Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-08
aaliseellansuus gsaains.
THE kAISER'S ARMY.
An English Girls Impression Of Ger
many's Fighters.

| manys flgnters.
| Take an average British soldier and
put him for, say, three months mill
tary training, into the German army
What would be the result? Twelve
weeks out of the thirteen would be
spent in solitary confinement for in
subordination and insulting a superior
! officer. while in the last week he would
probably be executed for killing one.
| This is not intended as slur upon
the British soldier; for, although he
gives up his life and body to the SER
vice of his country, still he retains his
individuality and his self-respect. Such
Is certainly not the case with the Ger
man soldier; for what self-respect can
a man have who is habitually address
ed by his superior officers by such
epithets as bandy-legs, pig-dog, fool,
idiot and so on?
Since every man, who is not an ab-
solute idiot or physically incapable, Is
compelled to- serve, it can be we'll i'm
axined that the German army, as
whole, Is not conspicuous for symme-
try of form, nor beauty and intelligence
of countenance; therefore, 1t seems
more than hard that man who,
through no fault of his own, Is al
ficted with some personal defect,
should have this affiiction publicly de-
rided and jeered at with remarks pref
aced by one or more Of the foregoing
elegancies of speech.
The under Officers are the worst Of
tenders in this respect.
Hi! you bandy-legs, don't stand
there looking as conceited as II you
were the only silly ass In the whole
regiment" is the sort Of wit In which
the noncom, INDUCES at the unfortu-
nate private's expense.
Poor fellow; for the time being he
is machine-the property, nominally,
of his country, but, in reality OF the
man who happens to be in command
over him, and woe betide him If he
offend his sergeant. He must have no
thought, no will Of his own. Perhaps
he never had much Of either. All the
better for him when he becomes SOL
dier.
Now and again, though, a man re-
fuses to submit to such indignities
| without a struggle, but repeated con-
finements to the cells and bread and
water diet soon break his spirit. II
not, there are worse punishments.
AS soon as he realizes that he gave
up his manhood when he took on the
uniform, he can get on fairly well,
provided he is thick skinned. His work
is arduous, his rations poor, and he is
rewarded with the munifcent sum OF
2 SID per diem Gin cavalry regi-
ment it is a little more); but he can
console himself with the reflection that
two years will see the end Of 1t. This
is the length Of time he has to serve,
unless he happens to be the son OF
rich people, when one will suffice.
But there is a great and marked diff
ference between the two. The rich
mans son must succeed in passing an
examination and then, during the year,
must keep himself in uniform, food,
lodging and everything else. 1t costs
anything between $50 pounds and ESQ
pounds, according to the regiment he
is in. Although he has to drill and
work with the others, he Is generally
better treated, has more privileges, and
may pass his spare time as he likes,
provided he does not leave the town
without permission. The under officers
are fairly decent to him, although
sometimes they may be cutting.
Where are you going to, Schmidt? p
said a non-commissioned officer to a
gentleman private.
ITO dine, sir" came the reply.
| "What?" roared out the sergeant.
Officers dine, we eat, but you-you
feed, understand" and this to a gen.
tleman born.
| The German soldiers on parade are
not a pretty sight, nor an imposing
one. They are mostly understood, un-
derfed and overworked. There is a
splendid assortment of knock knees,
bandy-legs and squints; but, remem-
ber, Germany can put 100000 men Of
a sort on the field.
And the uniforms! They are not
beautiful at best; but when you know
that each man gets his predecessors
garments-or what Is left Of them-it
may be imagined that a regiment of
soldiers is an impressive spectacle. !
have seen a little man wearing coat
three sizes too large for him. 1t was
belted in at the waist, the skirts FORM
ing ludicrous frill; while little way
down the line a great burly fellow did
his best to stand in a way which put
less strain upon the seams Of his meth
er garments. They each have a decent
suit Of full dress parade, though.
| An element of fear runs through
the whole army, the men being afraid
of each and every superior. The SER
geants fear the lieutenants, who, in
turn, fear the captains, and so on, up
to the commanding general. He, being
at the top Of the tree, has no one over
/ illli, 81 lSl US HOpe hc 1Sdi . HIS nohCi
Judging from his language, he does
not. All officers swear loudly and well
but none so wholeheartedly and fer
wildly as this pinnacle Of power.
The gem Of the Germany army Is as
suredly the lieutenant. He is thing
of beauty and joy forever-in the
eyes Of the fair sex, at any rate. No
matter how much popular opinion and
unbiased observation may incline
against him. to the German girl he is
perfect.
His conceit is ineffable, his appear
ance very ordinary, though sometimes
you come across a handsome one; his
knowledge is astounding; his opinion
Of himself, his abilities, and everything
pertaining to him, could not be i'm
proved upon; although very young, he
is generally as blase as an old roue OF
60-and his uniform Is charming.
do not blame a lieutenant; he can not
L l. = II q. 4 Il.