New-York tribune., 1906-11-11
ONLY POSSIBLE IN GERMANY.

This surprising exploit throws a vivid light
on abuses which the Social Democrat party has
been fighting gainst for years. 1t was possible
only in Germany. where the ci4il authorities
are accustomed TO bend the knee in all matters
70 militarism, and blindly obey the commands Of
any one wearing q uniform. The Mayor of
KoepeniCk and the city councillors stood 10 at
tentlon like recruits before the pseudo captain,
not daring TO protest against their arrest.
though they knew perfectly well that they had
the law on their side, and that. even if they
had embezzled the money under their charge.
they could not be arrested by file Of soldiers
but only by the police
But the best Of it is that this bold swlndler
bore only the faintest resemblance to a real
officer. His uniform OLD and shabby, pur-
chased a few days before at second hand and
consequently fitting badly. He a cap in
stead of a helmet. which is against the regula-
tons when on duty. His sword was a SerGeantS
and his spurs We're fixed Incorrectly 10 his boots.
His figure was prepOSterOuS for military man:
he was bow legged. round shoudered. walked
with a stoop. His shirt was very dirty. More
over he far too old to be a captain
And Vet not the shadow of a doubt crossed
the minds of the thousands who had full leisure
10 observe him. a fact particularly remarkable
I'm a country where every man is soldier. and
consequently well VerSed in all matters Of mill
tary etiquette. The soldiers never doubted for
an instant that he was an officer, for they had
been reduced by years Of drill and discipline 10
mere machines. The crowd had no suspicion.
because the mere sight Of an officer COWS civil
ians in Germany The police sauted him and
aided him without hesitation. because they are
exclusively recruited from particularly loyal old
soldiers. accustomed 70 look up 20 their officers
they would TO supernatural beings. The civil
officials frightened out Of their wits at the
sight Of armed men, glitterng bayOnets and
canFinC sabTes. and, Of course. equally used to
regard the military power with the most pro-
found respect, had lost their heads too COM
pletely to notice anything out Of the common
about the captain The Mayor himself was SO
completely annifiiiatcd by the appearance Of
an officer in active service entering his room
with the magic words, IN The name Of the En-
peror,' that even his belief in his own innocence
deserted him. and he began 10 imagine he had
committed some serious crime. And yet the
Mayor was himself officer Of the reserve,
None OF these people dared so much look
at the impostor, much less argue with him.
II is no wonder that no one saw that his uni
form was Incorrect. a gray overcoet with silver
buttons dangling sword and rattling spurs
suihced 10 enforce absolute unreasoning obc-
dience from educated men who were not even
subject 10 military authority This episode af-
power of milItarism over all civil government in
Germany"
As came out Of the house. gigantic dray-
man whose team was standing in front of the
coor, greeted me with a broad smile. saying:
We'll, ola you get o good pcture?' He had
been talking with the lanitors wife who had
seen me enter Herr Bebel's apartment and
seemed delighted at the idea that I had called
upon the head Of the Socialist party His un-
affected friendlincss, which is by no means the
rule among people OF his class IN Berlin when
oonvcrsing with those whom they consider their