The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-04-03
HOLLANDS MILITIA.
Queer State OF Affairs In the Land
Of Dykes and Ditches.


.-Droll Effects Produced by the
Ignorance ~ Omcers.
Holland is becoming exceedingly
fdgety about her militia affairs, says
letter in tho New York Tribune. The
national dofenses are in disorganized
condition, and tho Dutch would be un-
able to offer much resistance to any in
vasion. Reform Is the cry on every
hand, and universal oonscription
Is advocated on all sides; but
no one seems to feel disposed to carry
tho matter through. AS things now are
no Dutchman need servo in tho regular
army II he con pay for substitute.
Tho conseq uenco Is that the rich arc op-
posed to the universal conscription, be-
cause they do not want to serve, and the
poor are against it because they would
no longer receive tho largo sums which
their children earn by serving as sub
stitutes. Every man, however, between
the ago Of twenty-five and forty Is forced
to belong to tho militia, or schuttery, as
! it is designated in Holland. Tho latter
numbers about two per cent. of the en-
tire population. But 1t is quito harm
less, and partakes to certain extent Of
tho nature of the opera comique.
Nothing can be more amusing than to
watch tho schutters on their way to drill
late in tho afternoon Of summer and
autumn days. They can scarcely be
described as presenting martial ap-
pearance in their, blue and red uniforms,
with their shakoes perchcd ralSishly on
ono side of their head, the chin strap
barely reaching down to the nose,
cigar or pipe in the mouth, and an
ntediluvian-looking old musket carried
over tho shoulder, butt ond upward.
In winter when 1t rains or SHOWS the
monthly drill at Rotterdam, Amster-
dam and other important cities, usually
takes place under cover in the bourse
after tho business Of the day is over.
The drill sergeants, however, dislike
this; for it doubles their work, since
the schutters devote far more attention
to the figures Of the afternoon stock
quotations, still chalked upon the
board, than to the figures Of drill.
The officers Of tho militia regiments
arc exceedingly gorgeous creatures,
with their long, clanking sabers, their
plumod hats and thoir profusion Of gold
lace. Their knowledge Of things mill
tary is but one degree superior to that
of tho mon under their command, for
thcy have been forced to drill for two
hours q week during period Of six
weeks with regular line regi-
ment. Under ordinary circumstances
they manage to fulfill their duty
after fashion, but during the
annual maneuvers they are sub
jected to great trials. A schutter Cap
tain will be standing in front of his
company, when o corporal acting as
orderly approaches with tho following
message: "The enemy Is close at hand.
Tho Colonel sends you his very best
compliments and wishes to know II you
would oblige him by leading your men
to attack" All at once the latent pa
triotism and military ardor of tho Cap
tain blaze forth. He draws his sword,
and, calling on his soldiers to follow
him, rushes to meet tho imaginary en-
emy. Suddenly his advance is checked
by shallow ditch filled with muddy
water. This causes his ferceness to
abate, for he would not for all tho world
soil his uniform. He pauses for few
seconds. All at once happy thought
strikes him. "Fire by volleys!" he cries
to his men. Immediately tho ramrods
arc heard to rattle in all the enormous
barrels Of the old muskets, and min.
ute later the hammers fall with O
clicking noise OF old metal. For the
militia-men arc not only forbidden the
uso of gunpowdor, but are even denied
percussion caps. In tho middle Of all
this the Adjutant Of the regiment who
is invariably an officer Of tho regular
army, dashcs up on horseback and ex.
claims in frantic tones to the Captain:
"Good heavens! man, don't you know
that in case Of volley firing the officers
must not stand right in front Of the muz
zles Of their mems guns?"
Nowise disconnected, the Captain
pulls his handbook Of military regula
tions out of his pocket and, after care
fully glancing over several pages, re
plies in o nonchalant manner: "Well
= I don't see any thing about it in here.
Tho face Of the adjutant becomes
scarlet, he gulps down two or three biz
j. oaths and finally cjaculates; "Here
page forty-eight." And then, with I
!. look Of despair and . shrug OF his shoul
: ders, he dashes of to some other equal.
9 well-informed schutter officer.
\ Meanwhile the Captain has leisurel.
returned his sword to its scabbard ant
% has inscribed In his notebook the fol
70 lowing memorandum: "In case OF volle.
q firing it is better for the officer to keel
. to tho rear Of the front, 30 as not Il
= como into contact with the. muzzles o
q his mems guns"
70 The Majors, tho Lieutenants and tn
N Colonies Of the "schuttery" are all Gu
: out of the samo cloth as tho Captail
= above portrayed; always ready to argu
the point with their superior officers
% and producing the drollest effects b
y y their utter ignorance Of military tactics
% There is even O "schutter" General VIII