The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-25

In theory--and. in a word. he must
know anything ana everything pertain
ing To soldering.
When you have tried TO drill all this
into the dull heads of a batch of sleepy
recruits, in a stuffy barrack room IN
dark winters morning, you will under
stand why the subaltern Is tired before
the day really begins and where ne
acquired that wonderful capacity for
sleeping while standing.
II has been my lot to train recruits
in both the English and the German
armies, and in my experience the Eng
l!sh recruit may be trained in at least
half the time required for the German
cOnscript. OF course Tommy does not
have so much theoretical knowledge
crammed into him, but, that apart, the
British working lad is infinitely sharper
intellectually and much quicker in the
up take. Because the German is slow
and ploddng II does not follow. as so
many people argue, thinking of that
tortoise story, that he Is more thorough.
He isn't.
The subaltern. indeed has hardly
enough time before Easter to drill into
his men everything they are required
to know. Another difficulty beseus him
and that Is the difficulty of language.
1t has happened TO me for two years
running to have recruits from Lorraine
who knew no German. The life OF a
French speaking soldier in the German
army is peculiarly unpleasant one,
and 1t ls made doubly unpleasant for
him by his slOwness In acquiring knowl-
edge NJ his duties. And double work
falls on the subaltern in that he must
hold a special class OF one and go over
the whole instruction again in French.
This hour OF barraCk room instrur-
ton is followed by three or four hours
in the riding school, and the recruit is
then allowed to have his midday dinner
This formerly consisted only of soup,
but for the last fifteen years or so meat
has been added to the daily diet. Officers
are not supposed To want anything To
eat In the middle of the day, and two
further hours are consequently devoted
by the subaltern to the riding school,
where he may have to break in re-
mounts or teach all manner of high
school tricks to a troop charger. Be-
tween this event and the next breath
ing space II half an hour is allowed.
The afternoon is taken up by foot drill
sword and lance exercises gymnastics
ana the practice OF the peculiar Prus-
sian parade setp, ungoinly in itself and
ludicrous when performed 10y cavalry in
high boots.
In the evening there Is still no rest !;
for the officers in large garrison are
| compelled to attend many social func-
tions. which. in Germany, are as siren
uous as military work, Balls are
always in progress, and the cavalry
suhatern Is expected TO dance every
| thing. At one Of these dances n young
| friend OF mine, who had really been
doing his duty extraordinarily well In
this matter, dropped out for n while
to snatch n moments respite. His
Colonel spotted him, summoned him II
the middle of the "oom, and lecturcd
him for neglecting his duties. addlnG
that he was not there for his owr
amusement.
Further, the social life of a garrison
town Is, in our English phrase, EVERY
wet" Among officers strict sohrlety |,
not insisted upon. This, Of course. pro
duces the usual morning after" Of