The Washington times., 1915-02-28

The German statesmen have gone
about the baby-breeding business Win
chara cteristic thoroughness. They nave
made rules which encourage recruits 10
marry before departing for the front:
they want the fathers OF Germanys s
babies to be the strong men OF the mr.
ing line not the weaklngs who couldn't
60 to war.
But the most astonishing German plan
ia already in the way OF accomplish
ment. Red Cross parties Of doctors and
midwives from the lying-in hospitals or
Germany will be sent to Belgium and
northern France during the next few
weeks to escort into war-ridden Europe
the babies that are born in the trail or
the German army.
Though the mothers may be French
these babies will be the children OF
German fathers and Germany claims
them. In this action the German au-
thorities will have to fight French In
fiuence which already has been eXerted
to save these French German children
to France. The statesmen have gone 10
the last limit In legitimatizing the
ba bies that are born in the war towns
north Of France. Unmarried mothers"
are ranked with the married ones. when
II comes to the payment OF war bene-
Cts. This ruling applies also to children
born out of wedlock where both parents
are French. War babies make as
good soldiers-perhaps better. say some
OF the writer's OF France-than any
other sort.
Follow French Lead.
And the statesmen OF staid old Eng.
land have followed France in this di.
rection IN France there was no pro-
test. but a handful OF Episcopalian bish-
ops In England. who happened to be IN
convocation at the time the rule was
passed. complained bitterly about plac-
ing unmarried wives" on the same foot
Ing Of the war benefit lists with the
married women.
1T deHradps the married women who
have led careful and conventional lives.
complained the bishops. 1t was s'lgS EST
ed that unmarried wives ought to re-
ceive less benefits than married ones
but the statesmen pointed out that ''un'
married wives" often had as large ram
lilies as married ones, end that theiI
need for food and shelter was as great
az that Of the married women and thelI
children.
English soldiers are encouraged N
every possible way to we'd before &C.
parture for the front. The church au'
thorities have reduced the heavy license
fee which is necessary for quick and
soldiers and officers who return nom" on
two or three day leaves OF absence
marry in that short space Of tim" anG
return again TO the firing line.
Marriage by Proxy.
The French. however. have exceeded
an former bounds. They have planned
law hv which = soldier at the front
may be married by proxy. In this way
| 1t Is believed. many unmarried moth
ers" will be set right" and their child,
rem legitimatized without the necessity
Of calling the soldier father home from
| the busy front.
| If'the women Of Europe. in any ma
| ton. are protesting against this plar
| OF the statesmen for extensive and gen
! eral breeding of babies. their objections
| are being silenced by the censors. No
| a word Of the wOmen's side of the great
| plan creeps to the press. The only OBJ
| lection that has been made came from
the male bishops in London. The slf
| fraHists of London are silent ON the
| matter. and the feminist writers o.
| France. who. for long. have made .
| vogue of speaking for women, have
! held their tongues and their pens.
The war has reached so deeply to th'
| roots of EurOpe's ancient convention!
| that there seems to he a general tact
understanding among the peoples Of thu