Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-29
THE GOOSE STEP.
How German Army Recruits Are Drilled
and Disciplined.

If you leave the old Pin with sad
heart, you may have your good nature
restored If the recruits arc being drill
ed in the Exercien-P Platz opposite. The
Exercicn-Platz is large space backed
by barracks; while in front, along the
street, arc gymnastic apparatus and
simulations OF such obstacles as may
be expected in an enemy's country.
The fundamental principle of German
drilling is obedience. Orders arc not
propoundcd for discussion, French
fashion. but arc given, and obedience
must follow Immediately. When this
principle has boon apprehcndcd and
accepted by recruit, it is wonderful
what he will accomplish, and wonder
ful are the changes that take place in
his physical and mental organization.
The process of apprchcnding is the
difficult, and, to tho outsider, the en-
tcrtaining part of the system. For in-
stance, every recruit must Jump over o
good-sized cask, the cask lying on its
side. When first put in front Of tho
cask. he looks as If he had been asked
to jump over house. From this point
of view he knows the thing is utterly
impossible. But that is exactly where
the German drill differs from the,
Frenchi his point of view is not fac
tor. Over that cask he has to 90, If
bayonets have to drive him up TO it
and soldiers have to fling him over. If
bis neck should be broken, his military
education would Of course cease; IL he
should happen only to break rib, he
would be put to bed till his rib was
mendcd, when his military education
would be resumed exactly where it left
Of. It may require several fractures
TO thoroughly indoctrinate the German
notion of obedience to orders; but
when the recruit has once apprehend-
ed, ho will pop over the cask or any
thing else, like deer. In the same
way he is taught to shoot. With d
given number Of cartridges he must
put given number of bullets into o
target. He must do it, If he evcn wcre
to be kept blazing away all his life.
But there viii be found plenty Of ways
for insuring success within . rcasona-
BILE time.
The eYolutions Of the recruit are
very entertaining when ron have learn
cd TO cease fearing for his bones. Es-
pecially entertaining is the goose step.
so called-a step SO valuable in
strengthening the muscles Of the legs
that i should be practiced by all pcdes-
TRANS. / think Lean make it SO clear
to every reader that he may start il of
In his own room. The recruit first
takes the severest military position.
That needs no explanation. He stands
very stiff and straight, head slightly
thrown back, chin in, chest out, and
the fingers stretched ont along seams
Of bis trousers Having been kept III
tho military position ill he is ready to
faint, he IS then ordered to project the
right OK loft foot-it IS inmatcrial with
which he begins So far iii front of him
as he can while keeping the solo of the
foot parallel with the surface of the
ground and the knee stiff. The tired
recruit will be SIRE to lose his balance.
and topple over. But In accordance
with tho principle of obedience, he viii
be kept at topping til hc ceases to
topple, and can stand Ia this extreme
IL difficult and uncomfortable position
just rs long Is tho German Govern
ment may desire. He il then instruct
ed to elevate himself on the toe 81 the
foot on which he IS standing, and "a
incline the body forward till the sole
Of the projected foot reaches the
ground. Ho i now iii another posi-
ton. where pcrpendicularity and nres-
crvation Of balance arc difficult, and
whore still further appeal may be nee
essary 70 Tie German principle Of
o0cdicnce he third motion i 10