The daily progressive-miner. [volume] (Ketchikan, Alaska) 1915-1919, 1918-05-22
EXPOSES GERMAN
MILITARY BRUTAL!SM
As PRACTiCED ON
THEIR OWN MEN

The Committee on Public Informa-
lion issues the following:
The naked brutality OF Prussian
,nilitarism in everyday garrison life is
revealed by the testimony of German
soldiers, press. and public men. The
German Government. from the Kaiser
down. has supported Germany Army
officers in their revolving brutality to
German soldiers This is the evidence
contained in the United States Gov
arnment's latest war booklet OF the
War Information Series, entitled Ger
man Militarism and It's German Crit
les"
Sent Free to Any Address
This booklet is released through the
Committee on Public Information.
Washington. D. c.. TO the American
public. and anyone may obtain copy
without cost by writing the commit
zee. The author OF this booklet is
Charles Altshul. retired banker OF
New York City. who has made a very
careful study OF German newspaper
criticism Il is & most powerful ex-
pose of German militarisnl. Mr.. Alt
shul states beating and abuse have
haen in vogue in the Prussian Army
$ long as It has existed, nearly 2I5
Years. and every effort 10 eradicate
The trouble has failed" There are
lYe chapters in this interesting book
lex, the first dealing with German mill
.ar.sm since 1914: the second on the
arutalizing effect OF nilitarism; the
third shows the German rnilitarism ex-
al;ation o: the army above the civil
authorities: the fourth chapter illus
rates the "Zabern incident" as an evil
ience OF milicarism over civil author
i,y: and the fifth chapter deals with
the hope fer the future in the conduct
Of German military authorities.
Quotes from German Newspapers.
Al material in this booklet IS based
upon verbatim quotations from Ger
man newspapers who stood aghasr at
s:.e display OF license and unbeliev-
able brutality practiced by commits
stoned and n0ncomm.ssioned officers
n the Germany Army barracks. The
main source OF information IS the
--Torwarts." the official organ OF the
German Social Democratic Party. At
The trial OF Rosa Luxamb burg 922
men from all parts OF Germany re-
spondad and were ready 10 testify 10
something Ike 10000 sepera,e in
sances OF brutal treatment of Ger
nan soldiers by their own officers,
even at the risk OF prosecution by the
military authorities.
Instances of Abuse Cited
One chapter OF this testimony reads.
He was struck in the face with the
list by Lieut.. Erler, so that a tooth
oled and got loose. He was beaten
ill ne was bleeding, but report OF
he case vas not sent higher up.
FrightfuIness" the Slogan
II officers, noncomm.ssioned officers
and professional regulars treat their
own recruits in the fashion described
IN times of peace, what could be ex.
pected OF troops commanded by such
rutfians in enemy country under the
terrific excitement OF combat, and par
ticular!y when 'frightfulness" is the
slogan. Summarizing the hope for
me future MIR. Altshul says: When
me German people awaken from the
nightmare which now holds them in
Is grasp: when they realize it was
the dream OF world power that had
blinded them: when under the pres
sure OF stern necessity, they recas.
.ne.r yiews OF frightfulness and Of its
nseguences-then there will re
awaken that conscience which the
LIBERAL press eudeavored 10 stimulate
II times OF peace, and IL will again
re possible 70 trea; with Germany OF
soday as with the Germany OF old
gheE sac had not yet sacrificed heI
soul on the altar o. efficiency"