The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-24
GERMANY NEEDS
BETTER GUNNERS
Kaiser Is Exercised Over the
Poor Workmanship
BERLIN RIVALS LONDON
German Capital May he the Most Pop
uIous City In the World III Pro-
posed Plans Are to he
Carried Ont

Berlin, April 3.-(Specal The Kaiser
and the German naval authorities have
vecome converted to the idea that in
order to have f1rst-class navy. some
thing more is needed than the finest
ships and most powerful guns that hui
man ingenuity can produce.
They have come to realizing sense
that the man is of fully as great, II not
greater Importance than the machine
If his war fleet is to become a really
formidable lighting force
| Recent manoeuvres and fleet target
practice is responsible for this awak-
ening.
The Kaiser is particularly exercised
over the poor craftsmanship of the
naval gunners
Even in the newer ships. mounting
the latest pattern guns, and equipped
with the most modern sighting and rang
ing appliances, the number of hits
scored was very disappointing. The
gunnery records of the American and
British navies are very eagerly scan
ned in Berlin, and the Kaiser is assert
ed to have spoken ris mind very strong
| ly upon the poor shooting achieved by
| his fleet.
| As result, 1t is probable that the
present system of gun training in vogue
| in the German fleet will be radically
altered. 1t is asserted by those who are
in position to judge that both the gun
merry officers and the gun crews them
| selves are equally to fault. The officers
| do not seem to exercise sufficient care
| in ranging their target before the order
| to fire. The captains of the gun crews
| TO- their part, are content to accept the
range as given them from the control
stations and not to check it for them
selves.
The position in the German navy today
is this. In Wilhelmshaven it possesses
one of the largest and finest naval bases
in the world, and fleet of any mag
nitude could be fitted out there and pre-
pared for war with a rapidity that could
probably not be equalled by any other
yard anywhere. The newer battleships
and cruisers now completing for sea,
will be fully the equal of any warships
yet built, and their guns will likewise
challenge comparison with the British
weapons.
1t is the personnel and the system of
training that is at fault, and here Ger
many is surpassed alike by the Amer
lean, the British and the japanese. This
has been admitted for some time past by
many German officers of experience. The
same rigid, cast-iron discipline that per-
vades the German army has been intro
duced into the navy, and every rank has
had its initiative and power of individual
thought and decision studiously trampled
out of it.
I I understand 1t is the purpose of the
| II o4,tl ~ hxtex l,f
young officers to make a careful study
in England. Japan and America OF naval
discipline and the development of naval
| gunnery and that sweeping reforms will
be made in the German system.
Alsace-Lorraine will soon be granted
home rule according to belief in best in
formed circles here. While the people
of the Reichsland have not in principle
accepted the right of Germany to annex
their country against its will the irrec-
onciliables have died out and the auton-
omists who have replaced them recog-
MIC the fait accompli and declare that
If they must form part of the German
| Confederation, they should enjoy the
same privileges as the other states. That
| is to say, that they should have a diet
for the enacting of local legislation,
should be represented on the Federal
| council of the Empire and have prince
| or statthalter nominated for life. This
would allow Alsace-Lorraine to main
| taip national life and traditions instead
| of having continual efforts made to crush
them out of existance. The Imperial
government I understand. have about
reached the conclusion that this is the
best solution of the question and soon
| will put a plan of autonomous govern
ment into effect.
If present indications go for anything,
London Wal have to look to her laurels
or she will have to give place to Berlin
| as the largest and most popuous city in
| the world. Two prizes of $1,000 each
| have Just been awarded by the Munich
| pal council of Berlin to a couple of archi-
lfects who were successful in a compe-
| tition for producing adequate plans for
the expansion of the city. Berlin has at
present. including immediate suburbs, q
population of three millions, but it is
proposed to transform the capitol into
am agglomeration of six millions of in
habitants The project indicates an in
crease of radius from % to so miles. and
provides for the preservation of woods,
the laying down railways. and other
means of rapid communication, the map
ping out of broad avenues, and the con-
strnction of hygenc buildings. rendering
Berlin not only equal II not superior, to
London In vastness and population. but
very much handsomer cleaner, and more
comfortable.
Mormon missionaries are not wanted In
Germany The Kingdom of Saxony has
just expelled five apostles as undesir-
able aliens. The Mormons have carried
on an active propaganda in Europe, and
especially in Germany, during the last
ten years. and they have induced a num-
Der of persons, mostly women. to emil
CRATE to the headquarters of their creed
and to adopt their mode Of life.
A Berlin doctor has just published a
volume in which he made some novel