Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-10
Herr Bebel Accuses the Emper-
or of Abetting Duels In the
Army
OFFICERS PARDoNED
Exciting Scenes in the Reichstas, the
Debate Being Led by the Socialists
War Minister vonGessIer Replying,
Denies Assertion That Duelins is
Practiced.
Practiced.


the reichstag, led by Herr Bebel, ac-
cused the Kaiser of abetting the duel in
the German army by pardoning officers
convicted of murder on the field of
honor The socialists denounced the
duel. as we'll as the growing tendency
of officers in the German army to mis-
treat soldiers.
Herr Bebel declared that the higher
classes of society were in a state of
permanent conspiracy against the law
and religion. so far as dueling was con-
cerned. All the military courts and
The fixed opinion of the military class
including his majesty, regarded duel
ing as necessary in the army, notwith-
standing the reichstags resolutions on
the subject and against the weight of
Public opinion.
Herr Bebel referred in detail to the
recent instances of dueling and COM
planned of the invariable pardoning of
the duelists before their terms of i'm
prisonment had been completed.
Turning to the Ill treatment of Ger
man soldiers, he said it was common for
old sergeants to boast Of their ingenuity
in abusing young privates. Most of tie
extreme instances, the speaker added,
We're those of weak minded young fell
lows, sometimes bordering on fdiocy,
who ought not to be in the service,
and who would not be there If militar-
ism did not bias the minds of the med
ical officers.
Among the incidents referred TO by
the socialist leader was that of pri-5
vate who was compelled to open his
mouth while a sergeant spat into it
several times.
"one must wonder" said Herr Bebel.
that the man treated thus did not
have the moral courage to stab such
Il beast to death"
The socialist leader then spoke on
the unfavorable criticism of the Kaiser
maneuvers in the French and English
press, as we'll as by high German mil
itary writer's.
War Minister Won Gossier, replying.
said that turnout the year 1902 no duel
had occurred between officers on the
active list Duesists. he continued were
pardoned only on the recommendation
of the highest court. The sharp meas
ures adopted in the case of Lieut.. Hill
debrandt, who killed Lieut.. Blaskowitz
in duel in 1901, and was sentenced to
two years imprisonment, though he was
rardoned by Emperor William after
serving seven months of his sentence,
left no doubt as to the attitude of the
emperor. The speaker fully agreed
With Herr Bebel that officers who i'll
treated private soldiers in the way de-
scribed by the socialist leader, merit the
most severe punishment. The min
lister added:
I'VE know perfectly we'll that an
army having q large cavalry force has
an immense advantage over it's enemy.
The kaiser maneuvers show that our
troops are quite preeminent. When
Herr Bebel refers to unfavorable for
eign criticisms, we reply that we do
not expect foreign applause for our
Herr Tedmann. conservative, said
that duefing was unavoidable in some
cases, however severely it might be
punished. and he would regret to see
he day when this view disappeared
among the people.
Herr kunert, socialist, attempted to
criticise the emperor's military skill in
leading the maneuvers, but Speaker
von Ballestrem ruled that such criti-
risms were inadmissable. Herr Kunert
retorted:
Il infer from your ruling that we
can mention God here, but not William
IT,
Count Won Ballestrem had to call
Herr Kunert to order three times be-
lore the latter desisted in his remarks.