Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-02-06
GERMANY AND THE WAR
(Communicated.)

Editor Gazette:
| Your editorial, on the subject of
Germany and the war, in the. issue of
Feb. 4th contains few statements
which are likely to lead to an erron-
eotis conception Of the true state Of
affairs.
! You speak of the Cruel Military
Laws of Prussia requiring all males
70 pass more than half the allowed
average of life in drilling. The fact
is, that of about one million men en-
ssmined annually one half are reject
/ ed, though not solely on physical
grounds.
} The term of active service is two
years for infantry and three years
! for cavalry and artillery; after which
| they are in the reserve for five years.
As reservists they put in few
! weeks each year at manoeuvers.
have yet to see d German ex-
! soldier, who ever complained of ill
F; treatment, Mr.. Oswald Garrison Val
/; lard to the contrary Notwithstanding
My father who was an old friend Of
both Mr.. Kraft and Mr.. Schneider.
and whom many of your readers
| remember, served twelve years, as
private and sergeant in the Bava-
rlGn Army and till his dying day he
always declared his army days were
the happiest of his long and useful
life. This is no reflection on Ameri-
ca: but Home is and always will be
; Home to German, as it is to ma
tive Alexandrian.
Prussia does not dominate the
| German Empire The body having
power to declare war is the Bunder-
Srath o. Federal Council consisting
OF So members, of which Prussia has
only seventeen. Bavaria, Baden and
! the other Kingdoms duchies, free
cities etc, together are represented
/ ny IL members. These members have
! no power to vote otherwise than in
the manner they are expressly au-
thorized to vote by mandate from
the political subdivisions they rep
resent.
F.; have many friends from the
, various sections of the Empire. be-
sides | read the very best publica-
tons from Germany, and I can as
sure you that Germany is as one man
d. in this fight for existence and no
! German believes the Kaiser is the
! instigator Of the war either.
Certainly South Germany is excell-
! cd by no section in its loyalty. 1t has
! learned it's lesson Of the value of
unity from the ravages of innumer-
aolc wars. Why, anyone with know
Hedge of industrial Germany can
! readily perceive that South Ger
many would in the nature OF things
safer more from disintegration of
the Empire than Prussia. Prussia
has Il seaboard giving egress and
South Germany having none would
be at the absolute mercy of border
ing neighbors When Winston Churc-
hill speaks of closing Germany's wind
pipe through the blockade he means
set course throughout the duration Of
the war. But as to South Germany in
case Of defeat the windpipe would be
closed permanently.
/ | would far rather see all Ger
I many annexed to Russia than that
;snch condition should prevail and
Y am not so certain but that Germany
lin its entirety will voluntarily ioir
1 Russia. if Russia secures the hege-
nnony Of Europe as Il result of thu
!. &ar. This would. of course. not bt
tsenording to England's book, but the
!queStion would simply be. What arc
YOU going to do about it?
France looks forward to another
Peace !. Of WeStphalia. but thu
dream is about as apt to be reaE2
led asfsthe dreams created by thei
tfavorite< brand of absinthe.
Al The Great Prize of the War-
5 -Nastralia--will go to Japan.
C RAIIER