Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
Results of Recent Target Practice
Show Poorly.
ERON DISCIPLINE IS AT FAULT
Individual Thinking Rigidly Stamped
Out in Navy.
HOME RULE TO ALsACE-LORRA1NE
Autonomy I'm Their Local Affairs win
BE Granted Citisens of the Two
Colonies Recovered from
France.
by MALCOLM CLARKE.

BERLIN, April A--NSpecial Dispatch TO /
The Bee.)-The kaiser and the German ma
val authorities have become converted to |
the idea that in order to have first class |
navy something more is needed than the
finest ships and most powerful guns that !
human ingenuity can produce.
They have come to realizing sense that
tho nan is Of fully as great II not greater
Importance than the machine IL his war
fleet is to become really formidable
fighting force.
Recent maneuvers and fleet target prae-
tlce is responsible for this awakening
The kaiser is particularly exercised over
the poor Workmanship OF his naval gum
ners
Even In the newer ships, mounting the
latest pattern guns. and equipped with the
most modern sighting and ranging appli
Rnces. tho number OF hits scored was very
disappointing The gunnery records OF
the American and British navies are very
eagerly scanned In Berlin. and the kaiser
is asserted to have spoken his mind very
strongly upon the poor shooting achieved
by his fleet.
VIII Change system.
As result. II is probable that the pres
ent system Of gun training in vogue in the
German fleet will be radically altered. 1t
II
to Judge that both the gunnery officers and
the gun crews themselves are equally at
fault The officers do not seem TO exer-
else sufficient care in ranging their target
before giving the order to fire. The cap
tains OF the gun crews. for their part, are
content to accept the range as given them
from the control stations and not to check
II for themselves.
The position in the German navy today
Is this: In Milhelmshaven It possesses one
of the largest and finest naval bases In
the world. and fleet OF any magnitude
could be fitted opt there and prepared for
war with a rapldity that could probably
not be eduailed By any other yard any,
where. Tho newer battleships and cruisers
now completing for the sea VIII be fully
the equal Of any warshIps yet built and
their guns will likewise challenge compar-
ison with British weapons.
II Is the personnel and the system Of
training that is at fault, and here Germany
Is surpassed alike by the American the
British ana the Japanese This has been
admitted for some time past by many Cor
man officers or experience. The same
rigid. cast-iron discipline that pervades the
German army has been introduced into
the navy. and every rank has had its initia-
tive and power OF Individual thought and
decision studlously trampled out Of It.
understand II Is the purpose Of 'he
kaiser to detail a number OF bright young
officers to make o careful study In Eng
land, Japan and America Of naval disci-
pilne and the development Of naval gum
merry and that sweeping reforms will be
made In the German system.
Home Rule an the Rhine.
Aisace-Lorraine will soon be granted
home rule. according TO belief in best In
formed circles here. While the people OF
the Reichiand have not in principle ac-
cepted the right Of Germany to annex their
country against it's will, the irreconcilables
have died out and the autonomlsts who
have replaced them recognize the fait
aeoompn and declare that II they must
form part OF the German confederation
they should enjoy the same privileges al
the other states. That is to say. that they
should have diet for the enacting Of
Ioysn legis.a alton, should be represented OF
thsfederal council Of the empire and have
a prince or statthalter nominatd for life
This would allow Alsaee-Lorraine to main
tain its national life and traditions. In
stead OF having continual efforts made tS
crush them out OF existence. The imperia
government, understand. have abou
reached the conclusion that this is th'
best solution OF the question and soon vii
put a plan OF autonomous government Int
effect
Berlin to Expand.
II present indications 90 for anything
London will have to look 10 her laurels o.
she will have to give place 70 Berlin as tn
largest and most populous city in th'
world. Two prizes OF 5000 each have Jus
been awarded BY the municipal council
OF Berlin to a couple OF architects, wh'
were successful In a competition, for pro
duclng adequate plans for the expan
sion OF the city. Berlin has at present
Including immediate suburbs, population
of 100000. but il is proposed 70 transform
the capital into an agglomeration q SOW
600 OF Inhabitants. The project lndlcaie
an increase Of radius from twenty five 4
thirty miles. and provides for the preseI
walton OF woods, the laying down Of ran
ways, and other means OF rapid ccmnuni
cation, the mapping out OF broad avenues
ana the construction OF hyEienic buildings
rendering Berlin not only equal, II not su
perior TO London in vastness ad popu
u laton but very much handsomer. cleaner
and more comfortable.
Mormon missionaries Expelled.
Mormon missionaries are not wanted 1
Germany. The kingdom OF Saxony ha
Just expelled five apostles as undesirabl
aliens. The MOrmons have carried on a
active propaganda in Europe and espe
cially in Germany, during the last te
years, ana they have induced number G
persons. mostly women. 10 emlgrate I
the headquarters Of their creed ana I
adopt their mode Of life
Physical Trafnina for Children.
A Berlin doctor has just published vol
4 lume IN which he makes some novel state
ments with regard 10 the physical train
ScOarnusd - second Pass)