The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-11-16
1T Gaspto Start
Duels in Germanp

great record in the big interna-
tional balloon race at Kansas City,
gives an interesting view of army
life in the Fatherland. The fol-
lowing is taken from the Kansas
City Star:
The scars that mark the chin
and forehead of Lieut.. Hans Ger
ricke show that he is no "choco-
late soldier" Student and army
life in Germany tends to mar the
visage and the ober lieutenant's
face is scanned and slashed from
many a rapier thrust.
Lieutenant, did you ever have a
duel?" friend asked last night
as the winner of the international
balloon race and a party were sit
ting at a table in the pompeiian
room Of the Hotel Baltimore.
"Duels? Oh, my, yes" the Ger
man laughed. They're common
at home. I've had twenty"
What! Twenty? Well, Almost.
The others present looked at each
other in amazement. The German
was surprised that his remark
was considered unusual.
NO, I'm wrong" he said. ut
was only eighteen. Every army
officer fights duels, We think
nothing of it,"
But you haven't had one re-
cently?" someone asked
No, not for some time-more
than year ago | had the last" he
replied, lighting a cigarette. The
face Of the lieutenant is the face
u soldier and a fighter. His CT u
lis prominent, his mustache turns up
AT the ends aggressively. His man
ner is MT boastful. He speaks
pleasantly, but there is something
about his eyes that is absent from
IA man who has led a simple life.
One would hesitate to offend
him. Across his chin and forehead
are scars that cross and recross
one another. On his left temple is
a long seam running down to the
cheek from wound that did not
heal smoothly. But the marks do
detract from his good appearance.
It's Against the Law, But
You are interested in duels?" he
asked. "They are a part of the
life. It's against the law to fight,
but an officer who refuses a chal-
lenge is an outcast. The army
doesn't want him. Promotion is
out of the question. The emperor
has declared against duels, but he
wouldn't admire a man who was
afraid to fight.
THE start of a duel is simple.
You are sitting in a cafe and per-
haps you glance at a young woman
who is dining with another officer |
or student. You look at her again
and pretty soon the escort come |
over to your table.
~ don't like that he says.
Very we'll, you say, without |
paying much attention to him.
." My card he says.
And mine, you answer.
Then Man Calls on You.
He goes back to his table. Two |
N three mornings later man
'alls on you.
Tomorrow morning suit your
ne asks.
"With sabcrs,' you reply simply. |
And that's all there is to it, except |
hat you fight him until the sur
econ tells you to stop. You draw
blood on his cheek and the sur
seon stops the bout to make an
examination.
Its only a Scratch he says,
Go on.
When one man is badly wounded,
l blood vessel cul-or he is killed
the fight stops. | have seen noses
sliced off and eyes gouged out. /
see you gentlemen looking at my
lace. Would you think | was brag-
ring if told you that my oppon-
ants have many worse scars? /
suppose you would, so | will not
says
But those who were listening
Knew that those who faced Lieu
enant Gericke had Jared worse, for
ne is that kind of lieutenant.
FavorS Compulsory Service.
Compulsory military life in Ger
many is championed by the lieu
.enant. Every boy of lS, he says,
must enter the service. If he goes
INTO the infantry the term is two
years, and if into the cavalry or