The Washington herald., 1912-03-10

Later on IN Ihe spring the crown princess
viii go to Cannes on a visit to her
mother. the Dovager Grand Duchess Of
Mecklenburg-Schwe (Anastasia Mich
ailovna), and she win be accompanied to
the Riviera by her sister, the crown
princess OF Denmark
The children Of the crownprincely pair
had been left at Danzig when the crown
prince Is in garrison as commander OF
the Black DEATHS Head Hussars. But
they are now In Berlin and under close
supervision Of their grandfather, EN-
peror Wilhelm. And thereby hangs this
tale:
The house in Danzig occupied by the
crown princes family is separated from
the road only by a narrow strip Of gar
den and a high iron railing. although
sentries are posted at all the entrances.
The Kaiser had jestingly said that the
princes children must not stay too long
in Danzig or they would become "Danzig
Paukes." the local name for street
arabs. Recently the eldest boy. Prince
Wilhelm. was standing outside a gate
examining a group Of urchins who were
staring at him.
Are you Danzig Paukes?' asked the
prince.
The lads forgot their respect for the
future Emperor and made a rush for the
prince, who put up his fists and prepared
to fight. Tutors and nurses arrived just
in time to prevent the fight
As soon as the Emperor heard Of the
Incident he telegTaphed instructions for
the children to return to Berlin.
When Princess Charlotte Of Prussia,
the vivacious sister OF King Frederick
Wilhelm w Of Prussia, married Car
Nicholas Of Prussia, II was agreed gen.
orally that the union was an ideal one.
for both had much In common. The
Prussian princess was passionately fond
OF military life, attending all reviews
on horseback. and on the occasion of her
marriage her brother. the King. gave
his new brother-in-law a commission as
colonel in the famous Sixth Regiment OF
Prussian Culrassiers.
When Gar Nicholas died King Fried
throughout military Europe by passing
the commission to his sister. the Cars
widow. Charlotte was delighted with her
new dignity, for in those days the Sixth
Cuirassiers were the finest regiment in
the Prussian army. The regiment also
was very proud OF its new colonel, and IT
was an inspiring sight to see her on
horseback at reviews.
II was thus that the fashion Of ap-
pointing women coloneIs was started
among royalty. Other monarchs began
appointing women to colonelcies In their
armies, until to-day II Is estimated that
there are some fifty regiments command
ed by princesses and duchesses. Most of
these women officers, however, are in the
German and Russian armies.
or late years the custom has some
times degenerated to a mere means OF
conferring an honor upon some princess
whose country a monarch wished TO pro-
pitiate. and who is not in tile least in
sympathy with the regiment she is sup
posed TO command. Queen Victoria, as
colonel OF the First Regiment OF Prus-
sian Dragons Of the Guard, was a strik-
ing example.
Greece and the Princess Margaret of
Plesse. the Kaiser's youngest sisters,
both have been popular with their regi-
ments. They are chips of the old block,
and take the same interest in things mill
tary as their brother does. They are
true sisters OF their militant brother.
NEONn fTlnCeSS SOFIA OF STecCe
colonel of the Third Regiment Of Prus-
sian Grcnadiers of the Guard (Garde
l. E., "Mayburgs," on account
OF their yellow shoulder straps), and her
sister-Of Hesse-ls colonel OF the Eight
ieth Regiment of Fusilliers OF the Hessian
army corps Both are very famous
troops. and have received numerous dec
orations for valor on the field OF battle.
The Eaiser's only daughter is a still
more striking figure among Europe's
"colonelettes," for she is the honorary"
chief of the Second Regiment of the
Prussian Life Guards. the historic and
widely famous Black or Deaths
Head Hussars, named black" because
Of their somber black uniform. relieved
absolutely by no other shade on shoulder
straps, collars, armlets, sash braids, or
to complete the impression con-
veyed by the skull and crossbones on
their ''tschakko." that they ride unto
death without fear or favor"
Those OF my readers who, perchance.
have read the poem entitled "Luetzow's
Wilde, Verwegene Jagd," by the soldier
poet. Theodor Koerner. who died at the
head of his company of Prussian dare
devil riders during the NapoIeonIc inva-
sion of Northeastern Prussia, will be
able 70 form true conception OF what
the "Schwarze Hussaren" means to
every patriotic Prussian and why the
Kaiser has nonored his children by Civ
ing the command of this historic troop
to his eldest son and heir and made his
dearly beloved only daughter its hon
Drary'' colonel
The First Regiment Of the Black Hus-
sars for many years has been in garrison |
at the great fort Of Posen, one Of the |
against a possible invasion |
by Russia, fortified by Prussia after the |
second division Of Inflated Poland, when |
the province Of Posen fell to King Fred |
erick's share.
Queen Mary OF England is the colonel |
OF the Fifth Prussian Husssrs Cthe late
Prince Friedrich Karrs "Rothe Husar-
en-. These dashing riders guard her
British majesty's carriage when she pays |
an Official visit to the Berlin Court or
to Potsdam family reunions
The German Empress, Augusta Victoria,
is in command of another Prussian
crack regiment, the Eighty-sixth CFusI-
liers), which covered itself with undying
glory together with the sixth and the
forty-slxth from which father troop Il
when the Prussian army was
enlarged at tho heights of Apichern in
the very first engagement OF the Franco
German war of 1870 and the needless ex-
posing Of which regiments as well as the /
Ninth, the Fourteenth and the Eighteenth /
of the then Fifth army corps to the |
fire Of the French who occu-