The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-29

How did they compare
1t must be confessed that physically the
German recruits were quite the equals OF
the British cavalrymen whom / saw in
England at Aldershot and in London.
The officers were thin fellows, an Rppar-
ent characteristic OF most German offi-
GERS. and did not look as well knit to-
gether as the men. This may be due
somewhat to their long coats, which give
them pulled-Out appearance. OF Il may
be that they are trained down by their
work. At any rate, the German officer IS
by no means as beefy a looking individ-
ual as his English cousin. He IS intellI-
gent-lOOking. intellectual in fact, and
seems to take his profession seriously,
bui he does not look Ike the natural-born
fighter that the Britisher does. nor IS ne
apparently as good a sportsman. Polo Is
not played to the same extent as IN the
British army. and, although the officers
ride. they do not fox-hunt as often es do
the men OF English blood. A tennis court
Is an unknown sight near barracks. and
ones Yankee blood yearns IN vain for a
good old game Of baseball. No cricket
fields dot the trim German landscape and
steeplechase courses are few and far be-
tween. 1t is all systematic work and de-
tai with the Germans. and a natural
healthy love for out-of-door sport seems
I
Would the Germans Whit
This leads. then. to the speculation
whether or no the Germans would whip
the British IN a good stand-up fight. a
speculation which has been agitating the
British press for months. but which has
been paid no attention 10 whatsoever IN
the tiny German newspapers. As a mag
nifcent. well-oiled machine which could
swing beautifully on q pivot, attack, and
retreat. too. ar the word OF command in
their own open. rolling country, there IS
no doubt that the German troops as a
body could not be defeated easily by any
equal number OF hostile troops But II Il
came 70 rough-and-tumble fight in
rough country similar 10 that through
which the Americans siirmished before
Santiago. there IS no doubt that a num-
Der OK British soldiers would more than
hold their own with the same number OF
Germans. Why2 Because the Britisher,
being a sportsman and well accustomed
u football, boxing polo. and othe.
games. could do more with himself IN a
Tan-tO-man, hit-or-miss contest than
could his antagonist who was not by
nature an athlete and who had never
seen any maneuvering but that OF the
fare. treeless parade grounds Of the IA
therland
The British courage which stood I'D be-
fore the charges OF Ney's cuirassiers al
Waterloo and held the hill at Spion Kop
Is Just ss potent now as it ever was At
heart there Is nothing that the English
man loves more than a good fight he is
/ a sportsman by instinct and by nature.
Perhaps not as scientifically trained as
his German neighbor. he is better able
20 take care OF himself when alone and
unaided. SO. taking into considerat ton a
rough country. those who wagered their
money upon a number OF men in red
coats against those in blue would not
, come far from winning his bet But
Should these nations clash the field OF
war would be not upon rough, but upon
even ground. Here the scientific art OF
war so perfected in the fatherland would
! have ample opportunity TO display itself
| and here there would be little doubt that
/ this magnificent German machine could
! batter down any opposition in it's tri-
umphant progress Like everything IN
/ this clock-like German nation, the men OF
I the army are welI-oiled cogs Of the bag
machine. Intellectually equipped BY study
and hard work. the officers could play
7 any game OF war chess as well as they
play the other game in barracks. In con-
tinual training. IN fair physical condition.
and seriOusly-minded, as are all Germans.
they would lead their stolid-faced recruits
! Systematically 10 victory. Nothing except
q far superior force OF opponents well
handled could stop them.
German Sentiment for Peace.
Although the British lion is growing
snd yowllng about German invasions and
German Dreadnoughts, and. Ike a small
boy with the chip on the shoulder. is
/ -. 4.
no war sentiment in Germany. The Ger
mans laugh at the talk OF the English as
a good joke They scof at the howlings
about their invasion OF the chilly isles.
and say that the fact that they are cut
ting of some OF Great Britain's trade Is
at the bottom or the English anger to-
ward them. Our country is poor" they
say. I'VE must manufacture and trade IN
order 10 live. We are doing our most to
develop our resources. That is all We
have no evil intentions whatsoever to-
ward the English The kaiser himself IS
for peace" Then they dip into their
stems Of Munich beer. listen to the band.
and smile blandly. They want to be left
alone.
But VIII they be left alone? Trade is
warfare" say the Standard Oil people in
the United States, and in order TO protect
ourselves the small competitors must be
strangled or bought OF. Already the
efficiency Of German workmanship has
begun 20 eat into the profits OF English
merchants with an interest in the most
powerful feet extant. VIII this now
powerful trader be left alone by the older
and more experienced trader2 Here IS a
nation which in 1864 attacked and de-
spoiled Denmark: which in 1866 attacked
and defeated Austria; which IN 1901 had
q rupture with France, defeated her, an
nexed two French provinces, and levied
an indemnity Of $1,000. 000.o COO. 1t is the
same nation which in 1905 suddenly
threatened France with war unless she
dismissed her foreign minister; which in
1903 menaced Russia with invasion unless
she surrendered 70 the claims OF Ger
many; and which at the present moment
can by 1912 build as many dreadnOughts
as can Great Britain. Certainly 1t is a
mighty force which. bound BY the law OF
competition to the death. is playing the
role OF NapOleanI in the European drama.
A prey TO tie demon Of progression. It Is
impossible for her TO avoid the struggle
toward which the whirlpool OF destiny IL
sucking her IN spite OF the fact that
Britannia needs no bllTaTks.
No towers along the steep
Her march Is DER the mountain waves.
Her home Is on the deep.
With thunder from the native oak
She quells the foods below
As they roar with rage upon the shore
When the stormy winds DO blow.
When the battle RACES loud and lonE
And The stormy winds do blow.
The spirit Of our fathers
Shall start from ever wave
For thc deck Il Their field OF fane,
the ocean their