The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-07

Berlin, November 6.-(Special )-The re- port that insanity had been increasing in the army has not surprised anybody liv-
 ing here. One cannot well imagine a more dreary career than that of a Ger man soldier. The men are treated worse than if they were animals, indeed, an army horse has much easier time than a private. As for the officers, they have little else to do but strut around and re- spond to salutes. And they appear to be constantly appalled, by their sense of their importance. Within month three of them killed themselves. The army is irreligious among other things.
 We are threatened with a labor war of huge dimentions. involving possibly sev- eral millions of workers.
 The trouble began in the ship-buding trade, where the employers, in retaia tion for some sectional strikes, declared partial lockout, which affected 60,O0O men. The dispute has since been taken up by the federation of employers in the metal trades. who threaten to lock out 60 per cent of their workmen If the ship building trouble is not immediately set | tied This would affect an additional 100000 men,
 Finally, the workmen in the great elec- trical industries have threatened to join hands with the metal workers if the threatened lockout is declared The Tageblatt states that the navy esti- mates for 1911 provided for an effective strength of 60,00O men, an increase of 5000 on the 1910 estimates.
 The policy of the government Is to maintain an adequate number of men for the naval service. All the time the 6O,00O men could take care of 12O ships of war, big and small.
 German policemen who are permitted to laugh now and then are roaring when off duty over a story which one of them brought from Paris, It is "one on" the detectives in the French capital who rdiculed the German police a few years ago when the famous "captain" Koe- penig held up soldiers and a burgomaster. The story he brings is that of robbery in Paris of the most audacious kind, which in some respects reminds of the exploits of the famous captain Koe penig. jeweler named Seyper received the visit of a man who told him that M. Roland, living in a hotel near by had commissioned him to sell some vau able jewelry worth G70O Roland would show the property to any likely buyer. Not willing to invest In the jewelry alone, Seyper spoke of the matter to a friend named Garaud, and they agreed to find the money between them and halve the profits. They called on Roland and in- spected the goods. The price was agreed upon, and just as Seyper and Garaud were handing over the money two men entered.
 We are detectives" they said. This is stolen property and we arrest you in the name of the law" They grabbed both money and jewels, and took the three men to the Palals de Justice. There the 'prisoners' were told to- wait in the waiting room whilst the detectives" went to interview the magistrate on the matter They returned presently. "The magistrate will see you first" they told Roland, and away went the three. To their stupefafaction they learned that
  to the "detectives'' the two men described were totally unknown. Then it dawned upon them that they had been ceverly led into a cleverly laid plot. and now they were wondering if they will ever see their G700 again.
 The French police are not saying much a bout the affair.
 General Gagern still refuses to shoot -s- 1, 4l.- matter until some of his brother officers who advised him to use his pistol on him self had tried suicide themselves.
 General Gargern has been involved in a scandal, involving the reputation of well-known woman and her children. He is not the only army officer involved in intrigues. but he has been brazen about
 it, admitting, it is said that he was the father of two of the woman's children.
 A few nights ago, several officers met him at a club and talked the matter over One said, with apparent approval of the other officers "Go shoot your self
 The Emperor has been asked to take hand. but he has not done so; he is sick and weary or squaring things for disreputable officers and officials
 The minister of war has been deluged with applica tions since 1t was announced that 1t would give $25,00O as a prize for an overland aviation contest.
 Royalty, apparently, Is not exempt from automobile accidents: the Czar of Russia recently was in two accidents inside of one hour The Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse and the Czar and his children were motoring from Freidberg to Lich, when their car collded with a farmers wagon, which was flung into a ditch. The motor was damaged. The party had to get another car to return and sec ond collision occurred. necesstating a change into a third automobile.
 Some time ago one of the local thetres introduced the "Noiseless paper" pro- grammes. They can be freely handled without causing annoyance to auditors. The idea took, and has spread all over the Empire.
 The peasant players who took part in the Passion play, have been paid off in full Each received about $6O. or an average of $1 a day. Those who took the leading parts received about $5 day
 Joseph Schmidt was summond to the colours at Frankfort on Maine in 18N. but he fled and lived in France 32 years When all his relatives there died, he be- came home-sick and returned to Ger many. but was immediately detected and arrested He has now been sentenced to six months imprisonment and will then have to serve as a common soldier for three years.
 The reason for Prince Henry of Prus- sia's visit to King George of England. was to consult concerning the itinerary for the forthcoming visit of the German