Evening star., 1918-08-09


ing description Of the German soldier.
The sketch explains many things
which Americans of German descent
who had no proper conception of the
modern Germany which is permeated
by militarism Indignantly repudiated
as lies four years ago. He writes:
"That wa are civilized nation
through and through, we are now re-
peating constantly to ourselves and
others. and You are Huns and barba-
rians' is the answer that echoes back
to US. The chief Of the general staff.
Won Moltke. announced to- the world
that the German soldier was no in
cendiary and only advanced unwfli-
ingly against the enemy population
which was participating in the nght-
ing. But have repeatedly heard our
own officers complain that the SOL
diers could hardly be held back any
more and plundered and burned even
when it was not necessary.
"Good-Natured by Nature"
Generally speaking. 1t may prob
ably be said Of the German soldier
that he is by nature good-natured
and does nothing to injure harmless
people as long as he meets no OBJ
stacles on the way prescribed 10 MIN.
Once disturbed, he becomes terrible,
because he lacks the ability to draw
finer distinctions. because he only
recognizes his duty and no fndi-
vidual conscience. and, besides, IN
time of excitement becomes virtually
blind and hyper-nervous. Among our
policemen the same trait might be
noted in peace times. They, too, are
by nature good-natured, though
surly, petty and more domfneering
than protecting. What made them SO
much hated by us was always their
behavior in crowds, strikes ana other
disturbances. AS soon as they have to
clear a street. for example. they lack
all tact. all conception Of calming the
crowds. every conciliatory word and
gesture. They themselves become SO
excited and so blindly furious that
they are nothing but machines. the
motive force Of which is a command.
With drawn sabers or with revolver
shots they rush forth. carrying
everything before them. without rec
ognizing what 1t Is.
Mixture Of Fear and Duty.
"one might say that 1t is a mix
ture Of fear and duty which pro-
duces this powerful. but senseless ef-
feet. AS rule the infirm. the help
less and the innocent are the victims.
while the clever and the agile ones
escape the clumsy automaton. Who
ever has watched these proceedings
and was caught in them. or almost
so, is without an exception, even
among us, filled with shame and in,
dignation. Whoever has only heard
of it, usually believes. it is true. that
it is the right thing. When a few
years ago. on an occasion Of this sort
in Berlin. foreign journalists who were
in an automobile were-incuding the
police despite the fact that they
showed their Identification cards.
apology was made. but many were.
however, heard to say that no one
had any business to be there. AS
though the public ought not to fnd
casions of bloody differences between
the police and the populace.
"I can, therefore, well imagine our
soldier in Belgium as good-natured
as a child-as our officers are SO fono
of saying of him-ready to help the
to make friends with them. At FIRST
inwardly repulsed by the horrors OF
war, but obeying the command with
out question which drives him Tor
ward, I might even say. helpless
without this command. which is MS
But then rapidly accustomed to all
the horrors and filled with a terrible
fervor as soon as he is ordered to
do terrible things.
Told Of "Treachery.".
NOW he hears it rumored that the
Inhabitants are treacherously shoot-
ing from their houses. An uncanny
excitement, an unreasoning distrust
oyertakes him. He is told that ruth
less action must be taken against the
populace and the towns, il there is
justification for suspecting them Oh
participating in the fighting. He no
longer draws any distinctions, every
inexpHcable shot in a town becomes
the signal for merciless murder. With
the fury of a Berserker he storms
into the houses and sets them on fire.
AS long as any of his comrades are
still shooting and murdering, he does
him to stop. No one orders him to
stop, for they all know and want to
know that a shot from a house gives
them the right, imposes the duty on
them of raging until no living crea-
turs stirs any fsat selders
began to shoot into the houses, be-
cause their comrades were shooting
IN another street
The Terrible Hurry"
"oh, IL only there were not the
te ihle hurry in which the German
50 ter does his duty even against
tlle innocent inhabitants. Many an
explanation could be given, many a
distinction could be made. If the
com anders understood how to talk
to the inhabitants in the right way,
to calm them, and to divide leniency
and severity. the soldier would learn
from this example and feel much