The Washington herald., 1920-07-26
GERMAN GUARD
OFFICERS GONE
Former Swaggerers Of Prus-
sian Regiments Dis
appear.

What has become OF the Prussian
ofncer? The clanking. swaggerinE
superman OF the old Germany who
STROBE insolently through the
streets Of his native towns, brushing
the mere pedestrian from the side
walk as though he were the least
OF things inconseqUentisl. was a
common sight in the empire in the
days before the war. The tourist in
Germany who dropped into any one
OF the numerous cafes or beer halls
10 spend an evening and get a toucn
OF Teutonic local color has seen the
type, knows the smug-faced, mo-
nocleo Prussian oflcer that was the
backbone Of Germsny's militsrisrn.
Then the advent Of this overiord
into 4 cafe was an event. an event
that called for immediate recogni-
tion. Instantly his presence was
deserted in the doorway the entire
roomfUl arose in Ealute. soldier and
civilian alike. for was he not Of the
elect? II was hard for the Ameri-
can tourist TO understand how any
sane people could render such rev
erence 70 q fellow man as the Ger
man bestowed upon its Officer class
But IL was d fact What has be-
z they gone, and how are they looked
upon now in-besten Germany
\ correspondent in the London
Times, who was IN Germany during
the kapp revolution. which arose
and fell the latter part Of March.
SAYS that he observed "a very faint
revival Of the old TTUssianism. A
few officers OF the old war army
crept out Of their retreats. donned
their faded gray field uniforms and
ed-banded caps, and spent their last
20 marks on a croshke in order 10
parade the streets with some show
!of their old domineering ways. But
in reality all the old insolcncc had
withered on their wan faces. they
could not call up q smile Of tri-
umph during those kspp DAYS And
when the revolution was over they
slunk back upon retirement"
Germany Beaten and HunEry
Germany Is b-sten. writes this
correspondent, not only beaten but
hungry and insuficisntly nourished.
There Is too little blood IN the
brain which once was accustousd
TO bloOd-maklnE food This ap-
phes-Indeed. o. eminertly applles
to the old officer class as well as
to Others
i hsv, heard d good deal about
the Prusslsn officer class. the cor
respondent continues The bulk
of IL was poor IN the best Of timer
Except by marriage or inheritance.
the ordIUaTH officer Of the line had
. little beyond his Pay on which 10
4 support lfe or cours,. the great
majority OF the old ofHcers. both OF
the guards and Of the line. were
killed or permanently incspscitSted
in the war am told here znd
there Of an old colonel or major
down in the country who is seen
with his boy. perhaps a disbsnded
cadet hauling slouG the road d lit
tie handcsrt piled with wood 10 pro-
vide fuel Tor his humble hoUsehJl
Everything that was Of any value
had been sold in order 10 purchase
food and clothing.
The obscurest shops OF second
hand dealers are, or recently were.
full Of bargains. Of bits Of Dresden
china. old oak cupboards yewelry,
amber heads. and all that assort-
ment OF miscellaneous family pos
sessions which always comes on the
market after national defeat and
revolution. The class OF officers OF
which 7 am speaking may be rs-
Sarded as a class that il certainly
scotched. II not killed. Their old
social position. which secured them
place at the tables Of the rich
middle classes. is gone with their
fine uniform. They cannot even hope
10 beg a meal
There was another class Of on
cer-those who thronged the crack
regiments. especially the cavalry
Many will remember IN the old daNs
their naughty aspect, particularly in
the while CuIrassier regiments. with
their heavy tread and clsnking
spurs on the psrQUet floors Of hotels
and cafes. They have utterly van
ished from the towns. Al
the old swsGger OF Prussianism has
gone. The traditions Of the old
army are like d discar rdcd uniform
in d second hand shop. Il is said
that the young cavalry officers Of
ticularly in Siberia. did not show
up very well during the first year
of the war. They largely developed
heart complaints. due either TO their
former EUZzling. swillInE ways OF
living or TO the indulgence OF army
doctors. who gave them leave Ger
.tificates Many Of them spent the
later years Of the war in the bosom
Of their families And over tho
/ grave Of the Prussiau army, as I
knew il OF old. is written the word
I Ichs bod which is 10 say. the glory
hs-s deDRTted.