Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-25

Complaints against the officers of
the army followed one another Gin
June, 1919 as if by order
The officers. it was implied. lived
much better than the men, although
while in the field or in the trenches
they had their meals from the same
field kitchen. In billets behind the
lines one officer was always served
from the field kitchen, while the 9TH
ers messed together. The N. c. O's
and men were represented on the
mess committee, so why were no
complaints heard from them?
The cultivation of esprit de corps"
the authority of the commanding Of
ficer, the influence of the older men
on the younger--were these things
less important for the officer? Where
could they operate to better effect
than in common-life of the regiment?
The hours of duty alone did not suf-
flee, even during the war. to hand on
the tradition of the German corps of
officers to the younger generation.
The officer had to live with his men,
and he did so. 1t was not possible to
do otherwise in battle or while in the
trenches. Finally, he had to keep up
the dignity of his position, which must
| be clearly defined, and he had to
maintain his authority. for how else
would it have been possible for him
to exert any decisive influence over
the troops in all emergencies? All
| this demanded, among many other
requisites, an attitude of authoritative
| eXclusiveneSs, for otherwise the officer
would lose respect.
l hn vt1 n
in peace time prompted the removal
of the non commissioned officers from
the mems quarters into separate quar-
tiers Of their own? But there was no
inclination to think of such things;
people were only anxious to under
mine authority, to shatter the founda-
| tons of the state in order the more
| easily to further their own wretched
( interests.
Decided TO Live on the Fare of
Troops; SO Did Chancellor.
Life in the corps and of officers was
governed by regard for the men, the
officer himself, and, lastly, the whole
structure of municipal and imperial
order which stands and falls with the
status of the officer.
The way of life of the higher staff
officers was also sharply criticized.
| Yet is there man VINO does not know
/ of the nerve-racking work and colossal
i burden they bear increasingly? The
troops were relieved. but the staff re-
NAMED on duty. day and night.
| For four years / endured this state
Of tension without rest or relief. In
such circumstances / could not live
! on field Kitchen rations
\ Nevertheless, in October, 1918, de-
i clared to the new war cabinet OF
!. Prince Max that headquarters was
willing to live on the fare provided by
the field kitchens II the various secre-
| taries of state and the whole of Berlin
would undertake to do likewise; but
until then we should live in such o
way as was considered best for the
men and ourselves. The imperial
chancellor, Prince Max, declined to
eat field kitchen fare, and so long as
III remained in the field we messed
simply, but as before.
i The other higher Stats We're in
I similar position. They lived much in
/ the same way as we did. have never
countenanced exeesses. and # they
have occurred, I disclaim all rospon-
. sibility. So long as we have any So
cial order at all, authority must exist,
land there must be social distinctions.