The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
GERMANY'S ARMY DRAFT
YOUNG FAHNLEY, OF THIS CITY,
TRYING TO ESCAPE A HARDSHIP.
Spring or Pay a Heavy
Fine.

Americans little understand the autocratic
methods by which recruits are obtained for
the standing army of Germany and other
European countries and rather indiffer-
ent to the conditions that obtain, except
ing when the subject is forcibly IL
Illustrated, as it is in the case of Carl Fahn-
ley, nephew of Fred Fahnley, of Fahnley
& McCrea- Carl Fahnley's father died in
Germany in 1888, after having served
through the German wars Of 1866 and 1870,
leaving a widow, four daughters and his
son, then a very young lad. When Carl was
fourteen years old his mother decided that
it would be for the boys best interests to
allow him to come to Indianapolis. After
remaining in school two years here he en-
tered his uncle's store, where he is now
employed. Next April he will be twenty
years of age. Not long ago he received
a letter from his mother containing the dis
couragng information that he must come
home and join the regular army next spring,
or she would be compelled to pay fine
of 800 marks, unless meantime he could
forward papers showing that he was a
citizen of this country.
Young Fahnley mentioned the circum-
stance to George Walter, another employee,
who is acquainted with County Clerk Fes-
leT. IOS6tnSr lHey visited MI. Il eSleI u III
quire what could be done. Mr.. Fesler con-
suited Judge Carter and other authorities
and was reluctantly compelled to admit that
there was absolutely nothing that could be
done as Fahnley is not of age. He cannot
declare his intentions of becoming d citizen
until he is tWenty-One years old. Judge
Carter even expressed the opinion that the
German officials could send to this country
for Fahnley and take him home. This coun-
try, he said would be powerless to inter-
fere No danger of this sort is apprehended
as the German government would probably
consider it too expensive to compel one boy
to come home and join the army,
Il made a mistake, said Fahnley to a
Journal reporter last evening, lin not get
ting a leave of absence before coming to
this country. L would have been entitled
to it, as l was but fourteen years old. If
l had stayed there until / was seventeen
or older, 1 would have been on the army
eligible list and could not have come, al
though / would not have been required to
enter the army until | was twenty. If a
boy leaves the country after he is seven
teen they regard him as deserter and
bring him back. They require every man
to serve three years; after he has finished
his service he must volunteer six weeks
are several men here who have to report
every year"
mo, L will not go back. | intend to re-
main until I am of age and then get my
papers. My mother keeps writing to know
when / am coming home to visit her, but
she does not want me to come back to
go into the army. l suppose she will have
to pay the fine. In that country 500 marks
is equal to $500 in this country BY the time
the next day comes to report in 1899 hope
to have received my papers so that she will
not have to pay a second fine Of 500 marks
If you do not appear there is a fine of 500
marks each year"
Carl Fahney said that after he gets his
papers he will be perfectly safe in going
home. He wants 10 go over in 1900 the
time of the Paris exposition. after I get
my papers / can return to Germany and
stay year. If l were to stay longer than
a year they would draft me, no matter if
did have papers,"
The young mans former home is in Ulm
province of Wurtemberg. on the Danube
Since his connection with Fahnley & Nc
Crea he has won the esteem and regard
of his fellow-employes, who call him Lit
tie Carl" He is rather slight of build He
is unusually quick to learn and those who
know of his brightness and ability feel that
not aid him in his desire to become a
useful citizen
A man who is pretty we'll up on interna-
tional treaties said last night that young
Fahnley must have misunderstood Judge
Carter with reference to Germany having
the authority to come after him and compel
him to return to his home for enlistment
in the standing army. The man quoted says
that nothing of the sort could be done. He
says that even a deserter could not be ex-
tradited Desertion and evasion of army
rules are regarded in most treaties as being
political offenses, in the meaning of inter-
national law, and offenders cannot be extra
dited.