New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-12
Sailors Mutiny
Was No Surprise
To Berlin Officials
Kaiser Unable to Enforce Iron
Rule in Navy as
in Army
By Gustav Miller

The German Admiralty could hardly
have been surprised by rews Of The
rnu,inv on three or four German battle
sb,ps a. WThclmshaven and on the
cruiser Nuremberg. The sentiments OF
the crews Of She German feet and the
discipline on the warships certainly
we're known 20 the Minister Of Marine,
Vicc-A6r,iral Capcllc It is impossible
% hold the rank and file Of the German
navy i'm the same submission as the
men Of the army.
The navy needs sailors and highly
skilled mechanics The sailors are
practically all Socisl-Domocrats Of the
Iiebknccht type, and the same is true
Of the engineers. machinists, cleo
+ric;ans. carpenters. etc, who are draft
"a 70 the navy. They are carefully
selected for their skill in their trade
and with few exceptions. are drafted
from the big manufacturing plants
where the workers adhere TO the most
advanced Social-Democratic teachings.
There IS no use for the boys from tee
remote and conservative country de
tr.cts in the navy.
Gerrymanders in Army
r.oco time each unit Of the army
,s ~,c~lited from the same district
Tbore arc. ~ far as the privates are
concerned. Socialist. Liberal, Clerlcai
and Conservative regiments, Nneh 1ne
- ro~cos ~, modified the Sociaust
regiments arc brought 90 war s'tehs1H
not bv rcservists from the same uls-
frict whence the men win the ooloI9
c.,re A Socialist regiment receives
''...-.-,.;s+s ~ monarchistic districts,
CoDsorvativc regiment from REQ GU
Zoe At the front, therefore, the
Eeisor elements are in the majority IN
furthermore. the non-commissioneu
oaicors az the army are devoted mon,
,rrl-ets They we're either educate"
in Tntcrofhc.e rsschulen military m
.+f+utiors. which they enter NJ ''C
,,.s ~ ten. practically never come a
cr,+,c+ with civilians and are I'M Neu
,,.i.b 81 truly r.l4laustc spirt, OF lAe9
are poor young men lmOs--y a IA
I.r1l unable or unwilling TO MAKE y
living. and who-to Gu0le 90
German saving-"see leather SHOES toI
and called TO tie co4ors' r., ~.
Thrso ror-commissioned officers ka-
,,t.rTerarI stay with the army ai'er
tre-r term of service is over 70 re-
ceiye. after twelve years OF ser1.Gei i"
C...,i,''o-.,,---,, chem. which entities
.bow TO humble state position 1or
The rest Of their lives.
Commissioned and nOn-commlssloned
officers together preserve a very strlc,
disciuline ir .hc army. j ne lndlvIIua.
is oIlv coz in the machine. But II
is different with the navy.
Situation in the Navy
Tho po7-commissioncd officers of the
navy must have q pretty good educa-
for and must be selected from the
rork and file. and they are the most
ekilied of the crews. with whom tney
fra+oruizc The small number OF hlgh
ogirers Is not able TO enforce such an
ron dieciplire as En- the army, because
the commissioned officers slne
covertl,. Of course, but not less ell
foctivoiv-with the men and against
choir supcr.ors. On board the war
sbins the atmosphere il permeated
with revolutionary sentiments, ana 1he
officers know TO- but are poWeriess 70
change conditions, because the recruit
inc for the navy rs restricted 10 Ger
tain trades. the skilled workmen OF
which are radical Social-Democrats'
with relatively few exceptions.
II may seem strange that the discl-
rline i'm The German navy rs less strin-
cent than in the army, while the as
ciDlinc on the German merchant ships
is much more severe than any law
REGULATING the relations between en-
plovers and employees on land. But II
is a fact.
Revolt Strongest on Battleships
And the spirit Of revolt is stronger
ON the battIeehirs than on board the
cruisers and tte still smaller men-of-
war.
The less numerous The crew the less
can secret understandings Of the men
be reached without being known 70 the
l. officers. ON thc J-boats, the torpedo
On boats and the destroyers there rs hard
~ ly chance Of revolt
y That may explain why the smaller
German war craft are freely used by
the Kaiser. while the battleships lay
practically idle behind q screen OF
mines. IF Germany could have trusted
hcr battle feet shc would, perhaps
have r.skcd her big ships in an effort
90 destroy pare of che British North
Sea fleet Germany probably feels that
10 BE- of no avail 90 send her mutnous
......, ..... r.t hon av4rnN