KAISER'S RAW RECRUITS

Southland Times, Issue 17653, 10 February 1916, Page 5

KAISER'S RAW RECRUITS

‘•DREGS OP A PEOPLE.” Mr Frederick Schwed, an American, ■svho has just returned to New York from the capitals of the warring nations, makes some astonishing disclosures about the new German recruits in a long article which lie has specially written for the World. The raw men tliat England is now spilling into the hopper, says Mr .Schwed, are as sturdy, vigorous, and fine specimens as her first volunteers, and perhaps more numerous. But in Berlin I cannot exaggerate the depression among the people when the raw drafts of to-day march (although this flatters their progress) through the streets. Germany is at the bottom of her glass for men. Those arc the dregs of a people. The thrice rejected, the unfit weaklings, the sweepings of a race walk pitifully past to be made into soldiers.

1 have always had an abiding respect for the Gorman Tegular.” and was very polite whenever 3 met him, but this portion of the Imperial army would have no terrors in a dark alley. When I say that the village idiot would have fitted well into their ranks, and that it was doubtful whether the entire detachment ever readied I lie barracks without smelling salts, you can gather something of the impression the Kaiser's new fighters made.