The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-01-19
'TheGeneral's
ORDERLY
A Story of the
PAN European War
D., ALAN HIMCnAIr
Bu ALAN HINSDALE


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
OF 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, sit
has been reported to me that you have
been caught fraternizlng with a pri-
vate soldier in your company. Posi-
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 a sol
der. 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 conversing Familiarity
with Fritz Oelrich you will be court
i martialed, and the punishment will be
severe"
"But, colonel" the captain protested,
| Private 0elrich is from the same To-
cality as 1. He is very young and re-
quires friend to cheer him, to pre-
vent his falling victim to homesick-
ness, which will impair the value of
| any soldier. l feel 1t to be my duty
Your duty is to obey orders. Go.
and do not again let me hear any more
of this breach of military discipline"
The colonel turned away from Cap
| tain Schrieber, who saluted and went
back to his command The very next
day the Germans made a drive in
which the captain again distinguished
himself. One of the field officers of
his regiment was killed, and his colo
mel 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, for
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 gallantry on the one hand and dere-
LECTION of duty ON the other, 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 efficien-
cy as leader. AS it was, he felt COM
PEELED to recommend his subordinate
for 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 yielding to any tenderness he
might feel induced the colonel to ig-
more the report of Schrieber's having
carried Fritz Oelrich of the field and to |
give him higher command than sin
gle company.
Captain" he said 10 Schrieber, MA
jor Heckler having been killed, you will |
assume his position and the command |
of the companies that were intrusted /
to his care. / 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 be commands The
discipline of the army is of the highest
order. This cannot be attained or kept
up except by the officers being absolute
masters of the men
Captain-now Ma .jor- Schrieter sa-
luted, but said nothing and again left
his commander without that punish
nent which he knew except for neces-
sly would have been meted out to him.
A combination of bravery and tender
ness has always captivated the world.
Major Schrieber the moment fight
opened was lion the moment It end
ed he became lamb. he went about
with the Red Cross workers succoring
the wounded and was never known to
prefer the case of a German 10
FFenchman 1t was this that led his
officers into tacit unacknowl-
edged agreement to turn the other way
whenever the ma jors sympathetic ma
tufe overoame his sense of duty and he
went beyond the limits In expressing
that sympathy TO common soldier.
In the case of Fritz Oelrich he neV-
er offended openly. Toward Fritz,
when others were there to see, be main
tained an unapproachable dignity. But c
he had been surprised ! g
speaking earnestly to the bog. and en-
one occasion had taken Fritz's hand in t
his while speaking words of encourage
Dent and comfort He did not know e
how often he had been seen tn such 1
position, for those who saw him kept c
he secret. Ii
There was fighting all this time, and b
5chrieber's efficiency as leader was
constantly being demonstrated On a {
of certain force that Q
lad been very much depleted be was e
made colonel of a regiment Another o
light took the general of his brigade L
md Colonel Schrieher was put tn his v
lace. D
When those officers and soldiera VIM