The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-02-25
NEEDED A MASTER
German Official Helpless in the
Absence of Orders.
Burgermeisters Case Typical of the
Lack of Initiative Resulting From
the System of MiIitarism'
SO Long in Vogue.

! The burgermeister of B am Rhein
was a person who looked like white
rat that had been th oroughly soaked
and shaved. And he had the faculty,
which all Germans have of congealing
ms cords and muscles at a moments
notice, and could assume the rigOr of
| an eplleptic in the presence of supe-
r1ors. 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 APP
pointed to this particular suburb of
Coblenz, often wondered why the ar
rest of every vital function should be
considered polite. He distrusted that
German salute. 1t was too much like
playing 'possum.
When the burgermeister 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
cfal act, he felt. had been kindly, yet
firm, just but not harsh. If he had his
way, B would not suffer as north 4
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 |
burgermeisters office overhead-the |
holding of cheeks in hands, the strik
ing of chests, the weary and rapid /
breathing of bewiIderment, the grOans
of despair. And the next morning.
when he went to the ortskommandan-
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 q
the shaved rat slid in through
a slit in the open door and ran his
black eyes shone like shoe buttons. II
and he kept scratching the palms of
MS hands.
He wanted to know if the Herr
had any orders for him.
The Herr Oberleutnant wanted to
Snow why.
"Ach!" cried the burgerIpeister, 'be
ore the Americans came we had
government Now we had nome How,
hen. can run the town of B as
sed to run it? There is no one to tell
ne what to do. IF only the Herr Ober-
sutnant would express his Wishes"
The aid narrowed his eyes and
,Oked at him In disgust.
"Have the streets cleaned" he said
nd turned TO his work.
The face Of the burgermeister was
ldiant He had found boss.
In less than thirty minutes a platoon
hochcs was assembled in the street
sfore the tskOmmandantur. Every
her man carried broom at right
BOULDER arms and the man at his side
shovel. The hurgermeister stood on
e steps Of the building. with a pencil
one hand and q long list in the
her, and checked off their names.
Then, "Hup" said the burgermeis
r.
Out OF the ranks jumped four men.
luted. and faced the platoon.
uHup !" said the first of the four;
d little squad of broomers and
ovelers faced to the right and
arched off brfskIy northward.
'Hu,yi" said the second of the four;
d another little squad trotted off. to
! east.