Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-16
ANCIENT VICTORY
COMMEMORAT
GERMANS HOLD CELEBRATION
AT SCHUETZEN PARK
TEUToBuRG BATTLE REFoUGHT
WITH MODERN WEAPONS
Former Subjects of Kaiser and Their
Descendants Observe Date of Fight
Which Made Possible Pres
ent Empire

In every hamlet and village of Ger
many a similar celebration was held
yesterday for the memorable battle
fought in the year 8 A. d. is regarded
as the starting point of the German ma
tion, the first time that the tribes
became united in common cause and by
their aggressiveness, despite superior
numbers, won a victory which had the
same significant meaning as when the
eroused patroits of America fired tho
shot heard around the world
Five thousand persons from all parts
of Southern California gathered at
Schuetzen park to participate In the
first real German festival that has ever
been held in Los Angeles.
Teutobure Battle Refought
1t was a day of merrymaking and
good nature, of patriotic speeches and
patriotic songs, and tc cap the climax
mimic battle of the famous fight of
the Romans and Germans at TeutoburS
was enacted.
The history of the German empire
dates from the battle of Teutoburg,
when $1,000 Germans successfully re-
PEELED the invasion of the Roman army,
numbered at $4,000 Not only did the
outcome of the battle mean the future
of the German empire, but also the end
of the Roman invasion
The story of the fight is interesting
and every loyal German has learned the
details by heart and delights In telling
1t.
For some years the German tribes
had been fighting each other ana all
attempts to make strong and united
empire proved futile.
The news that the Roman army was
about to invade the German country
was what served to bring the various
tribes to an understanding. and Gen
Hermann was chosen as the man TO
lead the forces and repel the Roman
invasion.
The battle was won by strategy, as
Gems. Hermann and Varius of the
opposIng army were friends and
through the cunning of the German
warrior the Romans were taken OH
guard. and despite the fact that they
outnumbered the Germans two to one,
were routed, and the aggressiveness of
the Roman empire ceased.
Primitive Weapons Used
IT was a battle in which modern fire
arms did not take a part, but the
sturdy German farmers, by rolling
boulders down the hills and In nerce
hand to hand encounters with spears
and bludgeons as weapons so complete
ly surprised the enemy that the oattle
was of short duration.
The result marked the uniting or the
German tribes for the battle was of
common cause the defending of homes,
and from that date the history or the
German empire has multiplied.
The order of the Sons of Hermann
dated from the historic fight held l9OO
wears ago, but yesterday celepratlqii
was participated In by members or all
German and German American So
cieties of Southern California.
Schuetzen park had been arrdnseu
for. the event. and at the main entrance
was crested an old-fashtoned Gerihdh
castle and along the entrance was
street depicting scenes i'm Germany
More than 5000 square feet OF canvas
was used i'm housing the crowd ana
German booths dotted the grouhus
Hosnitality was the watchWord OF tne
celebration, but the crowd was oruerly
and the only disturbance or importance
bannened when a man was evicted from
the grounds because he lhslsteu oH
singing How Dry I Am.
Politicians Busy
II WAS a great day for the politicians
and future mayors ana couhcllii'en
we're about giving the glad hahu ~
constituents who were Wlliins " 80 80
for anv one. The guests did not take
tindIv to notifies, for it was a real
German festival and there was not
time to discuss politics. 49,, ,.,.
Tba celebration of the festival began
AZ turner hall a week ago yesterday
with musical and literary exercises
The feature of yesterday $ celepratiiU,n
was the sham battle Waseu III I,.e LIE tba
adjoining the park and depicting the
downfall of the Roman army ana the
triumph of the Germans. A.,
Tha battle was arranged by the
Deuts1xe Kriger Verein under the dl-
rertion of Capt. D. Oeltzen, aided by
A. Cramer and Theodore Friese.
John Goetze posed as Cen heTinailli ann
and Frank Dorner as the deteated
The battle was interesting. but the
fact that guns and revolvers We're used,
which were not known in the time OF
the historic battle. gave the affair
modern aspect.
CARRIED in Ancient Costume
The opposing armies were garbed in
tho Costumes of the ancient days and
the hand to hand spear conflicts were
realistic, but the booming OF cannon
and the dischargine of firearms oe-
tracted from the otherwise original et-
feet. ,..-,....
tba Romans were defeated and, led by
Gen. Hermann in the person OF GoetZe,
the captured Roman general was es-
corted to camp by several OF the Ger
man braves.
A pretty feature of the battle was
the greeting accorded the victorious
army bv a number of beautiful women
garbed in ancient robes with flowing
hair and accompanied by a number OF
children bearing baskets of flowers.
The singing of the Fidelia and Arion
male choruses and the mixed Germania
chorus under the direction OF Professor
f. w. Reiser was one of the pleasant
events on the program The choruses
reused enthusiasm bv the careful and
well appreciated rendition of patriotic
German war songs.
Dancing was enjoyed during the day
and last night a thrilling pyrotechnic
display Of fireworks was watched by
the crowd.
Red Letter Day for Germans
1t was the real red letter Gay for the
Germans of Los Angeles, and that they
are adopts in the matter of hospitality
was acknowledged by the thousands
who Journeyed to Schuetzen park.