Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1919-12-17
NEEDED A MASTER
German Official Helpless in the
Absence of Orders.
BureermeisteTs Case Typical of the
Lack of Initiative Resulting From
the System of MiIitarism
So Long in Vogue.

LnG OJSlGHl VI "llihoi 'Sh'
So Long in Vogue.
The burgermeiSter of B. am Rhein
was a person who looked like a white
rat that had been thoroughly soaked
and shaved And he had the faculty,
which all Germans have, Of cOngealing
his cords and muscles at a moments
notice, and could assume the rigOr OF
an epileptic in the presence of supe-
riors. To watch him slide into your
office, uncover his teeth espy you, and
suddenly straighten himself up in
obedience to an unspOken Achtung,
was an impressive experience.
The American generals aid, ap-
pointed to this particular suburb of
Coblenz often wondered why the ar
rest of every vital function should be
considered polite. He dStrusted that
German salute. 1t was too much like
playing 'possum.
When the burgermester came into
the ortskOmmandantur, the aid told
him that in so far as he behaved him
self, he would have nothing to fear
from the American army; and that in
so far as it didn't interfere with the
satisfaction of American interests, he
was to continue governing the town as
usual.
The burgermeister stiffened himself
and withdrew.
The aid was pleased. His first Off
cial act, he felt, had been kindly, yet
firm, just but not harsh. If he had his
way, B would not suffer as north
ern France had suffered. He was go
ing to show these bOches that the
Americans weren't there to terrOrize,
or to Americanize, but simply to oc-
cupy territory according to the terms
of the armistiCe.
But he could not see the scene in the
burgermeiSter's office Overhead-the
holding of cheeks in hands, the strik-
ing of chests, the weary and rapid
breathing of bewilderment, the groans
of despair. And the next morning,
when he went to the Ortskommandan-
tur he was met by a request that he
grant an audience to his German col
league. 1t was 10 o'clock, the exact
hour of yesterdays meeting.
He granted the request, and in a
moment the shaved rat slid in through
a slit in the open door and ran his
tongue over his pink lips. His little
black eyes shOne like shoe buttons,
and he kept scratching the palms of
his hands.
He wanted to know if the Herr
Oberleutnant had any orders for him.
The Herr Obprleutnant wanted to
know why.
Zach " cried the burgermeister, 'be-
fore the Americans came we had a
government Now we had none. How,
then can I run the town of b as
used to run it? There is no one to tell
me what to do. If only the Herr Ohcr-
leutnant would express his wishes"
The aid narrowed his eyes and
looked at him in disgust.
"Have the streets cleaned" he said,
and turned to his work.
The face Of the hurgermeiStcr was
radiant. He had found a boss.
In less than thirty minutes platoon
of boches was assembled in the street
before the ortskommandantur Every
other man carried broom at right
shoulder arms and the man at his side
shovel. The burgclmeister stood on
the steps of the building, with a pencil
in one hand and long list in the
other. and checked off their names.
Then, "Uup" said the burgermels-
ter.
Out Of the ranks jumped four men,
saIutcd, and faced the platoon.
"UuDw said the first of the four
and little squad of broomers and
shovclcrs faced to the right and
marched off hriskly northward.
"Hup" said the second of the four
and another little squad trottrd off, to
the east.
"IIupr said the third, and "Hup y
said the fourth, and soon all points of
the compass had received their squads
And the voice of the gefreite was
heard in the land. Clouds of dust
hung over b am Rhein, shOvels
changed on the cohblestoncs, hrooms
scrapcd the roadways The town was
being cleaned.
The burgermcister stepped into the
hurgermcisteroi and iahbed his pencil
three times into his right ear. $1,000
he said with pride and satisfaction.
And from that day on the aid gave
him orders punctually at 10 a. NJ
George Boas. in Atlantic Monthly.
ireland Again.
Two IriShmCn were walking alOnf