THE GERMAN OFFICER

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 14

THE GERMAN OFFICER

TRIMMING HIS ARROGANCE,

The difference between the German officer and the average German soldier whom we have had as prisoners, writes an officer from France in the Army and Navy Journal, is quite remarkable. Many of the former are aggravating to a degree in their contemptuous manner and point of view, while many of the latter, seem to be decent fellows, except that they are products of an abnormal lifetime training, which has made of them dumb and unquestioned followers of their appointed superiors. Before the war, adds the_ correspondent, there were many officers in the United States so carried away with the German idea of making men act _ with the sirnplo obedience of dumb animals, and just a machine, that they desired to Germanise tho American Army. Those of this school of officers who have been on the battlefront have now changed their views, however, and there should be no more talk of anything German in the American Army. ' A good illustration of the German, officer caste point of view was given when one of our companies, having a large number of wounded stretcher cases to deal with, both American and German, was compelled to use Gorman prisoners as stretcher bearers while going to the rear. One of the prisoners, when told to take hold of the litter of a wounded German and help bear the man to the; rear, stood very erect, poked his nose in the air, and said, "Nein, Ich bin Offizier." An American sergeant, turning to a man who s'poko German, asked, "What's the matter with that guy, why don't he get busy?" When the reason was explained the sergeant said, "Well, I'll fix that quick," and taking his knife ho cut ofE the shoulder straps of the officer, to the great dismay, of the latter, and with a. good Volley "of American oaths, which tho German officer evidently understood, told him to get to work quick. The German, officer went to work.