The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
German Privates Now
Little More Than Ser
wants for Officers.
REFORMS SECURED
BY SOCIALIST
Make 1t Clear That They Do Not
Lack in Patriotism and Are
Willing to Fight for Their
Country, but Present
Military Practices
Must Go.
BY FREDERICK WERNER.


Berlin, July 12.-Good may after all
come from tho army bill with It's enor-
nous increase OF the burdens OF taxa
| ton, for 1t looks as If the radicals
and Socialists, In return FOR their prom
ise not to wreck the bill. are to get the
Introduction OF certain reforms for
which they have agitated for many
years.
First OF all, German soldiers serving
their compulsory military term will no
longer have to act household SER
wants to officers. their wives and chill
dren They have hitherto been forced
to take upon themselves all kinds Of
domestic work from that of the cook
to the dry nurse. thus saving their Of
flcers the expense OF paying regular
servants.
During the debates on tho army bill
the Socialists made It sufficiently clear
that they wore not devoid of patriotic
feelings. and although they were op-
posed to mlitarism on general princi-
pies and sincerely hoped for the COM
Ing OF the era OF universal peace, they
could understand the necessity Of main
4
the present European conditions and
| they are perfectly willing to have all
young men devote two years Of their
life TO military exercises and training.
but they object to n considerable part
! of this time being used, in n large mum
Der of cases. in cleaning the windows
Of the officers private dwelling houses
and acting as nurse TO the officers
babies. The Socialists contend that
the rule which allows officers the per
sonal service OF "a soldier in the active
army has been greatly abused, and
that many officers take advantage of
, this privilege 10 save the expense OF
Keeping n maid servant The amend
ment was rejected. only the Socialists.
the Poles and few members of the
Centre party voting for IT. But the
Reichstas passed another resolution.
proposed by the budget committee, in
which the government is requested to
adopt measures whereby the number of
soldiers employed officers servants
shall be reduced
Oppose Elite Regiments.
| further amendment was introduced
| by the socialist party providing for the
abrogation of all prescriptions by vir-
| tue Of which the (iardcs du Corps and
other elite regiments are distinguished
from other regiments. The debate on
these motions was very animated. 1t
speaker, DR.. Lensch. stated that the
guard regiments stationed in and
around Berlin We're recruited from all
| parts OF Prussia. and even from Alsacq-
! Lorraine, but not from Berlin. whose
sons were dispatched TO the frontier
regiments. The consequence was. he
added, that in the case OF mobilization
the guard regiments would not be ready
Tor several days after ordinary rcgi-
/ lived so widely apart over the country
He declared that the guard regiments
We're nothing more and We're intended
TO be nothing more. than the personal
| instrument OF an autocrat" He COM
planned of the luxury displayed in their
! lection of recruits for these regiments
every care was taken to secure men
not yet tinged with socialism. pro-
rious privileges; and finally contended
that they played only a decorative role
in, or rather at the end of. wars.
This persistence in the demand for
inc reform OF the army; that Is, for
the introduction OF liberal spirit
where n practically autocratic regime
important in itself as an illustration
OF the trend OF the times.
Eyes Denmark.
1t is with feeling OF strong envy
that Germans observe the trend Of
events in the ncighboring country of
! Denmark. whose citizens have enjoyed
the. advantages Of real free cOnsti-
tuition for more than sixty years, and
are now about TO write a new consti-
/ tuition more democratic than that OF
any republic in existence, not even ex-
centing the United states
| ne kinSuOin Oh denmark Is to-day
undoubtedly the most democratic state
In the world, and II is governed by a
! young King. who is as popular among
all classes OF his subjects MS he is dem
| ocratic In his manners and frugal in
his way of living.
The Danes have just ovcrthrown n
Cabinet which any other kingdom in
Europe would consider exceedingly rad
ical. but which the Danes did not find
/ liberal and progressive enough.
Every one or the members of the
new Danish Cabinet is full -blooded
democrat. and what is more n self made
man. And each is an expert on all
questions concerning the department
which he leads. They have all re-
fused to wear the customary uniform
of royal ministers. and will neither ac-
cept nor confer orders. titles or decor
ations.
The wife Of the Danish Minister of
Justice is an official stenographer In
the Danish Parliament. and has no in
tention Of giving up this position be-
cause OF her husbands elevated Office.
The only difference will be. that while
her husband draws tho salary of n
minister OF state, which amounts to
something like $500 a year. she will
give her own salary of $3.50 to chart
table institutions.
We arc all wondering how many
generations will come and go before
we see similar conditions in the coun-
try ruled by Hohenzollerns.
Held on Arson Charge.
/, Especial 10 The Times DISPATCH