won Mertens. This
latter order was, by some not yet ex-
planned mistake, incorrect
|. The French garrison was at the ap-
pointed time not ready to &efle, and
our regiments which were ordered to
enter the fortress awaited before the
gates the lowering of the draw bridges.
Our staff officer of the "Garde Land
wehr Battalion Coblenz" arrives before
the gates of the fortress in due time, in
order to report in the city. But he finds
the gates closed, and the bridges drawn
up.
As his order was, however, to report
within the walls of the city at s o'clock
A.. NJ, he took with him an escort Of
four musketeers, and, using a sealing
ladder, climbs up the gate, and nov in
tends taking his way through the citadel.
He then hits upon body of II, 900
French soldiers, who were ordered to
eyacuate the city, and was on several
occasions threatened to be shot, but ul-
timately succeeds in arriving at his post
having encountered many perils of life..
We quote the following to prove his
| perils:
A French soldier aims at this abrav-
est of the brave" and, cursing at him,
threatens to shoot him; but. this hero
quietly remarked mo brave soldier
who has bravelY fought will, assassin.
like, murder q foe who has fought a.
brayely as he himself" The French
soldier who had uttered this threat low
ers his gun, which example was followed
i'up by hundreds of his comrades, who
despairingly break their muskets The
renowned officer, with his four men,
continues his promenade across heap
of broken guns, and arrives at the cita-,
del, and: occupying the gate, asks for
the General, and is introduced to Gen.
eral Urich General Ulrich, having
heard the details of our heroic Majors
appearance within the walls of city
yet commanded by him, congratulated
the Major on the fact that he had arrived
alive ut his head quarters.
The General continued: at is n con-
ISOLATION to me to witness such an ex-
ample of heroism of my foes on one of
the most sorrowful days of my life -
With such officers and such men, the
impossibility becomes possible"
General Ulrich retains the German
!, Major, and we see at 10 o'clock A. M
the comical "intermezzo," that the Gen
erals and officers of the staff, orderet
to appear before their commanding Gen
eral, cannot enter because the four Ger
man musketeers had received orders
,, from their Major to allow nobody to
pass without his especial permission, y
and this critical order was executed ito
the point s
In the course of conversation, Gcner.
al Ulrich made the following remark
III was OF the opinion that France had
an excellent artillery, but with yours,
sir, our own cannot compete Look al
our works and silenced batteries; youl
artillery has destroyed everything. y
After having seen the ruined works,
and closely inspected the breaches o
gaps which now appeared before oul
eyes in theif real size, and larger thai
f we could observe from our batteries
e we cannot help coinciding with the view
: of the above-named General
The effect of our cannons defies de-
3 scription, and unless Strasbourg had ca
$ pitplated, this stronghold could have
: only held out a few days longer.
a.