THE DUEL ON TRIAL IN GERMANY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12253, 2 June 1914, Page 8

THE DUEL ON TRIAL IN GERMANY.

The scratches of the German university duel seldom occasion any great, concern, except to the recipient, who fears tliev mav not leave deep enougU . scars to'show what a fighter he is. ( But the duel in the army serious matter and a recent counter near Metz has sent a thnlToi horror through Germtny sociot}. unc officer 'accused another of violating the sanctity of his home and m ing duel the husband lost his life, Ih pro* ed. the War Minister ing llp his hands indespairandaiHVV^ ]» t-ion of his honoi. „ ha? fremilitarv officers in ■ Geinvanj « ouentlv been discussed in t " o , Kel^f + u" .W on this between Lieutennientwned n ■ jnfnntry, and cinr. .clan,-,v., cf, of ]jioirtouant V-Im w" 10 the "insulted officer and challen"e' fVi shot dead. The .court of hoifor,- which or'nbt t e duel. • Hr.cTiaracfcensed the duel, •'an official institution in the a<T an offence against divine.and hti--BS."SK*«B£ flutv f ol \Vhen a State magistrate hears San acHi violence-is obiitemptot^, ti oo &&***. Wtat st«i» wore mental «»»' OT fe/" d c »rteuce ot tic = r -!lSfri^s« * people 6 : that any reform is to greeted ho to honOT f or authorities, and tue oouit u o<j _ carelessly permttmg_ nal ' oncounters . casioned by * h f^ B^o u CS ti O ns the war &£&.&£??£ Falkenhnyn, Sa Neither the officer in command at MetVncr me p ™s o ntl Atop, of a. S'S °i Sane felt himself wronged in his most sacred feelings, and declined all o= -, peaceful settlement. The com tof honor Ts not nn absolute authority in cases of this kind.- and is poweiless either to occasion a duel or to preven one as even- individual officer is supposed to he the guardian of his own U °"vor are the army authorities to blame in the matter. They have been tireless in their efforts to educate imlitarv oniuioiv oil the subject auellin to . On New Year's Day, 1913, the Raiser called noon the officer corps, as he nacl frequently done before, to exerc.se more self-control under provocation. Hie result of his admonition has not been altogether in vain, and in 1913 only sixteen duels took place. The number is still too high, but it would be a mistake to. prohibit duelling altogether The mental exasperation of an pltendca .officer would be merely intensified by such a rule, which might load him to revenge himself in sorno secret and nefarious jray, or drive him to the recourse oi horsewhipping his antagonist. 1 admit that duelling, though it may be the lesser of two evils, has little to plead lor its good results. The apparently unavoidable, impulse which moves men to challenge and to fight is simply personal and psychological, and lias no ground in reason. If the insulted officer legards his honor as worth more than his life, his feelings may be right or wrong, but no one can say they are debased."