Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-02-12
In THE GERMAN ARMY.
EXPERIENCE OF A PRIVATE IN
TIME OF PEACE.
HIS Military Lif, Il Not a Happy Ono
Tho Victim of Tyrannicai Of
fcers-Have no Protection
From The Rain.

Perhaps the most interesting thing
in recent number Of the Temple Bar
is paper on Eight Weeks Service
in the German Army" contributed by
German resident in England. 1t
tells how the writer served his two
months volontariat and gives any
thing but a delightful picture of life
in the German army. The work
which the soldier has to perform Is
exceedingly hard and trying; but the
sergeants and corporals have O rather
more endurable existence:
LAS a volunteer. was allowed to
employ a comrade' as servant TO
clean my rifle and accouterments, but
my authority over him was. OF course,
only on military sufferance. When
however, a couple OF weeks later. | was
raised to the proud post on OF corporal.
matters were very different Ho was
now my Putzer (cleaner). whereas be-
lore he had boen my Putz-Kamerad
(comrade. who is good enough to
clean for YOU; | might treat him as
pleased, call him 'Schweinhund' or
ISaukopp. or even kick him down
stairs il | were dissatisfied with his
performance of his duties On cousid-
Grafton. however | am not sure IL this
final privilege is not reserved for Of
ficers, whose servants. by another doll
cato distinction, are called simply
'Burschen.
Inc sleeping arrangements under
cover arc very primitive and trying
for all save the peasant who is accus-
toned to roughing it:
'Tho effect of the bad nights and
fatiguing days soon begins to make
itself felt in a perpetual heavy -eyed
WEAKNESS which is at times almost
rnbcarable and a normal state of
swollen feet. Frequently the night
only lasts from 10 till ?, or at least l.
and then we have to march till and
fight the rest OF the day. On these
days hunger becomes u misery, for
there is nothing to eat all day long
till the engagement is over Then
only Is 1t possible for those who have
money to buy little bread, beer and
sausage from the Marketender. a civil
functionary who is allowed to follow
the regiment with wagon of pro-
visions as a private speculation. As
for the poor fellows who have no
money. heaven help them! They are
dependent on tho charity of their fell
lows. or must wait till they get back
to quarters or the blvouac.
The bivouac. indeed, as understood
in the German army, seems to be pure
misery.
Il suppose tho only conception of
bivouacking among EHglishmen is de-
rived from the camping out OF volun-
teers under canvas; a kind of pro-
longed picnic. with pipes and yarns
round the fire in the evening, and an
occasional sing song in the mess tent.
This is. however. not the way we Ger
mans bivouac After fighting all day
long the company arrives about 5 or 6
o'clock hungry. weary and footsore at
the place selected, and has to proceed
at once with the necessary arrange.
ments. The officers only have tents.
these have to be erected; then a wind
shelter has 10 be constructed for our
200 men. To serve this purpose a
number OF sticks are driven into the
ground; those are coupled with straw
ropes, and then straw is piled against
the barrier to the height of about four
reet 80 as 10 afford some shelter for
The men inside-from the wind only.
Of course; il it rains so much the
worse for the unlucky soldiers.
The sergeants have some slight
httf hn nat 10 -, -.
heir heads to the straw and their feet
TO the great fire. which is lighted in
the center without any shelter at all
from the cold or rain except their
cloaks. These ARRANGEMENTS
take time us you may imagine. There
are straw and fuel to fetch, and that
in large quantities.; there are poles
hat will not drive, fires that will not
light. and the whole has to be done
maybe, in a storm OF rain and wind.
However, when it is completed, we
think OF food. and rations are served
put These consist of military bread
and little tablets OF condensed meat
nd vegetables. Every corporal
(corporal) is expected TO
see after the feeding OF the mon under
MS charge; the pick and shovel are
brought into requisition, and shallow
rench is dug. in which fuel is placed
and lighted. On this improvised fire.
place tho kettle-which every man
,arries-is boiled AID kind of thin
soup manufactured, which is.disgustinp
Of taste. but the only kind OF food that
IS to be got"
The author points out what strikes
lim as the worst part of the system.
What always seems to me the most
melancholy feature OF the German
army system is the spirit OF trucking
md deserving TO superiors. which
I ingrains into the German character
Discipline is carried to such an extent
hat it undermines the right and
proper independence of the man. As
4 volunteer you must be always treat
ng the sergeants II you wish to es-