New-York tribune., 1903-03-10
ABUSES IN GERMAN ARMY.
Bebel Demoamces Ducuing and III
Treatment of PnU0tes.

Berlin, March Q-HerT Bebel, the Socialist
leader during tie debate on the military budget
IN the Reichstag to-day. said the higher classes
Of society were in q state of permanent con-
spiracy against the law and religion, 20 far as
duelling was concerned All the military courts
and the nxed opinion Of the military class, in
cluding his majesty. regarded duelling az neces-
sary in the army. Notwithstanding the Reichs-
tags resolutions on the subject and against the
weight Of public opinion.
Continuing Herr BebeI referred In detail to
the recent instances Of duelling, and complained
of the tnvarisble psrdoning Of duellists before
their terms Of Imprisonment had been COM
pleted
Turning TO the Ill treatment Of German sol
diers, Herr Bebel said it was common for old
serge&nts to beast Of their ingenuity in abusing
young privates. Most Of the extreme instances.
the speaker added. were those Of weak minded
young fellows sometimes bordering idiocy,
who ought not to be in the service and who
would not be there If militarism did not bias
the minds Of the medical officers.
Among the incidents referred to by the So
ciaIist leader was that Of a private 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 cour-
age to stab such q beast to DEATH
The Socialist leader then spoke on the unfa-
vorabIe criticisms OF the Kaiser mannuvres IN
the French and English press. well as by high
German military writers.
War Minister Won Gossler. replying. said that
throughout the year 1902 duel had occurred
between officers on the active list. Duellists. he
continued, were pardoned only on the recon-
mendauon Of the highest court The sharp
measures adopted in the of Lieutenant
Hiidebrandt (Hudebrandt killed Lieutenant Bias
kowitz in a duel in November, 1901. was SEN
fenced to two years Imprisonment, and was
pardoned by Emperor William after serving
seven months CT his sentence) left doubt as
the attitude OF the Emperor. The speaker
fully agreed with Herr Bebel that officers who
Ill treated private soldiers in the way described
by the Socialist leader merit the most severe
punishment. The minister added: I'VE know
perfectly well that army having a large
Its enemy. The Kaiser mannuyres show that
our troops quite pre-eminent- When Herr
Bebel refers to unfavorable foreign criticisms,
we reply that we do not expect foreign applause
for our manRuvres."
Herr T1ecemann Conservative said that duel
ling was unavoidable in some cases, however
gret to see the day when this view disappeared
among the people.
Herr Kunert. Socialist, attempted to criticise
the Emperor's military skill in leading nance
vres, but Speaker Won Ballestrem ruled that
such criticism was iDadmissible. Herr Kunert
retorted: 81 infer from your ruling that we can
mention God here, but not William II" Count
Won BaIlestrem had TO cali Herr Kunert to or
der three times before the latter desised In his
remarks
Count Won Room, Conservative, said: I'VE
cannot accept the criticism of foreigners on our
army since it is proved that our army is the
best in the world"
Conservative member, Won Oldenburg. ex-
pressed his delight at the EmperoFs pardoning
Lieutenant Hildebrandt, because that action
proved that neither the press nor so-caued puo-
lie opinion had the slightest influence with his
natestys decision. Regarding the actions OF
ohicers" continued the speaker, 1T would be
most TIA Ric thing il the view Of honor obtaining
in the German officers corps were to change,
and without dueIling the esprit du corps would
suffer"
The War Minister'S salary was then voted