The Washington herald., 1908-05-24
FOREIGN COURTS OF HONOR
How Cases Similar to That of Col Stewart
Are Disposed Of

oH the part OF the sovereign. since the
latter could not venture TO dismiss them
unless he had previously obtained the ap-
proval Of the court
Dismissal Recommended.
On the other hand. If this tribunal rec
commended the dismissal the monarch
had his hand strengthened. and no one
could aceuse him OF using his power un-
justly. since the action had been recon-
mended by the officers peers.
In the German and Austrian armies
there IS a court OF honor for each regi-
ment. II is composed Of the entire body
OF officers. and is competent 10 deal with
questions relating 70 officers up 70 and in
elusive Of the rank Of captain. Matters
relating to majors. lieutenant cOlOnels.
and eoIoneIs are dealt with by a court
composed OF officers OF those ranks OF
each regiment Of the brigade or division
of which the regiments in question are
units; and each regiment. moreover. IS
additionally represented on this divisional
court OF honor by a delegation consisting
Of one captain, one lieutenant, and one
sublieutenant, selected by the regimental
court In questions where the honor and
behavior or generals are concerned. IT is
the sovereign himself who. as general
issimO. selects and appoints the members
of the court of honor. which It is needless
to add consists exclusively OF general ohl-
GERS.
The regimental court Of honor exercises
a careful supervision. and what may be
described as even an inquisitoFial control
of the public and private life and be-
havior of every officer Of the regiment.
Its main object is 10 take into strict ac-
count anything and everything that is
calculated 10 compromise IN the slightest
degree the prestige and consideration OF
the officers OF the corps, and with this pur-
pose IN view the court takes note of the
whole private life and social as well as
domestic relations Of the officers Of the
regiment Il is quick to ascertain IL an
officer has debts. il he is addicted 10 drink,
il he gambles beyond his means, II he fre-
quents questionable society. and in case
he Is married, whether his wifes conduct
is not only above reprOach, but even be-
yond the reach OF unkindly gossip and
calumny.
Keeps Track of Disputes.
The court Of honor likewise keeps track
Of any dispute or controversy in which
an officer Of the regiment may have be-
come involved. and as 10 how he has
borne himself in the matter. In fact, there
is not a single phase in his life which
escapes the searching scrutiny Of the
court Of honor, and whenever he is found
wanting, he is commanded 10 appear be-
fore the court OF honor II This super
vision exercised by the regimentaI court
OF honor upon the life OF the officers OF
the corps appears TO be inquisitorial 1t
must be remembered that after all the
one object In view is the good name, the
honor. and the welfare Of the regiment
as a whole. and that. in perhaps a lesser
degree, much the same supervision is ex-
ercised by the governors of the leading
clubs on both sides of the Atlantic on
the conduct and reputation Of its MEM
bers. II In the regiment a closer con-
troll Is necessary than in that of d club,
II is because officers are forced 10 more
intimate association with one another,
and are directly responsible for one an
others honor.
Col Stewards case has some analogy
with that OF eX-COl- Gaedke, OF the Prus-
sian army. now the most authoritative
and brilliant writer on military subjects
in the German press. Gaedke is won
derfUlly gifted and talented man. and as
colonel OF artillery and as stan officer, ne
enjoyed the highest kind OF a reputation
IN the German army. His organization
OF the maneuveTs was considered remark
able. and mis- knowledge OF military his
tory. of tactical science of everything
pertaining 20 ordnance. was so univer-
sally acknowledged that officers came
from far and near 10 attend his lectures
and addresses. With all that, he pos
sessed the most unfortunate Temperament
tai defects # character. He was forever
quarreling not merely with his subordi-
mates, but also with his superiors. and
getting into one dispute after another.
not only with the civil authorities. but
also with the social dignitaries Of the gar
risons 10 which he was assigned.
Refuses Promotions,
1t was this, ana this alone that led 70
his being refused promotion TO the rank
OF general and TO his being placed on
half pay. on the strength OF a recon-
mendation Of a court Of honor. He then
devoted himself entirely 10 writing for
the press on military matters, and at the
time OF the assassination of the King and
Queen OF servia by their officers, made
the somewhat indiscreet remark that
there were occasions when the duty TO
the fatherland and to the state rose sll-
perior 10 the officers oath OF loyalty,
fidelity, and strict obedience 20 his
sovereign For this he was brought be-
fore court Of honor, which, on the
ground that his utteranee was subversive
Of the discipline OF the army. and IN
worthy of an officer holding a commits
sion therein on the active or the retired
list recommended that he be deprived OF
/ his retired rank of colonel and Of his
right 10 wear the uniform assigned there
10. Gaedke has been fighting this in
every court OF the Prusslan kingdom, and
Of the German empire. declaring that
courts OF honor have no jurisdiction in the
eyes OF the law. But he Is bound TO fail.
Indeed. public opinion is 10 all intcnts
and purposes against him. since the peo-
pie naturally assume that if not cne but
several courts of honor, Composed OF
his own fellow-Offieers have decided
against him, and pronounced him as un-
fitted in their eyes 10 remain an officer
of the army, there must be some reason
Tor it.
Copyright 1905, by the brentwood Company
Cost Of the Big Liners.
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