Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-01-26
MILITARY HAz!NC.
Carried to Brutal Extremes In
German Army Schools.
CADETS MANNED AND KILLED,
The Most Dangerous Punishmer Mt
Melted Out to Erring Freshmen Is
"the Gantiet of Fire" and the Most
Repulsive Is Bacon Swallowing."


in which the science of haZing in mil
itary schools has attained the greatest
development. The army plays in the
fatherlands life part the Importance
of which can hardly be realized by an
ultraviolet American. Military service
IS compulsory, and i'll time of peace
100000 men are kept armed. uniformed
and drilled. To command that huge
contingent 10000 commissioned officers
are necessary.
This large officer corps has developed
customs, ethics even Il morality, of its
own. These customs and ethics are
initiated at an early age by the boy
who aspres 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
ing" The plebcS to be victimized are
lined up on the grounds surrounded
by Il group of second year men. a
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 morsel. When the sick
ening sensation of the Irvine tickling
thrnct
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
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
remind them that undue haste in as
similating food lacks refinement.
After a few hours spent in "frog's
squat" the most dignified and snob-
Dish plebes assume the good natured
and perfectly chummy attitude which
means that they have been tanned.
Swelled heads are quickly noted and
their owners made to sit on the floor
with their chins resting on their knees.
and their ankles and wrists are bound
together. A solid stick passed under
the knee joints and forcing the fore
arm back prevents them from moving
arms or legs. and they are left there
facing one another in an unnatural.
cramped and ridiculous position.
Other forms of hazing are the stom-
ach dance. with or without obstacles;
finding the keyhole, tossing in a blan-
ket and star gazing. In the stomach
dance the cadet is put fiat on his
stomach on a high table and four tor
mentors take him by the hands and
feet and whirl him around on the
table. In the case of serious offenses
a few hard objects or "obstacles' are
scattered over the table, making the
''uance" rather painful.
Then comes finding the keyhOle. The
cadet stands in front of a locker and
is blndfolded He has to feel for the
kevhole with his forefnger. Then an
/ 'lllti tttttt pist''> HIS It'tI bNN hNNli
the locker ana the finger, opens his
mouth and bites the finger till its own
er hoWlS
Star gazing consists in being made to
watch the stars ut night through
coat sleeve held like Il telescope by
two cadets \ third cadet then pours
glass of muddy water in ut top of
the sleeve.
When cadet is guilty of behavior
unbecoming to Il gentleman. disgraces
his class Ivy some breach Of etiquette
or commits some petty theft he is
generally sentenced by ,he holy
vehn." O. court Of honor" to tA'
rod The pcualty is applied ruthless
". a gao heing placed in Che punished
mans mouth 10 stitc his cries for
help.
OF all the forms of hazing the most
brutal perhaps is the gauntlet of fire
The freshman upon whom that punish
ment is to be visited is kept in a dark
room astride Il wooden chair. to which
he is securely fastened In the next