The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-09-06
THE GERMAN ARMY.
THE CRoucHlNG TIGER READY ON
-HE FRENCH FRONTIER LINE.

Turning Out tho Men At All Hours OF
Night as II War Were Actually Do
observation-disclosures a. Privates-Extra-
ordinary System.
Once inside the city of Metz You find
discipline, hard work and the results OF q
perfect military system. Fully half the
people you see on the streets ore soldiers.
In the city of Metz to-day there are 90, coo
men. Along the frontier, in positions
where they can be Concentrated upon the
border within twenty-four hours, there
are over s00,C coo men. In time of peace
tie Confinement Of 50 }crge a number OF
Ken as are at Metz within such circUG-
scribcG Quarters would simply resuia j.
license, idleness aud dissipation, GuD
there is nothing of the sort to be seen ab
Gsets. The men are too constantly 0ccu-
pied The private soldiers are turned out
at o'clock in the morning. 1t is drill,
drill frors morning till right. The men
are marched and countermarched. They
are exercised in every form of evolution
which could be employed in actual war.
The officers are constantly securing the
country hunting up new difficulties to
teach their men to overcome by prelimf-
nary drill. Such discipline, such subor-
dination, do not think was ever cur
passed in any army. The officers wear
their uniforms constantly. 1t is a breach
of discipline, and of the most serious char
acter, for them to appear in public in
civilian dress. These officers have no time
for rocial Inequalities. They never make
calls or accept invitations, except among
themselves. There is very little entertain
ing even among the officers oil the border.
They arc too occupied with their military
duties, in the perfecting of this trench
dous military machine which each day
grows more ard more formidable.
The perfection of the discipline of tho
German army Gun only be understOod hy
witnessing it's actual operation. To begin
with, the private soldiers are thoroughly
trained physically, rs we'll as in the men
tai details of the military profession. They
are al accomplished gyn,nasts. Although
tic men in many of the regiments are #
medium size they look strong, hardy and
t?solute. The German army is perfectly
democratic in the placing of its men. The
sons Of the best families, who wish merely
to s.,rve their three years. term, have to
begin in the ranks rs common soldiers.
Those who wish to adopt the nrmysas a
profession are placed in special schools
and according TO the examinations they
are placed in correspendingly better posi-
ton than those who are merely serving
their three years. term. But when once
a man enters the army his private social
position is absolutely ignored. l heard
when was in Metz of a son of q most
distinguished family being called upon to
do his three years. service. His head
gardener, who was called out at the same
time and who had previously 81 rved, .ss
given his old position as serge ant. The
young nobieman was placed If the ranks
as private and under the c. nmand OF
his servant, the gardener. TIC very first
dag Of his service the privates Of his com.
pany were pit to wheeling DIRT for some
breastworks. The sergeant could no:
bear to see his masters son engaged IL!
this mental work and took eff his coat arc
did his share for him, but this simply re-
suited in the punishment Of the sergeant
for a breach of discipline.
The respect which subordinate must
pay 70 his superior extends throughout
every hour and minute of the Gay. Whcr-
eye1 the subordinate meets his superior in
rank he must extend to him the same Oh,
c:al recognition of this superiority that
be would exhibit upon the actual parade
ground. The first night Of my arrival in
Metz I was dining at the table d'hotc,
when heavy, thick set German officer
entered the room. A slight, aristocratio
looking German officer, also in uniform,
was leisurely eating his dinner end talk
ing with friend when this officer entered
t:,e room, The moment the latter entered
the young officer stood up from the table
sad saluted. He stood with bis hand ut
tie side of his head in the attitude Of
salute until the advancing officer returned
the salute and told him politely to sit
down III this particular case after
ID: L. nd t',.t II, Officer sI,~>f rirr :.