The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-29
]. ThoGeneTdl'S
 OTdeFlU A Story of the {
 Pan European War,
Blu ALAN cHINSDALE

ICSCSOSCNCNC0QS 0QSGNCSCNGSCNES
 During R,alull in the fighting in Flanders, when the Germans were making their onslaught upon the allies, Hans Schrieber, who had been called to the colors from his fathers farm in Westphalia, had marched away as a private and had through the killing off of officers and his, own bravery been promoted to. be captain, was one morning ordered before the colonel of his regiment,
 Captain" said his commander, 'ft has been reported to me that you have been caught fraternizing with a prt- vate soldier in your company. H Fossil bly, you may not know the customs of the army in this respect In the army there can be, no familiarity whatever between an. officer and sol dier. This war has necessitated the promotion of many men from the ranks, which is contrary to the spirit of the military forces, and doubtless there are officers who do not realize the great gulf that lies between them and their former companions. have sent for you to warn you that if you are again caught converstng fRmiliarly with Fritz Oelrich you will be court martialed, and the punishment will be severe"
 "But, colonel" the captain protested, Private Oelrich is from the same To- cality as I. He, is very young and re- quires a friend to cheer him, to pre- vent his falling a victim to homesick- ness, which will impair the value of any soldier. Ifeel 1t to be my, duty"-
 Your duty Is to obey, ofders. Go' and do not again let me hear any more of this breach of military discipline"
 The colonel turned away from Cap l tain Sehrieber, who. saluted and went back to his command. The very next day the Germans made @ drive in which the captain again distinguished himself. One of the field officers of his regiment was killed, and his colo nel was about to recommend him for promotion to be major when 1t was re- ported that young Oelrich had been slightly wounded and the captain, Tor getting that his position was at the head of his company, had carried the private to the rear in his arms.
 The colonel, as he considered this act of gaIantry on the one hand and dere- fiction of duty on the otherr knit his brows- Had 1t not been for the neces- sity of supplying the gaps constantly occurring among the officers he would have made short work of Captain Schrieber, notwithstanding his eacien- cy as a leader. As 1t was, he felt com l pelled to recommend his subordinate fol. promotion. Indeed, he knew of no other man that he could put in the place of the officer who had been killed in whom he would have confidence.
 The necessities of the service and not a yielding to any tenderness he | might feel induced the colonel to tS- nore the report of Schriebers having carried Fritz Oelrich of the field and to give him a higher command than sin gle company.
 "Captain,"- he said. to Schrieber, Ma for Heckler having been killed, you will assume his position and the command of the companies that were intrustedz to his care. l shall only add that the higher the rank. of an officer the more incumbent 1t Is upon him to remember the gap between him and the men Of the ranks whom he commands. The discipline of the army fs of the highest order. This cannot be attained or kept up except by the officers being absolute masters of the men,"
 Captain-now Mator-Schrieber sa- luted, but said nothing and again left bis commander without that punish ment which he knew except for neces- sity would have been meted out to him.
 A combination of bravery and tender ness has always captiVated the world. Major Schrieber the moment a fight opened was a lion; the moment 1t end | ed he became a lamb. He went about with the Red Cross workers succoring the wounded and was never known to prefer the case of a German to a Frenchman. It was this that led his comrade officers into a tacit unacknowl- edged agreement to, turn the other way whenever the majors sympathetic na- ture overcame his sense of duty and he went beyond the limits, in expressing that sympathy to common soldier.
 In the case of Fritz Qelrich he nev- CT offended openly. Toward Fritz, when others were there to see, he main tained an uRapprQachable dignity. But unfortunately he, had been surprised speaking earnestly to the boy, and on one occasion had taken FritZ's hand In his while speaking words of encourage ment and comfort. He did not know how often be had been seen In such position, for those who saw him kept. the secret.
 There was fighting all this time, and Schrieber's efficiency as a leader was constantly being demonstrated. On a reorganization of a certain force that had been very much depleted. be was made colonel of 8 regiment. Another fight took the general of his brigade, and Colonel schrieber was put in his