The herald., 1896-11-18
Brusewitz' Case Discussed Amid
Much Uproar
A SOLDIERS SACRED HONOR
Reason Enough to Excuse Striking an
Impo'ite Workman
Prince Hohenlohe Insists That the Right
of Self defense Must Not Be
Taken From Officers.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
BERLIN, Nov. 17.-In the Reichstag
the chancellor. Prince Hohenlohe, reply
ing to the Interpolation Herr August
Munckel, Peoples party, on the Bruse-
witz incident October 18th last, when
lieutenant ran a sword through work.
man named Siebmann who accidentally
pushed against the officers chair on en-
tering cafe stated that the military
department was preparing new regula-
tions with the object of limiting duelling
as much as possible. A commission of
officers he added, would meet within
few days for the purpose of considering
the regulations proposed. The chancel-
lor said the chief charge in the regula-
tions proposed was that if an officer in
suited another the matter should be left
to decision of court of honor, but the
Judgment of the court should never be
worded so as to make a duel necessary
or even to intimate the adoption of such
means to a settlement. The govern
ment, Hohenlohe added, was also con-
sidering a law. The preparation of the
document had met with considerable
difficulty. but it was hoped this would be
The prerogative of mercy, the chancel-
lor further stated, appertained to the
crown and therefore is not subject to the
judgment of the reichstag.
General Won Gossler, minister of war,
| then addressed the house. dealing di-
rectly with the BrusewitZ affair." Lieu
tenant Brusewitz, it was alleged, killed
| a civilian because he believed the honor
| of his uniform, tarnished by the acci-
| dental pushing against his chair by the
| unfortunate workman. The officer was
| court-martialed and sentenced to four
years Imprisonment and dismissal from
| the army.
| General Won Gossler, amid constant in
| terruptions, then went on to announce
that the judgment of the court-martial
had been pronounced, but had not yet
| been sanctioned. Therefore, he explain
| ed, it had no force in law. Continuing,
the minister of war said that the docu-
ments bearing on the affair were to pc
| submitted, by imperial command, to the
ministry of war and so soon as this was
| done the sentence would be published
together with the reasons which prompt
ed it. General Gossler then alluded to
Herr Muncwels' "firebrand speech"
which caused great uproar in the
house. The minister then cited cases
of officers who had been grossly insulted
by unknown persons and he declared
that officers who have not proper
feeling of military honor and befittinS
sense of dignity of their position deserve
to be gotten rid Of "for on those senti-
ments depend the martial efficiency OF
the army"
The general further said "The honor
attaching to wearing the kings uniform
and respect for the colors are military
sentiments that we shall never abandon.
The right of elf-defense must never be
taken from officers" cloud protests
When the tumut subsided the min
lister of war remarked: Il regret the
attack made upon officers and hope the
house will judge the case without bias.
A lively debate followed the remarks
of the minister of war and the president
of the house. Baron Won Buel Berenber-
ger. declaring that the expression"clas'
batting" with which General Won Cos
sler had characterized Herr Munckel
'speech. was regrettable adding If it hae
been used by simple deputy the call II
order would have been ordered.
} Herr Bebel, the Socialist leader, ther
criticised General Won Gossler's remark:
in referring to the death of Siebmann
describing them as not gentlemanlik'
; and blaming him for using English
words.
Herr Bebel said further: How car
it be said that whoever attacks the
kings uniform thereby insults the king
', In 1899 the king threatened with pain o
death any military man who fiouted
civilian. Things will at last come to sucl
a pass that a uniform of the cuirassier
guard will be suspended like Gessler':
hat and people will be required to maxi
obisance to the emperor's horst. 1t IL
vain to endeaver by a word from al
august mouth to bring the people u
such a state of fear and trembling tha
they will bow the knee in silence,
Success is so impossible for view
so Numerically opposed to everythin:
t that he is the greatest fool who is con
s stantly trying to make them prevail"
! Herr Bebel was called to order.
= The house adjourned until Thursday