Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
DUELS AND RED CROSS
Opposition of Women to the
Practices of the Code.
OFFICERS IN DILEMMA
Subject to Boycott by Associates or
Their Sweethearts.
REGULATION OF ENCOUNTERS
Printed Blanks for Every Step Of the
Preliminaries, Including Chal-
lenges and Acceptances.
OF ENCOUNTERS
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS


BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Duelling in Austria is prohibited by law
and If the police discover the Intentions OF
either civilians or military officers to fight
the culprits are Immediately arrested. II
a fight cannot be prevented. the partici-
pants, II known, are arrested and severely
punished, usually by Imprisonment when
convicted. The penalties have been in
creasing in severity during recent years
but that has made appeals to the code
more popular than ever, because 1t involves
greater risks and greater sacrifices in de-
Tense or vindication Of the honor" Of a
gentleman. In the Austrian army not
withstanding this law, dueling is compul-
sorry. The code Is sacred and secret and
cannot be ignored If the civil authorities
intefere, as they often do, every witness
Is silent and will refuse to give evidence
or furnish any clue that may lead to de-
lection. But even when officers are for
hidden by the civil authorities to fight
they regard their obligations to the code
even higher. and must observe them or re-
sign from the army. Those are the only
alternatives without reference to the police
or the courts.
Army duels are so common and are con-
Quoted with such formality that there are
printed blanks for every step, for chal-
lenges, for acceptances, for apologies and
retractions, for designating seconds and
for every other communication that can
occur in the settlement Of quarrel by an
appeal to the code. All quarrels and dis
putes among officers are, however. first
submitted to a standing tribunal Of three
of the senior officers in each regiment, Sc
cd NV ha mol nf hair i'm
ment, fairness and other judicial qualiica-
lions. When quarrel occurs, the party
offended or both parties are required by the
code to make application for a hearing be-
fore this tribunal on printed blanks pro-
vided for that purpose. The names of the
witnesses are appended, and after an exam
ination of all concerned the tribunal de-
cides how it shall be settled. If it is a
bad case the offender is required to apol-
ogize, and the apology is written upon a
blank provided for that purpose. The terms
usually framed by the tribunal, and If
the offender refuses to sign it and respect
it, he is sent to Coventry''-that Is he is
boycetted by his fellow-officers and humil-
lated until he is compelled to accept the
judgment of the tribunal resign from
the army.
Four Grades of Duels.
In case when a question of honor is in
volved and one party is about as guilty as
the other. they are required to fight duel,
and the best man wins. The challenge and
acceptance are all prepared according to
the code subject to the approval of the
tribunal, which designates the character
of the duel and appoints umpire to pre-
side to see that it Is properly conducted,
to determine when it shall cease and to de-
clare tfer victor. All duels are fought I'M
der cover in the barracks, where there Is
no danger of interruption. There are four
grades of duels, which are adopted accord
ing as the quarrel may be trivial or Sc
rious:
/. Fencing with light rapiers with the
bodies padded and only the face exposed as
in duels between German students. 1t is
impossible to do any serious injury, al
though the face may be badly Scared and
officers are proud of such marks, like the
students of the universities
2. Fencing with cavalry sabers, the
bodies naked to the waist. The contestants
and can only slash at each other with the
edge of the blade. This is not dangerous,
although frequently great deal of blood is
shed from flesh wounds.
3. The same with thrusting allowed, the
points of the sabers being uncovered and
very keen. This is an exceedingly danger
Gus practice.
A. Pistols at a certain number Of PAGES,
as indicated by the tribunal. These duels
are the most dangerous Of all, and are
often fatal, but are never resorted to ex-
cept in most extreme cases of insult or in
jury that cannot be avenged in any other
way.
When duelist is badly wounded he is
taken to the military hospital end placed
Immediately in charge of the surgeons, and
the pledge of secrecy is imposed upon
every officer who knows anything about the
affair. Indeed, duels are never discussed.
They are not considered proper topics for
conversation, and any officer who should
disclose information concerning them that
might reach the public OF the police would
suffer severely. In case one of the par
Elephants is killed the surgeons take charge
Of the body, and the tribunal prepares a
statement showing that he came to his
death by accident No further notice is
taken of the matter by the military au-
thorities. If the civil police undertake an
investigation every mouth is shut, and it is
impossible for them to get direct informa-
ton The feeling between the police and
the army is quite bitter. There is a stand
ing feud.