The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-01-25

s.w1N THE GERMAN ARMY.
p
,,rhs following translation of let t
.or from one of the editors OF tile Staos {
~, 1.;.,no who was intrusted with con- il
.";,n,ions from his German American Il
s,,,ow-citizcns for the sick and wound
To- so,diers of Germany, furnishes many
60 facts from his personal ex-
NV ",;epee in regard to the state of the
y prn,v and the treatment of the troops
o." ,;.t have heretofore been but imper-
feetly understood:
''t or,s second day d.ned with a few
..;sras at the Hotel Reservoir lin Yer
.,,o. which is the rendezvous OF all
' .aa notabilities of the German head
orters. In the centre of the saloon
q \ large table, capable of seating
ssom fifteen to twenty persons. There
low almost the entire menagerie OF
corn,n Princes. There were the
Mites of Coburg and Meingen, the
Dr;nce of Wetemburg, Leopold of Hob
an.ollerp. whose Spanish candidacy
sarmed the pretext for the war, the
rrord DIXIE of Mecklenburs; the Duke
If sugustenburg, uncle of the King OF
Po,aria; the Princesof Thurn and Tax
90 the Crown Prince Of Saxony, and
soreral others. thought when l saw
them. how happy is the country which
had not to feed such vampires
nNo one who witnesses the display
IN Versailles, the elegance of the uni
forms. the magnificent cquipages, the
l;vericd servants, etc, can compre-
bend how it is possible for country
,h,t can afford such luxuries for her
nriuces to permit the soldiers who
fqht her battles to suffer such great
nrivations. Believe me, the spectacle
of the princely extravaganza aronses
an indignation which Is only equa'eu
by the pity which the sniferlngs OF the
Moor soldiers inspire III every feeling
heart, Along the entire distance from
Weissemburg to Versailles, misery
nothing but fearful misery-meets the
eve. AS early on our way as Pfalzonre
brave Landwehr men came to our wa
CONS and begged for WOODEN skirts
They uncovered their breasts; ever!
stitch of clothing they had on them wa
thoroughly soaked, and they bad not
cbanre of clothes in their possession
These, however, were at least healthy
But when we saw train OF frelgii
wagons, loaded with their victims o
typI,us. dysentery, and fearful wounds
without straw, without blankets, with
ont the slightest comfort, without evel
the slightest comfort, without even un
derclotling, then we felt like cursln
the whole concern, and wishing the en-
tire princely brood in .he Abyss.
"But, even then, we had not see
the worst; for when We left the raj
road at Chateau Thierry, Nogent an
Nanteni!, where tunnels had been de-
troyed. and saw entire columns OF Mi
uure carts and farm wagons, witho'
covering, without tho slightest CON
fort. crowded with suffering, sick al
wounded soldiers, who had journey
for DAYS without a cup of warm cote
or soup, or anything else except d
bread, we felt outraged beyond mea
ure.
81 solemnly aver that I have 7
seen a single wounded or sick sold
transported in an ambulance '"
springs or even passenger car. 1
Indifference of the Prussian militia
authorities toward the sick and wouI
ed soldiers is infamous. Nor is tn
any more consideration shown for
healthy. Is it not shameful that
wealthy a country permits hel br'
warriors to perish from mere avari'
81 have seen great many recr'
marching to the theatre or war,
equally as many back sick. In
ncichborhood of Versailles lay ao
six thousand, and run no risk OF
aggeration in saying that tlree-fou'
of these would be well if they had b
provided with blankets, tents and
derclothing. But none of these TIL
are furnished to them, at least ho
the government. The Bavarians
Wurtembu-gers are better suppl
The latter have even introduced
trains of American passengers cars
which the poor fellows are made
Portable.
"The goods we had with us were
tended only as hospital stores,
unhappily, they were not used e'
sively for the sick. Scarcely hac
unloaded at the depot at Versi
when an order was presented, III
name of the Central Associate
Berlin, to deliver four hundred
twenty-six undershirts to the Il
body guard. l protested, but IN
There came four hundred and tw
six strong. healthy men who slet
comfortable houses, upon feather
under warm blankets, and took