Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-08-20
NO LAUGHING MATTER.
Illustrations of the Itigidity of Military
Discipline In the German Army.

Illustrations of the Rigidity of Military
Discipline In the German Army.
The German army is probably the
most splendidly-trained armed organi-
cation upon which the sun has ever
shone. And well it may be, consider
ing the care expended upon its main
tenance. Society here in general has
just been startled by certain measures
which have been adopted in the inter-
ests, as is averred, of discipline and
morale. These measures involve moth
ing less than the sentencing of an en-
tire company to three years fortress
detention for what would seem to the
military mind a. under the circum-
stances, not very alarming breach of
discipline.
A certain Captain Adolph Won Aren-
berg. while drilling his company, to
the unbounded surprise of the soldiers
INDUCED in a variety of antics and
grimaces which caused a great num-
Der of the men to break into laughter.
The Colonel quickly heard of the affair
and ordered the whole company under
arrest. Although it turned out that
Captain Won Arenberg was suffering
from mental alteration and that his
condition was such as to render his re-
moval to an asylum for medical treat
ment necessary, the entire company
was sentenced to three years deten-
ton in fortress for the breach of discip-
line in having laughed at one clothed
in the uniform of a Captain in the line.
This three years sentence will have to
be served in addition to the regular
term OF compulsory service in the
~imy.
Another instance of the rigidity of
the German military code comes from
Hanover. A young Lieutenant of Uh-
lans was riding along the Georgen-
strasse when his horse baked
and got in the way of a
passing coal-cart. The shaft of the
cart struck the officers horse and
the latter spoke some sharp words to
the driver. This driver, who, it APP
pears. was a good HanOverian, with a
strong hatred for all Prussians, got
angry in turn. AS he drove quickly on
he struck the officer twice over the
shoulder with his whip. The young
Lieutenant, his eyes blazing with fury,
made violent effort to reach his as
sailant, with whom it would doubtless
have Jared badly had he succeeded.
But he was hindered by a crush of
traffic and the offending coal-cart
driver succeeded in making good his
escape. The Lieutenant was promptly
cashiered. WhyP Because gross in
suit had been offered in his person to
the German military uniform and he
had not succeeded in avenging it. I'm.
der the German law he would have
been justified in cutting his assailanl
down or in running him through the
body. Is not this keeping up the morale
of the army with vengeanceP
In Brunswick, where the drainage
facilities are of the most primitive
character, there exists reprehensiblt
habit of throwing dirty water out the
windows. True, sometimes a premon
itory cry of warning is uttered for the
benefit of passers-by, but sometime,
even this is omitted by careless ones
Some days since one Gustave Gilt,
suddenly threw open his window on tn,
second floor and forthwith soused down
into the street the contents of porce
lain vessel filled with dirty water.
alighted full upon the gold-laced cal
and glittering epaulettes of a stern
visaged Captain of Cuirassiers who hat
served with distinction in the Franco
Prussian war. With blood-curdline
imprecation, the dripping officer burs
in the door of the house, dashed up thu
stairs two at time and with his draw
sword Belabored the juggler of porce
lain within fraction of an inch of hi
life. The morale of the army is re
garded by him as having been sus
tanned. Berlin Cor. N. Y Journal.