The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31
THE h4A5EH NSEEC7ZWf MS
SM2LERS.
THESE HEW TTUoH SIX 70
TLIEZ w ETvZ a DAY.

I q conno way 4 70 have the SUMMERS
spent in the Baltic and the winters in the
| Mediterranean or the West Indies.
On these training vessels the boys are
taught practical seananship. They learr
all about navigation, gunnery and naval
warfare.
They manage the vessels themselves.
under the eys6 of their superiors. and car
They are taught naval engineering. tor
pedo science. naval con struction, mechanics,
Notifications. tactics. as well as the mod
ern branches.
They are put through a good course Of
gymnastics and learn how 10 fence. ride tnd
swim. After a time they are taken on the
vessels OF the war fleet. and upon gr0.r.
alton are well fitted to fill the positions n
which they are placed.
KEEL has a marine school and also 2 ma
rine academy. The academy come 7ster
the school. being something like or.3 at
Annapolis.
The most important thing that the Kaiser
has done in connection with his naval de-
lenses was the building Of the great canal
here at Kiel.
7, I have gone out TO see It. and have pho
tographed its entrance to the Baltic.
The canal cost about SO! 600. 00. but It is
worth more than ten times that to Ger
many n the way Of naval advantages. 1t
has cut down the time from North Ger
IldilS ~ tHe ocean ainOst TWO days, ana
has. in fact. made the Baltic for all
practical purposes a German lake.
This canal begins here and extends for
sixty miles rieht across the peninsula to
the mouth Of the Elbe.
In time Of war It will be closed to out
side nations. forming a highway for the
German gunboats only.
To-day there is a large naval harbor Just
below IT, which always has gunboats ready
TO sail back and forth for the protection Of
the Empire.
LOCKS oF CANAL
CONTROL THE tides.
The canal is a la-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.
1t Ia 30 feet deep and 20 feet broad at the
bottom. AT present 1t Is used largely for
merchant vessels. 5000 having passed in
and out last year.
h dues on these vessels annually nav
more than l per cent on the cost of con.
struction.
You have heard q Ereat deal Of the Gar.
man soldier.
He is the biggest man in Germany. and
he Is always present.
HIS trumpet wakes 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 railroad
trains. the best tables in the beer halls. and
he Is the most honored guest at every 60
ciai entertainment.
He appreciates his importance. and insists
that Ii be respected.
Instances have occurred where he has
enforced such respect. and that in the most
brutal manner.
Take the case Of Lieutenant Won Bruse.
witt. who killed q man for 1ostling him In a |
Deer hall at Carlsruhe. This Lieutenant was
sitting in his chair, drinking. when a moor |
plumber. possibly under the influence Of
liquor. In passing through knocked against |
him.
The Lieutenant at once demanded q,
apology. The plumber refused to give n. !
and the Lieutenant thereupon drew his |
SWORD and tried to run the man through,
The people in the hall interfered and the |
plumoe ran. The Lieutenant, however.
grew more angry as he thought over the |
Insult he had received. He followed the |
plumber and. finding him alone and unable |
10 get out on account OF q locked door. 4
stabbed him through the back and killed
him.. ~
The offense created a great stir ~ N.
time. but the officers conduct wa, practi.
caily excused by the Government and the
gave him but a short mild
Imprisonment,
There are frequent alterations between
g. S..N~S aAo S.ikens. ana In most cases
.he citizen has but little chance against
the soldier. the presumption being Alto
gether In favor Of the latter. ,
ENCOURAGES A
MILITARY ARISToCRACY.
inoeed, 1t seems to me that everything
here tends toward a military aristocracy.
The Kaiser encourages 1t and the people
apparently do not object.
To-Day the rich tradesmen. manufactur-
ana bankers OF Germany are as anxious
to have their daughters married. to military