Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-29
Brutality of German,
Officers Toward Men
Revealed by Soldiers

washington, April 29.-Ihe NAKED
brutality of Prussian militarism in ev-
cry day garrison life is revealed by the
testimony Of German soldiers, press
and public men. The German govern
ment from the kaiser down has sup
ported German army officers in their
! revolving brutality to German soldiers
This is the evidence contained in the
United States governments latest wal
booklet of the War Information series
entitled German Militarisrn and Its
German Critics" This booklet is re-
leased through the committee on pub
lie information, Washington, D. c., to
the American public, and anyone may
obtain copy without cost by writing
the committee.
The author of this booklet is Charles
Altshul, retired banker Of New York
city, who has made careful study OF
German newspaper criticism. 1t is a
most powerful expose of German mill
tarism.s Mr.. Altshul states beating and
abuse have been in vogue in the Prus-
sion army as long as it has existed
nearly 275 years. and every effort to
eradicate the trouble has failed
All Taken From German Newspapers
All material in this booklet is based
upon verbatim quotations from German
newspapers who stood aghast at the
display of license and unbelievable Dru
tally practiced by commissioned and
noncommissioned officers in the Ger
man army barracks.
The main source Of information is
the orwaerts, the official organ of the
German social democratic party. At
the trial of Rosa Luxembourg 922 men
from all parts of Germany responded
and were ready to testify to something
like 10000 separate instances of brutal
treatment Of German soldiers by their
own officers, even at the risk of prose-
cution by the military authorities.
One chapter of this testimony reads,
"He was struck in the face with the
fist by Lieutenant Erier, so that tooth
bled and got. loose. He was beaten till
he was bleeding but report Of the case
was not sent higher up. Musketeer
Hempel shot and killed himself after
drill because he had been grossly in
suited by a corporal in front of the
company. A reservist threw himself in
front of a railroad train; another
drowned himself, because they could no
longer stand the abuse Of noncommis-
stoned officer Huebner."
So overwhelming waas the evidence
prepared by attorneys Of Rosa Luxem-
burg that German military authorities
never allowed the case to be brought
to trial.
Atrocities Naturally Follow.
In another paragraph of this booklet
Mr.. Altschul states, If Americans had
been familiar with the details Of Ger
man militarism they would have ex-
pected the worst during the stress of
campaign, and would have been eess
unprepared for the unheard Of barbara
ties practised by the Germans in Bel
GUM and wherever they set foot. II
officers, noncommissioned officers and
professional regulars treat their own
recruits in the fashion described, in
times Of peace what could be expected
Of troops commanded by such ruffians
in enemy country. under the terrific ex-
element Of combat and particularly
when frightfulness is the slogan"
Summarizing the hope for the future
Mr.. Altschul says when the German
people awaken from the nightmare
which now holds, them in it's grasp;
when they realize it was the dream OF
world power that had blinded them
when, under the pressure Of stern ne
cessity. they recast their views OF
frightfulness and Of It's consequences;
then there will reawaken that con
science which the liberal press endeav-
ored to stimulate in times Of peace, and
it will again be possible to treat with
Germany of today as with the Germany
of old, when she had not yet sacrificed
her soul on the altar OF efficiency"