New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-03-15
BERLIN LETTER.
BERLIN, FEB. Dist, 1882,


From recently.published stats.
tics dealing with the cause of sui.
eide in the German army [ gather
that large percentage of the self.
destruction which has lately assum-
ed such formidable proportions in
that branch of the Fatherland's ma
tional defences is ascribed to the
melancholy and WEAKNESS Of life''
resulting from disappointment in
love. This particular form of sui
cidal mania appears TO be assuming
an epidemical character in the I'M
perial hosts, and it is stated that
the supreme military authorities are
utterly at loss for some proven.
tive expedient by which its further
development may be arrested. It
might be worth their while to Jor-
row a leaf from the order.bo of
the Great Napoleon, who succeeded
in counteracting the suicidal ten
dency that revealed itself in the
French army under the Consulate
BY issuing the following order of
the day to the forces under IS com.
mand: est. Cloud, % Floreal,
year TX. of the Republic 18th May,
1907 The grenadier Geldan has
killed himself on account of love
affair. In other respects he was a
good soldier. This is the second oc.
currence OF this sort that has taken
place in the Army Corps within the
last month. The First Consul de-
sires to notify to the Guard in the
order of the day-first; that. sol.
der must learn to subjugate the
passions OF grief and melancholy;
secondly, that just as much courage
is required to endure soul.suffer
ings with fortitude as to stand I'm.
moved III the ranks under the fire of
battery. To give way unresist.
ingly to sorrow-to destroy oneself
in order to escape distress of mind,
is equivalent to running away from
the battlefield before one has been
beaten. (Signed) Bonaparte. (Coun-
tersigned) Bessieres. Were the ven.
cradle Emperor to address his SOL
diers in such terms as the above, it
is just possible that his solemn re.
monstrance might avail to check a
practlce which has for some time
past been gaining ground in the
German army to an alarming ex-
tent.
General Skobeleff's speech in Pa
ris and his interview with the Vol-
taire reporter have created an un.
wonted excitement, and form the
staple of conversation at the palace,
in the general staff, and in the bar
racks. The significance Of the Gen.
erals words is held to be increased
by M. Gambetta's hasty return to
Paris, and by the Republic Fran.
caise at once sounding the trumpet
of army reform, in contrast to M
de Freycinet's conciliatory note.
Here it is feared that the President
of the future Russian Republic is
trying to cement an alliance with
the future President of the French
Republic against Germany. This
alliance has been in the air ever
since 1871, and I can AFFIRM as an
eye witness that the CONSERVATION
and indignation caused in Russian
society by the catastrophe of Sedan
was at least equal to the impression
produced in Paris by the victory OF
K@niggratz. When Alexander III.
| assembled the throne Paris aud Mos
COW were impatient to hear the
Franco.Russian alliance proclaimed.
| explained at the time what infu,
ences led the Emperor then not tc
adopt policy contrary to that Of
his father. He is still ANXIOUS 70,
good understanding with Germa.
ny and Austria, but doubts are en-.
tertained whether he possesses the
power to withstand what is more
and more becoming pop
ular movement. The dissatisfac-
tion is 50 great that war is sought
as a means for establishing an en-
tlrely new state Of fittings in Russia
You may therefore fairly assume
military men in Central Europe to NJ
seriously preparing for the eventuali
j i 81 - CT. 1E n