The Washington times., 1917-10-02
regiment is like a club. the officers
having the right of blackbalL.

ACb 10 lAhO a NAAbt NhN .
having the right of blackball.
Officers Class of Mobiles.
This system has virtually confined
the professional officers to a class Of
Lobles. 1t is not at all unusual to
| find in a regiment officers whose an
cestors were officers OF the same regi-
ment 200 years or more ago.
In addition to these officers who
make the army their career, a GER
tain number OF Germans after under
going an enlistment in the army OF
one year and two periods OF training
| thereafter are made reserve officers
These reserve officers are called to the
colors for maneuvers, and, of course,
when the whole nation is arrayed in
war. The reserve officers seldom at
tain a rank higher than that of cap
tain. They may, however, while ex-
ercising civil functions, be promoted,
and in this rnanner the Chancellor,
while occupying civil positions, has
gradually been promoted to therank
of general, and Won Jagow. during
the war, to the rank of major. As
rule, reserve officers are the one
yearers or "ein Jaehriger," who, be-
cause they have attained a certain
standard of education, serve only one
year with the army instead of two
required from others. The Bavarian
army is in a sense independent of
Prussia. but is modelled on the same
system.
For years officers Of the army, both
L. -. 81 hafr Int nd
outside, have behaved in a very AFRO
CANT way toward the civil population.
Time and again while I was in Ger
many waiting in line at some ticket
, office an officer has showed himself
ahead OF all others without even a
protest from those waiting. On one
occasion / went 70 the races in Ber-
lin with my brother-in-law and bought
a box. While we were out looking
at the horses between the races
Prussian officer and his wife seated
themselves in our box. l called the
attention of one of the ushers to this,
but the usher said that he did not
dare ask a Prussian officer to leave,
and II was only after sending for
the head usher and showing him my
Jockey Club badge and my pass as
ambassador that l was able to secure
possession OF my own poN.
Have Cut Civilians Down.
There have been many instances in
Germany where officers, having a
slight dispute with civilians, have in
stantIy cut the civilian down. In
stances OF this kind and harsh treat
ment Of the Germans by officers and
underofficers, while serving in the
army, undoubtedly created in Ger
many a spirit of antagOnism not only
to the army itself. but to the whole
military system OF Prussia.
Affairs were brought to a head by
the so-called ZabeTn affair. In this af
fair the Internal antagOnism between
the civil population and professional
soldiers, which had assumed great
proportions in a period OF long peace,
seemed to reach Its climax. or
course, this antagonism had increased
with the increase in 1894 OF the
effective strength OF the standing
army, bringing a material increase
in the numbers of officers and nom
commissioned officers who represent
military professionalism.
The Imperial Provinces, or Reichs-
land, as Alsace and Lorraine are
called, had been in a peculiar posi-
tiOn within the body polite of Ger
many since their annexation in 1870
The Reichsland. as indicated by its
name, was to oe considered as COM
mon property ~ the German Empire
not annexed to any one Ger
man state. Ils gOs ernment is by an
imperial vicerOy. with a kind of cabi
net consisting OF one secretary Of
rNt vii nd
department heads, assisted by a leg
IslatIve body OF two members, one
elected by popular vote and the other
consisting Of members partly elected
by municipal bodies, universities,
churches and so forth. and partly ap
pointed by the imperial government
The viceroy and his cabinet are ap-
pointed by the Emperor in his ca
pacity OF the sovereign OF the Reichs-
land.
Had No Constitution.
Until the 31st of May, 1911, the
ReichsIand had no constitution Of its
own, the form Of government being
regulated by the ReichstaE and Fed
eral Council (BundesraD in about the
same way as the territories Of the
United States are ruled by congress
and president. In 1911 A'saceLor-
rAine received a constitution which
gave them representation in the Fed
eraI Council. representation in the
Richstag having already been grant
ed as early as 1871. The sympathy
OF Alsace-Lorraine for France had
been increased by the policy of sew
eral OF the German viceroys. Won
Manteufiel. Prince Hohenlohe. Prince
Munster and Count Wedel. who had,
in their administrations. alternated
severe measures with great Ieniency
and had not improved conditions, so
that the population, essentially South
German. was undoubtedly irritated
by the tone and manner Of the North
German Officials.
Great Industries had heep deyeIoned