The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-30
BIRTH AND RISE
OF GERMAN POWER
Article Submitted By q. b. Wood Of
Wiiliamstown Trcaes Development
OF Prussian Militarism.

Y Inc ioiioWinP Hilltit on ETussMl
Militarism" is presented by Prin. o. Il
Wood OF Williamstown;
The spirit of Prussian militarism frs
took root as far back as 1888, when Rus
STA was a semi. Asiatic power, hemmed il
by barbarian bands and hostile races ant
cut off from intercourse with the civilized
world.
Under the rule of Ivan ", surnsmed
"The Terrible" on account of his crue
and revengeful acts; but in spite of his
cruel disposition he succeeded in pushing
the Turanian peoples back across the
ural mountains into Asia from whence
they came, and before his death made
a conquest of Siberia. In the year l547
Ivan assumed the title of "Tsar,' being
the first Russian prince to receive such
an honor. In adopting this title it was
his purpose To proclaim the new dignity
and greater power which fortune had
favored him.
Russia now experiences change of
dynasty and the house of Romanoff con.
trolls affairs in Russia, for period of
over half century nothing of great
Importance takes place, but at the close
OF the seventeenth century there came
to the Russian throne IMAM of mir.
acles." This was Peter the Great, one
of the very remarkable characters of
history, being only seventeen years of
age when he assumed full control of the
Russian government.
aSl W. IN lsn
of the great countries OF Europe He at
once set at work To wrest the Black sea
from the Turks, and the Baltic sea from
the Swedes. Peter visited every country
of Europe and introduced into Russian
civilization the ideals of the West Peter
was not slow in adopting the necessary
reforms to bring Russia into touch with
the European countries, and break away
from the customs of the Mongols of Asia
Peter formed league with Poland
and Denmark to make sure his posses.
sion of the Baltic sea. At first he sui
fered defeat at NeT7a by the young
Swedish monarch. This defeat only kin.
died greater hatred in the mind OF
Peter and when Charles of Sweden at.
tempted to march to Moscow was met
by Peter at Paltava and the Swedish
army was almost annihiated, after
which treaty of peace was signed, |
which gave Russia the long coveted con
troll of the Baltic sea.
The old Streltsi of Russia a body of |
militia numbering about 10000 men,
formed the nearest thing to standing
army thus far known This body of men
were at times very hard to govern and |
,I - h. ofi
early Rome and later the Janizares of
Turkey. Mutiny was a common occur
renee among the leaders of the Streltsi
and at times threatened to overshadow
the throne itself Peter decided to rid
himself of this insolent and turbulent
Strelts He issued royal ediet dis
banding the regiments, and with his own
hands beheaded the ring leaders, which
illustrates the barbarism of Russia of
Peters time. Peter now reorganizes
new army according to the tactics of the
western nations. This reform is the first
step towards the adoption of militarism
n Russia. Peters long and successful
-eign now closes and Catherine came to
he Russian throne, and under her rule
axes place the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Po-
and. The three royal robbers who par
icipated in the misfurtunes Of Poland
learly demonstrates the selfish greed for
erritory of the nations of eastern Eu- /.
ope
In the division of Poland. Catherine of
Russia and Frederick of Prussia are re-
ponsible for the shameful disregard of !
he law of nations Maria Theresa of :
Austria seems to realize the iniquitous :
g. II lxr al ~ -, &, H.
ct as one of downright robbery and for ),
long time refused, finally realizing her !,
elplessness, yielded and took her share =
{ the Poland spoil
Frederick and Catherine, not being sat :,
'fed with their portion received of Po- 4
md lands, made second partition. This =
aused the Poles to make revolt under i
he lead of Kosciaszko. the Poland pa. =;
riot, but in 1906 this revolt was sup
ressed and as a result the third and .,
nal division completed the dismember- =,
lent OF Poland and the name erased
ON the map of Europe In the dsmem- .,
erment of Poland by Frederick of Prus- IN
a clearly sets forth that greed for ter
tory is the only thing that will satisfy y,
lie desire of an aristocratic monarch a,
o less true is ii to-day in the proposed m
greement with Russia. Also, the well q,
ganized and disciplined army of Rus Nv
a created by Peter the Great, are the 70
70 seeds of early Prussan militarism ~
I'd the plant so long cared for has final II,
blossomed into German militarism 10
at has served to astonish the military ye
,wer of the world. III
In the beginning of the seventeenth r.
injury the two provinces south of the re
,ltic formed a union and prince of II,
e house of Hohenzollern became its -,
Ter. Thus was born the monarchy of Na
ussia, destined to become the German ~
lpire of to-day. just before the close ~, we
the struggle known as the Thirty
,ars War" Frederick William, better -,
own as the "Great Elector," came to ~
ussian throne. He infused vigor and e.,
-ength into every department of his ~,
vernment so that at the peace of West Ro
ALA, he secured for his empire new ~
-ritory. which increased his prominence ~;
long the powers of Europe and his rule L.
an absolute monarch began TO be re- a.,
rded by the princes of Germany as SUI nj
rior To any system heretofore known. a.,
ederick Williams long reign of half ~. ~
ltury established for Prussia strong a.,
,tralized government. and his ideals of A."
absolute monarchial system remained ~.
niuant to the present time in Ger p;'
nv. This system based its power on d. D.,
faith of its soldiers and laid the ~
Indation for the future of the great Wy, as
itary power of Russia. which later A.,
-eloped into a great standing army as -,