The Washington times., 1908-10-11
Test ManeuverS Send Them
to Hospital by the
Score.
PROVES DEFICIENCY
OF ARMY SERVICE
German Military Officials Try TO
Conceal Figures Showing
Humiliating Results.

BERLIN. Oct 1O.-StW weak and tot
terry from the effect Of the recent man
euvers. the German army IS just begin
ming TO creep out Of hospital and call
for its accustomed beer.
The war game was almost as disas-
trous as a real campaign would have
been. The men simply fell down in
heaus. German newspapers have talked
a good deal about the poor physical
showing the soldiers made, but if mill
itary gossip is TO be relied on. they
didn't make it out half bad enough. To
have let out the whole truth might
have made them quite too unpopular
with the government
The newspapers put the number who
actually died during the maneuvers at
twenty The editors say confdentially
that twenty ought to be multiplied by
ten or a dozen to get approximately the
correct figure.
A lot Of the victims died in hospital
from complaints with which the sur
EcOns say the maneuvCrs had nothing
10 do, but for which every one else be
lieves they were directly responsible.
Thousands fell III. The military au-
thorities haven't told exactly how many
thousands and probably won't II
wouldn't look Wei But it is admitted
that whole regiments were down to half
their normal compliments.
Worse Than Previously.
The worst Of It Is that the same thing
happens. more or less, every year. This
year was rather worse than usual.
The Kaiser is understood to be very
much put out. He doesn't like to think
army's staying powers.
All the medical and military experts
are trying to cipher out what the mat
ter is.
The newspapers hint very delicately
that Wilhelm Overworks his troops
every time he has q war game.
The soldiers certainly think so. They
don't try to conceal the horror with
which they look forward TO the annual
tests OF their prowess. And the officers
nearly have nervous prOstration. They
are not only compelled to work like
horses but the nervous tension TO which
they are subjected is terrific.
For the slightest errors they are called
to account with nerciless severity. 4
serious mistake generally means the
ruin Of q career.
A few foreign opinions have been
brought to the Kaiser's attention sug-
gesting that the men could stand more
wear and tear If beer were less popular
throughout the FatheTland.
The German experts don't put much
faith IN this theory, but some OF them
do incline 10 the view that something
ails the military dietetic system.
And that reminds them of the brilliant
results General AIillet achieved during
the maneuvers in the South Of Franc,
by feeding his troops. according 10 4
new idea of his own
Stuffed With Sugar.
The French commander urged his mcI
simply 20 stuff themselves, especially
with meat. and still more especially
with sugar. He saw 10 il that eacf
soldier consumed the equivalent OF
eighteen humps OF sugar daily. and the
way hey marched on 1t amazed ever
General 1Iiuet-
Thirty or forty miles q day scarcely
tired them. and all through the maneu
vcrs the number Of hospital cases was
kept down TO an average or four mer
90 q regiment.
The Kaiser was ErateIy interested II
this experiment, and is getting all sorts
of detailed reports on il from his mill.
tary attaches in France.
If he didn't get much satisfaction out
OF a comparison between his own and
the French soldiers, his majesty fourG
Il grain If comfort in glauCinE over re,
ports Of the British maneuvc-s.
1t is agreed IN England. as well as
on the Continent that the "territoriaI5-
a sort Of national guard Of War Min
lister Haldane's invenucn-were a dismal
failure.
Hundreds and hundreds Of them ig,
,toTed the summons 10 the war game en-.
tlTely. The ones who participated didD't
work up a particle Of enthusiasm
The British newspapers say theil
camps were simply scandaiO from &
sanitary standpoint, that their driUl
were joke. that their appearance wa,
ridiculous and That their uaneuver,
were nothing short Of painful.
Sickness among the mon was so gen
Cral that several regiments had TO Gu
their outing off short and 80 home.
DOIDC ATTn ON EATE