The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-01-28
Incidents in Army Life.

Archibald Forbes, in Youths Companion.
"Was sind Sic ?"-"Who are you?"-was the
standing challenge which newspaper correspond
ents had to answer in the early days of the
Franco German war 1t came IN a rough, master
full voice, now from general as the correspondent
showed himself in the fighting line, now from
gendarme on the line of march, now from an
alert private soldier in the bivouac.
Attempted explanations were ruthlessly cut
short. There was but one reply to the question:
the production of a regular authorization to ac-
company the army signed by the proper func-
tiOnaTy, the quartermaster general of the army.
On exhibition Of this, the correspondent found
no further trouble. If the interrogation was a
courteous man, pleasant civilities followed, and
such information as he Judged wise was accorded,
mostly scantiiy, yet goOd-humoredly.
II he was a bear, he simply grunted, and
turned away, with an air as if he would tain have
had the correspondent shot, only that the head
quarter authorization enforced his recognition.
The bears were somewhat plentiful in the early
days when as yet results were in suspense, and
there was always perceptible access OF bearish-
aess in a crisis when matters for the moment
were going crookedly.
But the twas sind Sie?" trouble, to the prop
erly accredited man, was but a crumpled rose
leaf IN his couch, so long as ne wrote with dis
cretion. WAS sind Sie?" however, sounded the
kneII, as a correspondent, TO every man who was
not duly fortified. He was simply arrested right
off, sometimes sent to prison, sometimes marched,
with more or less ignominy, out Of the theatre
of war. and CURLY sent about his business.
He who in his correspondence made indiscreet
revelations. or who ventured on unpalatable
comments, occasionally escaped with a warning;
but more often, especially if he were German
he got notice that his pass was revoked and
that he had to depart for the frontier within
twelve hours, destination to which be was duly
escorted by stern field policemen.
The discipline of the German army is machine
like. Military precautions in war time are as
rigorous hundred miles behind the front as up
on the very piequet line itself At each end OF
every village stood double post two sen
tries-who challenged all corners and compelled
them TO verify themselves.
During the siege Of Paris l suppose there was
not a soldier of the Crown Princes army who did
not know me by sight But, all the same, when
traversing every village, had to show ny pa
pers sentry has often called out to me with
a grin: Mr. Forbes, newspaper correspondent
attached TO the Crown Princes staff, produce
your legitimation."
How was the stickler for routine to know thai
it had not been revoked? Once during the siege
of Metz an officer and myself strolled out to the
front beyond the outside line of sentries. VIZ
did not return until dusk, when the period nee
80
begun. AS we approached the lines a sentry
challenged, Halt, give the countersign!n
NV companion did not know it. The sentr,
had seen us 20 out, and belonged to the officer
own company but he would not let us pass il
without the countersign, and called up the ser
geant of the picquet.
My friend lost his temper for the moment, ant
called the sentry "dummer Kerl." The ser
geant arrived, came out to the front, and fur
nished the officer with the countersign, whicl
the latter repeated to the sentry.
Right" said the sentry; and we passed il
But the sentry had not done with us.
He stopped the officer informed him that h
had committed the military crime of insulting
sentry in the execution of his duty, and ordere
him into the sentry-box prisoner, until tn
officer of the picquet could be sent for to tax
cognizance of the sentry's complaint.
The matter ended by my friend apologizng i
the presence of that officer to the sentry, not a
Private so-and-so but as a sentry carrying GU
the orders
Once punctilious sentry lost me my Dime
Daring the siege Of Paris, the Crown Prince {
Saxony lived mostly in a large chateau nea
MOntmorency and his staff and those attache
to it lived around.
My quarters were some distance off, and be
tween me and the Princes chateau there was
post and the inevitable sentry.
We all dined with his Royal Highness. Ord