New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-24
German Officers
Held Responsible
For Atrocities
Life Time Training Of Commando.
Class Makes for Brutality in
Peace and War
By Professor of German Birth

Much has been written on the subjee, :,
atrocities. German sympathizers insist H.,
British soldiers have been charged. du,;,.
the Boer war, with having perpetrated SINH,
crimes TO those now placed to the aceos,,
of the German armies. Furthermore. !, |.
pointed out that we do not hear OF atroet..
committed by British and French soldi.,
simply because these soldiers are anna,
friends. while the Germans have TO deal via
hostile civilian population in the occuoi.
territories; that the average German scld.,
is Just as human ss the average British a,
French soldier, and so forth.
Taking these matters into serious ec,,s.
nothing is further from my mind than "a
accuse the German soldier OF brutality.
consider him no better and no worse Tia,
the British or French soldier-if left \.
himself II the individual German solt.,
could have followed his own incinstion,. IN
Belgium. for instance, there would have be-,
no material for Bryce report on atrocities
The men responsible for strocitie, cor
mitted in the territories occupied BY the c,,
mans arc the German officers, and the in,
discipline makes the German soldier d.
things at the behest Of his officers agsirr
which every ounce Of his better self rsyslv
The British and French officers ar, mer
human than the German officers, because u, /
latter undergo systematic training for IN.
cheney in brutalities and atrocities, bern.
ming with their early childhood.
Originally only sons OF noblemen could
become officers, and there are still eerair
regiments in the German army Of to-d,,
which are exclusively differed By noblen.a.
However, as the regular army became hr1
and larger, and the nobility could no Longer
supply all the officers. the sons OF plan
German citizens Of means and a certain 50
cial standing-that is, the sons OF high gov
eminent officials, of university trained pro
fessional men, Of rich merchants, Of edrot.
ed land owners-were allowed to enter hs
exalted and sacred ranks OF the German en-
cerdom. But even to-day the bulk Of h.
army officers hail from Officer fsmilies"-
that is, from families whose able-boied uis
members for generations have made solder.
ing their life profession.
Terribleness in the Nursery
Let us 90 10 the homes OF many Ger
man officer family. and what is presentedo
our eyes? Here are two baby boys on d.
floor, and they have toy soldiers, but lo's
closer what else is on the floor? IL locn
like big map Here is a city and any ore
acquainted with London recognizes st. Padi
Cathedral. the Crystal Palace, Buekngtir
Palace. the Tower and other landmarks; eo
here is another easily recognized as PHA
and away over there St. Petersburgh ros
known rs Petrograd-the capitals OF hrs
countries with which Germany is at ysi
Nowhere are the cities of Berlin or Vlsan
or Constantinoplc. But look closer at tb'
map. The prominent places stand out plsirlJ
There are trains on the railroads, bui''
taXis and people on the streets, steanbess
on the river. ETC.; presently there IS ouii'
ing sound: one OF the boys has let loose
toy Zeppelin: he Jerks a string and TER
is little fash, and some Of the figures al
over.
81 have killed fifty" shouts the boy, VIII,
the other replies, II killed one hundred'
beat YOU" and so the game goes on lhu'
the little baby boz and oficer-to-be Is inoea
lated with the bacilli Of frighuulnss' ara
atrocity. which grow as the years so on
Usually at the age of ten the future once,
is taken care Of by the state and edues's'
free of charge at the expense Of the Uerm'A
taxpayer. The latter is expected 70 GU
tribute his share to educate ofncers "'s
while the doors Of the academy are DATE,
TO his own sons, no matter no" soe ~
intelligent his boys may be. What moc"y
on the part of the German Emperor 10 gu
his army democratic institution IN me
of absolute lack Of equal opportunity io' y,
bigh and low. the rich and the poor
little cadet is being taught mat 'he - ..,
tho exalted defenders Of the Fstherisno, W
rank every man in civilian clothes n
made to consider himself eNal'eo "Vy
others. His uniform. "the coat OF tne n.a,
practically places him above the avs ra,,
land He looks with contempt az the 9"
nonulation. Imagine this young boy o,
coming home on mis- first Christmas va'S's
In his we'll fitting, smart Uniform 'ne -
cadet walks along the streets OF MS ~
town. He meets boys he used TO kh''
fore he entered the academy. he docs -.
look at them now. II accosted MS r'pH
~ do not know you any longer iou
not talk to me. Do you not see ina,
the coat of the King You are only TIs
nary civilians. Ich bin mehr ais inr III.
long to a class exalted above you'll ano " "A
walks. saying or thinking, 81 am 1t, 49,.
this is a boy OF ten years only! ~
any wonder that later on as an onice -,
filed with arrogance. is heartles'' IS 0''
War Heavenly Institution
As the years 90 on he is instilled WIZ
belief that war is blessing, heaven!
stitution. and not merely an oeeA %,
necessity: that without war eounN! ,J
bound to degenerate, that only war Va,
oped those qualities which make a ma"
he should be. ,.;..,.af
At every session of the German go .,d
many Deputies bring forth eompis'% r.,r,,
proofs of brutalities committed oy Lied
officers on their own men. Inc ~
"Zabern affair" is not an exceptions, .,u,
typical case II stirred the whole "0r nsn,..n
wears ago Think OF an arrogant -,
lieutenant of twenty or 50 years s..rres
down and wounding sieS'T Txso a,,..,,
old cobber without provocati9a IN ,ns S,~s,
of the garrison of Zabern, IN broad u', "a n.
Only because of popular indignstioh q CO..
or