The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-06-08
IN THE FATHERLAND
INTERESTING BITS OF NEWS
FROM THE GREAT GERMAN
EMPIRE.
WHAT'S DOING In OLD HOME
Summary of the Most important Hap
penlngs In tho Land OF the Kaiser
Timely Items for the German
Readers

of the future in the present struggle
for their very existence as a nation.
1t is realized that the number of those
who lose their supporters in the war
rTin be enormous. But the great prob
lem is to be approached in the usual
methodical way. There will be mil
lions upon millions who cannot sup
port themselves. But the imperial
government is making preparations to
take care of them. They will be sure
to receive pensions, every one of them,
no matter what the outcome Of the
war may be. This problem is expect
ed to have great bearing on the So
cial economy Of the country. For
about forty years the social demo-
Gratis have been trying to build up the
Industries at the expense of the agri-
cultural pursuits. But the govern
ment always managed to protect the
farmers Of the country. Now this
fact more than anything else enables
Germany to keep up the war. The
government foresees that the future
pensioners will flock to the cities If
left TO themselves. So the govern
ment will provide farms for them all
over the country, where. they can live
more broftably and comfortably than
il the cities
What TO do for the great army of
orphans and widows left by the war
Is question already engaging various
charitable organizations Several
plans have just been discussed at the
national meetings of two of these So
cieties held at Berlin. plan put for
ward by Professor Mayet is that needy
widows be gathered in communities
where they can be given work, and
where provision can be made for edu-
eating their children in large masses.
Financial assistance for peasants
widows for the purpose Of enabling
them to hold on to their land was
also advocated. Continuation schools
for country boys and girls, as well as
family evenings for general instruc-
ton and entertainment, were other
measures put forth A still more am
bilious proposal was that the imperi-
al government establish a bureau
whose duty shall be to take in hand
the task Of preparing widows and or
phans for work they may seem best
fitted to do, and also to find employ
ment for them
For heroism on the battlefields of
Germany with a grand piano mounted
on a motor truck as his only weapon,
Prof Herman Emil Zoch, formerly of
Minneapolis, has been decorated with
the iron cross by the emperor of Ger
many. Shortly after the war broke
ouf Professor Zoch packed up his pi-
ano and moved to the western front
Defying rife bullets and bursting
shrapnel he drove from one end of
the battle line to the other playing. In
many instances both sides ceased fir
ing to listen The professor played
nothing but ragtime, believing that
the syncopated variety would have
more effect on the morale Of the
troops than classical music Professor
Zoch's case was called to the atten-
don of the kaiser recently and he was
called to Berlin and decorated.
Patriotic manifestations reached a
climax In Vienna after Italy's declara-
ton OF war and the manifesto of EN-
peror Francis Joseph, calling upon the
triotic devotion, had been published In
special editions Crowds gathered
spontaneously In all parts of the city.
Thousands OF residents paraded the
streets, singing patriotic songs and
cheering the emperor, the monarchy,
the allied army and navy Before the
war ministry patriotic speeches were
delivered Indignation against Italy
found expression in cries of Down
with traitors, Down with Italy!"
Consul General julius G. Lay sent
postals to all Americans In the Ber-
ifn consular district asking for their
full names, telephone addresses, the
date and number of their passports.
their occupations and future plans
His object he said. was to bring the
list of Americans in Berlin up to date
Other American consuls in Germany
nave S6n1 OuI similar requests
General Won Bissing- the German
governor general in Belgium, has pub
1shed the Belgian budget for 1915. 1t
gives the revenue for the year as $685.
>, OBJ, 906 and the expenditures at $685.
631.906- The statement says that
means for providing for the deficit of
$4,600,000 win have to be found later.
Kaiser Wilhelm has adopted an I'M
usual form in condoling with the wild
ow of Capt Otto Weddigen, who com
manded the submarine U-9 when it
~auk the British cruisers Aboukir,
Greasy and Hogue, in the North sea
las Septem Der, and who, later, lost
his life while in command of the U-29.
The emperor sent Frau Weddigen a
message from the general army head
quarters informing her that he had
ordered an iron cross, first class. and
the Order Pour lie Merite handed her
TO replace the decorations her husband
had when his submarine was lost
Oxen may soon take the place In
Berlin Of many Of the truck horses