Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-17

train in Germany looked like business
through and through.
so, Tor that matter does everything per-
tanning to war in the Kaiser's dominion.
1t is impossible to conceive of more thor
ough system than that on which the Ger
man army is based. In every village there
is certain sum of gold deposited in the
City Hall, which is sufficient to keep all
the soldiers in the village in food for thirty
days after the declaration of war. Next to
the City Hall is the arsenal, armory and
barracks of the place Here are the can
non and the smaller arms, the ammunition
and every requisite for war. The officers
live IN the building. Scattered throughout
the village are the soldiers. Those who
pass the flrst term Of service are engaged in
various occul ations. Every horse in the
village is duly ticketed and appraised. At
stated times the horse is taken from his po-
sitiOn in the shafts of carriage. or butch
ers, bakers, or candlestick-maker'sw wagon,
mounted by a soldier or hitched to gun
carriage, drilled into his business and re-
turned politely to his owner. The instant
war breaks out that horse becomes the
property OF William II.
This condition of things exists in every
corner OF the empire. The instant the En-
peror decides On war the entire Geographic
and railroad service is turned over TO the
State; the shoemaker in the village dons
his uniform, jumps on his neiehbor's horse
reports at the barracks the bag of money
is put in the gun carriage, and within a
few hours the entire force of the village
town or city is standing in the road ready
mounted and thoroughly equipped for ac-
tive service. Everything is arranged, all
contingencies foreshadowed, and an army
OF 3,UOo,OOO OF men stands waiting for or
ders within few hours after the declara-
ton of war. 1t is marvellous.
In France ard England the centralza-
tion system was formerly in vogue. The
soldiers were in one part of the Empire,
the arms stored hundreds of miles away,
no provision was made fer horses, and it
wa. necessary for the Government TO take
legal steps before they could raise any
money. A better war showing can be had
in ten hours, according TO the German sys-
tenn, than in twenty-four days by the
methods formerly practiced by England
and France. Now, however, all the CONT
mental countries are following the German
methods. The money which lies in the
city halls throughout Germany. bv the
way, is portion of the enormous tribute
France was obliged 10 pay her conquerors.
The railroad service is a regular branch
of German military education. On an i'm
mense plateau outside Berlin there is a
completely equipped railroad which was
built and is constantly operated by soldiers.
The corps of engineers are in charge they
have even built cars and locomotives there,
and part of the training of certain officers
of the German army includes the running
of engines and railroad trains.
If any one were to ask me where railroad
travel is the most enjoyable outside of the
United States, l should unhesitatingly say
in Ireland. There is an amiable air of un-
certainty about Irish trains which detracts
somewhat from their success in q business
way. and it is fact that forty-three out of
forty-seven roads in Ireland are financially
failures, but the amiability, suavity and
friendliness of the Irish people take away
all the torment of their inefficient railroad
service. The man who said the Irish were
more polite than the French spoke by the
card. Nothing can excel the hospitality
and cordiality toward strangers of the Irish
gentlemen whom you meet in travelling
through the country. One makes delight
full acquainiances that way, and on that ac.
count the journeys in Ireland were the
mos, comfortable | ever took on the other
side. But in all the finer matters of rail-
road travel, Europe has a vast deal TO learn
from US. In the language of sporting men
she's mot in it at ali, when railroading is
considered.