The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-31

almost two days, and has, in fact, made the Baltic for all practical purposes German lake. This canal begins here and extends for sixty miles right across the peninsuia to the mouth of the Elbe, In time of war 1t will be closed to outside nations, forming a highway for the Ger man gunbeats only Today there is a large naval harbor just below 1t, which always has gunboats ready to sail back and forth for the protection of the em- pire. Ps
 | The canal is a sea-level canal. with great locks at either end of it to control | the tides. It Is so wide that the largest gunboats can go through 1t, and there are six places where they can pass. It IS thirty feet deep and seventy feet broad at the bottom. At present it is used largely for merchant vessels, 5000 hay- | ing passed in and out last year, The dues on these vessels annually pSy more than 1 per cent. on the cost of construction The omnipresent Soldier. You have heard a great deal of the German soldier. He is the biggest man in Germany, and he is always present. His trumpet awakes you at daybreak, and you hear 1t also when the sun sets. You can't walk the streets without meet | ing him and stepping aside to let him pass. He has the best seats in the raii- road trains, the best tables in the peer halls and he is the most honered guest at every social entertainment. He appre- ciates his importance, and insists that 1t be respected.
 Instances have occurred where he has enforced such respect, and that in the most brutal manner. Take the case -of Lieutenant von Brusewitz, who killed man for jostling him in a beer nall at Carlsruhe This lieutenant was sitting in his chair. drinking, when a poor plum her. possibly under the influence or Iiauor. in passing through knoc1ed against him. The lieutenant at once demandeo an apology. The plumber refused to slVe it. and the lieutenant thereupon drew his sword and attempted to run the man through. The people in the hall interfered and the plumber ran. The lieutenant, however, grew more angry as he thought over the insult he had received. He fol- lowed him. and, finding him alone ana unable to get out on account Of locked door, stabbed him through the back ana killed him. The offense created a great stir at the time, but the officers con duct was practically excused by the Gov ernment and the court-martial gave him but a short mild Imprisonment.
 There are frequent alterations between the soldiers and citizens. and in most cases the citizen has but little chance against the soldier, the presumption being altogether in favor of the latter.
 A Military Aristocracy.
 Indeed. 1t seems to me that everything here tends toward a military aristocracy. The Kaiser encourages it and the people apparently do not object. Today the rich tradesmen. manufacturers and bank- CTS of Germany are as anxious to nave their daughters married to military off, cers as some of our millionaires are anx- ious that their daughters should mate with the broken-down Dukes and Earls of Europe. An officer of rank has no trouble in getting wife, and it is the generally accepted fact that the wife should bring enough to support the hus- band Penniless officers expect to marry rich girls. The realize their own market value and insist upn the price. Accord ing to law, an officer must marry money, if he has no money himself. Such money is put into funds which cannot deterior- ate and the increased income therefrom is supposed to maintain the family as becomes that of an officer and gentle man. l do not know the exact sum re- uuired, but 1t is somewhere in the neigh borhood of $1o,OOO.
 The average officer wants much more than this. His hope is a catch with a fortune of hundred thousand dollars or more. He does not hesitate to ask his prospective father-in-law how much he expects to give. and in certain cases if the matter is not definitely stated the wedding is off.
 The Cost of the Army.
 I am told that the cost of the army is rapidly increasing. This is not so much in the amount paid by the Government, , but in the enormous sums which have to be contributed by the people to enable their sons to maintain themselves in good military style.
 The German Government, in fact, does not spend as much on its War Depart ment including pensions, as we do upon our War Department and pensions In 1902 the total cost of the German Army was about $40. 900 and it's pension ac- count about $25,OOO.OOO, making a total of $165. .OO0O 900. During the same year we spent in round numbers $112OOOOO upon our War Department and $13S,OO,OOO for pensions, or in all $6O,OO0,OOO more than the Germans.
 The actual expense here, however, IS equal to two or three times what the Government pays There are 6O0,OOO pri- yate soldiers in Germany who receive from to l2 cents day outside their ra- tions. The rations are poor, and they