The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-20
REFORM IN THE
GERMAN ARMY
Brutality Is Passing; Captain Is
Forced Out of Service

Berlin. July 2O.-The unceasing
criticism of press and parliament is
slowly reducing the number of cases
of mistreatment of soldiers by their
officers, but a recent report shows that
49O commissioned officers and
officers were convicted of such Of
lenses last year. This was a reduc-
ton of 80 cases from the figures of
five years ago.
These 400 convictions by no means
indicate, however. that only that num-
Der Of private soldiers were brutally
handled during the year. A recent
case, and one by no means unusual,
was the conviction of a nom commits
stoned officer of the Third Bavarian
Regiment, who was charged with NJ
less than 80 offenses against the men
under him. One soldier was famed by
being struck on the kneecap with a
gun butt and there were dozens OF
cases in which recruits were choked
and struck in the face. II is not long
since a captain was forced To leave
the service after his third conviction
for mistreating recruits. The charges
against him covered brutal treatment
in 14O cases.
Mistreatment Less Common.
Complaints of these conditions,
made in the reichstag, have from tim.
to time moved the minister of war -
declare that the government was
equally concerned and was doing ita
best to put a stop to them. Figures
have been quoted To show that cases
of mistreatment are gradually grow
ing less common, and it has been de-
clared that the government desired
that punishment of the offenders be
exemplary.
With all credit to the minister of
war. il must nevertheless be said that
sentences in the majority of these
cases are extremely mild, and by no
means calculated to discourage brutal
officers from a repetition of their Of
lenses. The commissioned officer
just mentioned was sentenced to three
months and 10 days Imprisonment and
degraded. This is "A really severe SEN
tence, but it is at the same time q
most unusual one. Not only is i'm
prisonment for such a term rarely
melted out, but degradation is still
rarer.
Typical Case Cited.
The following case is typical of the
average Of 10 cases a week. A nom
commissioned officer of the Third
Guard Field Artillery Regiment COM
manded n recruit to clean harnesses.
He was not satisfied with the recruits
work and started expressing his dis
by striking the man over
the head with bride. lie then
forced him to march up and down in
the stables and to do setting up eX-
crcises, including the fatiguing
knee bend" until the recruit fell from
exhaustion. He kicked him in the thigh
and on the knees and otherwise NAL
treated him. The recruit was removed
to the field hospital suffering. among
other things, with conclusion of the
brain. The court martial condemned
the officer to five weeks light arrest.
1t is not only certain officers who
mistreat recruits. The latter, in the
absence Of officers. are subject to the
older privates, and many cases Of mis-
involve these older men. In
n recent case. one of these was sem
fenced to nine weeks Imprisonment
for mistreating recruit in such a
manner that one of the victims ear
drums was ruptured causing partial
deafness.
But there is short shrift for the re-
,ruit who raises hand to defend
himself against even the most brutal
assault from a superior lie is certain
If Imprisonment for a long term.
------------------