The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-05-03
MILITARY AAzlNG.
Carried to Brutal Extremes In
German Army Schools.
CADETS MANNED AND KILLED.

Melted Out to Erring Freshmen la
"the Gantlet of Fire." and the Most
RepuIsive Is "Bacon Swallowing"
Germany is, of all countries, the ono
in which the science of hazing in mil
itary schools has attained the greatest
development. The army plays in the
fatherland's life part the Importance
of which can hardly be realized by an
untraveled American. Military service
is compulsory, and in time of peace
100000 men are kept armed, uniformed
and drilled. To command that huge
contingent $4,000 commissioned officers
are necessary.
This large officer corps has developed
customs, ethics, even a morality, of its
own. These customs and ethics are |
initiated at an early age by the boy |
who asplres to enjoy the veneration
which German officers generally re-
ceive from the populace. Imitation
in young man usually means exag-
geration, and some of the little mil
itary snobs are ON their first day at
school joy to behold. Very soon,
however, the precocious stiffness is
taken out of them.
A harmless though repulsive form of
hazing cadets whose appetite verges
on gluttony is called bacon swallow
ing" The plebes to be victimized are
lined up on the grounds surrounded
by a group of second year men.
slice of raw bacon is tied to a piece
Of string, and the plebe whose name Is
drawn first is made to swallow the
unappetizing morse. When the sick
ening sensation of the Irvine tickling
his throat threatens to nauseate him
the bacon is pulled out. The name of
another unfortunate is drawn, and he
is in turn obliged to swallow the ba-
con, the appearance of which has not
been improved by the first mans
e chewing. On it goes along the line
to the next man and up to the last one,
and for days and days the sight of
, bacon, staple article in German
cuisine, will, if it does not spoil the
healthy Youngsters appetites, at least
remind them that undue haste in as
: similating food lacks refinement.
: After few hours spent in frog
n SQUAT the most dignified and snob
Dish plebes assume the good naturet
and perfectly chummy attitude which
7 means that they have been tanned
d Swelled heads are quickly noted AM
i their owners made to sit on the foo
= with their chins resting on their knees
= and their ankles and wrists are boun'
N together A solid stick passed unde
e the knee joints and forcing the fore
y arm back prevents them from moving
st arms or legs, and they are left Their
D. facing one another in an unnatural
T. cramped and ridiculous position.
r. Other forms of haZing are the ston
ach dance, with or without obstacles
finding the keyhole, tossing in blar
~ ket and star gazing. In the stomac
dance the cadet is put fiat on hi
Is stomach on high table and four tol
tt mentors take him by the hands an
- feet and whirl him around on tn
table. In the case of serious offense
- q few hard objects or obstacles al
III scattered over the table. making til
is "dance" rather painful.
If Then comes finding the keyhole. I'll
- cadet stands in front of locker an
I'D is blindfolded He has to feel for II
sh keyhole with his forefinger. Then al
At. other cadet places his head betwee
the locker and the finger, opens h
l., mouth and bites the finger till its ow
err bowls.
- Star gazing consists in being made
IT. watch the stars at night through
hit coat sleeve held like a telescope
On. two cadets. A third cadet then pou
st glass of muddy water in at top
- the sleeve.
-, When a cadet is guilty of BEHAVE
=, unbecoming to gentleman, disgrac
-o' his class by some breach of etiquet
= or commits some petty theft he
ply generally sentenced by the Tho
j. yehm." or court of honor" to t
ct rod. The penalty is applied ruthleS
. ", q gag being placed in the punish
er. mans mouth to stiae his cries I
ct help
OF all the forms of haZing the mo
81 brutal perhaps is the gauntlet OF IRE
=. The freshman upon whom that punis
NV ment is TO he visited is Kept in da
~" room astride wooden chair, to whl
u he is securely fastened. In the ne
room his tormentors are twisting new
= papers into imitation torches. which
y a given signal they light with match'
4 When the torches are burning bright
they form themselves in two 1n'
another signal is sounded, the door
the dark room is thrown open. and
freshman Is ordered to ride betwe
the lines, while he Is merciles'
dashed with flaming brands
However quickly he may run
gantlet, by the time he has reach
the end of the blazing pathway
hair his eyebrows and lashes ID
been singed to the skim his eyelids
#, scared and swollen his lips blister
his uniform hopelcssly damaged
One of the surgeons in attendal
covers up the sores with banda