Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-29
Delightful Little Holidays for
Officers Who Butcher Civilians
For fancied Insults.
AMAZING CASES OF SLAUGHTER.
officer Committed Suicide Because He
Couldn't Find and Stay Drunken
Man Who had "lnsulted' Him.
Eneolnl Corresponding.

bpecial correspondence
berlin. Aug. 2O.--At frequent inter-
walls the rest Of the civilized world
is surprised by news that German
or Austrian or Russian officer has at
tackled a defenseless civilian with MS
sword, and either killed or severely
wounded the unfortunate individual
I'm plain clothes In the majority OF
cases. a sentence Is added to the dis
patch stating that the officer IN ques-
lion has not been arrested and VIII not
lac called to an account for a crime
which would send civilian
TO the gallows. or II an 10.
curry Is ordered, II develops later that
no penalty has been inflicted or that
the officer has been sentenced lor the
sake Of appearances, TO detention ~ a
fortress--a form Of punishment whieh
Innicts a minimum Of Inconvenience on
the culprit. a...oo,
such occurrences as rule attract
n good deal Of passing attention, put
II is not generally known that theSe
attacks committed by officers on uh-
armed civilians are an essential part
of the rampant militarlsm prevalent III
the countries OF Continental Europe
and especially in the three great EN-
hires of Europe-Germany AUSTRIA
and Russia. In all three countries the
military regulations drawn up by the
resnectiye ministries of war ratlhed
nv Inc respective governments, ana ap-
nroved by the kaiser, the car and the
Emperor Francis Joseph dlsllhc'y
state that officers must make use OF
their weapons IN order TO DEFEND lher
military honor II circumstances rehder
ouch extreme measures necessary
This regulation In itself does not ap-
near TO be particularly mischieNous IN
character. for there may conceiYaoly
he cases in which an officer would De
justified I'm drawing his sword In SELF
defense. iust as civilian may nave
accession 10 make use OF life-preserN-
or or revolver. but the unwrltten rules
NJ military etiquette which have grown
nm around the original written regula-
zion are the cause OF the gross abuses
that take place 50 OFTEN
THINK THEY OWN THE EARTH
Continental officers have In course
of time taught themselves to beIeVe
that they form a class Of society when
Is as far above civilians as heaven Is
above earth. They have come 10 ne
leye I'm the divine right OF the nhlltaly
man 10 dominate the world, ana TO
trample ununiformed persons under
foot as slaves created solely for the
nurnose OF paving the taxes necessary
for the support OF vast armies ailu, ~
course. 20 provide the human mateila,
necessary TO keep up the nunerlcal
strength Of the army Frequently u
happens that female members OF clVI-
ian families are regarded by ollcers AZ
suitable wives for themselves, but Qnly
when they receive dowries which liner
ate the hyper honorable military nun
from his burden OF debts ana enaole
him to live comfortably ever AFTER
wards. and IN such cases, the Wlle nus
60 cut herself of from her Inferior CIV
u,an relatives. and become a member
Of the predominant military caste
Anar from the great capitals Wllere
che IeyellinR Influences Of the age are
Irresistible there Is not a garrison
town in Germany or Austria NJ Wlleh
there is not "A broad gap between 1he
military and the civilian classes lnu
officers have their own exclusive clr'ie
~ society composed of men OF tnelr
own olags with their wives ana ehii-
dren. and keep quite alooi iron, wy
mere civilians looking cow WI.
them From the vast height oil the''
military superiority ,..u,, -,
Anyone who has spent any lehg,l W
time In continental garrison 'oW.'
knows that the case. as II as mus put'
is rather under8iated than exaggerated
Moreover. this caste system Is encour (,
aeed and foylered by the German ana
Aystrlan governments. for the creation
~ solid military aristocracy IS re-
,,orded as an effective barrier 10 'He
sis,nr tide of Social Democracy
r.bicb becomes more and more lot
,,ldoble year by year The German
nmneror. modern as he Is In many re-,
enscts believes iu the maintenance e'
n nowerfnl military hierarchy ana w
,hi, resneci Francis Joseph, otherwise
than in military matters The most nee
uevolent OF men. and also inc ped1e
lowing car. share his views.
MILITARY HONOR"
Inspired by such means win an ~. ~,
easod onlnlon of their own Important
a. NE world. Continental officers nav
nccuired distorted and unnaattulel
Ideas of what they cell their 'millt''s
honor" and they have coIs.luo ohoor'
code in accordance win Intse " 800
mai conceptions OF right anp aoin.
The honor Of an officer, N thell op,,'
ion Is something altogether 9' In !
from the honor OF a ciVlllah-l 49, a,@
thing even can be said 10 eNise go an,
consequently, according 10 tnelr PC, h,
of reasoning, special measures H'"S' "
taken 10 protect it from Insult Z,
n an officers military hohor
s,ieh,ed. he must either nyht as st
Win Inc offender. or he must draw h y,
svord and chastlse the aggfessT y
snch a wav that blood hoWs' II az u
a. he lnsulted by n brother oifcer. n i,'
ns ~ a,yavs fight duel but n ms nll
V co. honor" be sighted by clvllian
49, rises the question whether W.
e1,.i,ian Is CAPABLE OF giving knighul
sa,t.ser,lon according 10 the code q
srsii,ng etiouitte. II the civilian Is IN
esnabie OF giving knlghty Satisfaction
~ he officer must chastlse him am
va hte blood. II an officer Is shghtt'
civuian incapable OF giving satls
sootior and fails TO chastlse the ohena
ne IL regarded as disgraced ana Y
forced 10 quit the army WIN s'"''
on his honor. .,,. 4. A.,
This code Of military eilqurtve ~ ~
exorable. and oompels Officers 70 n,sS
use ~ their weapons against elN'ii =,
whether they want 70 or not, lor tn n.
rood name, reputation. ana chtser ~ ~
AZ stake. At the moment "he" :"