The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-25
OBED|ENT SOLDIERS,
An Illustration Of Military Disci-
pIine In Germany.
A JOKE TAKEN IN EARNEST.

Amusing Incident In Which He Par
tioipsted During Visit to the Bat.
tlefeId OF Worth.
The docillty and blind obedience of
the German soldier have long been an
object of comment. The Germans
themselves recognize that it sometimes
goes so far as to be absurd An Eng
llshman, writing in the London Times,
describes an amusing incident which
occurred after he had spent day
tramping about the battlefield Of
Worth. He was dressed, Il should be
noted. In regular civilian clothes and
carried an umbrella:
Emerging from a wood, came upon
n plot OF rrass where about dozen
German soldiers were resting The
spirit moved me TO stop and speak
to these men-emphaslzing my mean
ing by signs when my scant German
vocabulary failed me.
I asked, "Are you Prusslans7" The
indignant answer, in chorus, was: "No!
Saxonsr
"oh," said 7, wishing to concillate,
IL am Anglo.Saxon."
Much to my astonisbment. one OF
them got up and shook me warmly by
the hand. Pointing to my dusty boots
and flannel shirt, unbuttoned at the
neck, then. In vile German, explained
to my friends Of FIVE minutes standing
| that had made the grand tour of the
| battlefield on foot and had been walk
| Ing since o o'clock In the morning, 1t
then being In the afternoon.
Quite casually I remarked that al
though mot a military, but a naval Of
fcer." the study of battlefelds inter-
| ested me.
At the mention of the word "officer"
all the men sat up, buttoued their tu-
mics and bucxled on their swords or
bayonets-I forget which.
"Are you going to Niederbronn?" was
my next question.
"Yes," they replied; 1--WE are going TO
walk TO Niederbronn and there take
the train TO Bltsch."
What evil genius prompted me to
make the next remark / cannot tell,
but although uttered In joke It's con
sequences were perfectly astounding.
81, too. am going to Niederbronn
You are my regiment am your colo
1 mel"
| Up they sprang to their feet. fell In
two deep and kept quite silent as If or
parade. Right turn!" and Off we
marched. ! carrying my umbrella as II
| Il were a sword.
Breasting n grassy slope. we marched
up to the top at swinging pace, still
observing perfect silcnce and In step
A short distance or was solitary sol
der OF the same regiment lying a
full length on bench near the en-
| trance to wood--tunic unbuttoned
sword unbuckled. and so forth.
On catching sight OF the approaching
squad up he jumped, buttoned hi
Mnic. buckled on his weapon, stood
rlgidly at attention and when the reg
iment" came by tailed on" as IL i
was the most natural thing In thu
world TO do.
| Please note that not word passed
between the main body and the re
| e0IOTCPInfnI. on tultIlHS lh' Npo'
the leading Ale began TO sing a march
ing song. the others joining In chorus
BY this time we were nearing Nieder
bronn and passed man and his wife
who were evidently much astonishet
to see disciplined body of mel
marching In strict military fashion un
der the command Of foreigner armed
with an umbrella mot even silk one
| A disconcerting thought arose
"What will happen II we chance across
a German officer, and how. In ml
| broken German, can ever hope TO ex
plain this extraordinary assumption o
command OF the forces of the kaiser z
So without moments further della.
I said to the men. 81 must go TO m,
hotel. which Is over there" and bad'
them goodby.
These docile and amiable Saxon
with one accord, taking time by th
leading file, saluted, and /, having re
turned their salute, got out of sight al
rapidly as possible. On peeping rount
| the corner of house there was m
late regiment still marching wit
the regularity Of clockwork.
Lincoln on Proof.