THE KAISER'S MISTAKES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11359, 10 April 1915, Page 11

THE KAISER'S MISTAKES.

CONQUERED BRITAIN. TUTORING THE GERMAN S0!M8 ROMRKA s it maurm. i.Mol:soiir:U' '• Auy " ( 'u( *: .•••■". ■ !/(.>N!Ki\, iVbrunrv A remark rsV« . tak>*n nvai Gorman pris- w:><• it. Kuhmv. h.. ■ reachi <i J.o;u!«ir,. It is'a .j,.• ;iv :■ of German hum to detads in v.'i-.r. !•■>»• i; >'< Km ; ■ dictionary f.-h;-;;•,<- 1...• i!,. ; .-c publication i-Mt'd '<v <;• n.avi (- : wiunent lor tim u-.- <-.f tiv- Gm army when iii-*\v h'.viuif K«i{i!.n:cl! Na poison i'- stated n> Isnvc- had a r»n»:i.> struck to comniPiHonu'.' hU "'>■ quest-" oi England ix'f<u-i' it t.;. place, hut there ii> nothing mi r«v..:. to indicate that lie was '• !horon^ 1 : in his military incr.hr.GN ;>> in pivp. an English phrase ;V,r the u; «• • his soldiers when th*y lamk-d j:i ;a . fidious Albion. Hut tlie German \\ ar 0(!i;:r in's >!.*: even more than that- The <Jc;-:ua " English Phrase Book ami !)> •tn-. ary," or the '' German .Soldier'* li«h Manual," is a very yompivhciiNV compilation, \vhich contain* _ 'in tiou several map? of EngianU, a h>t o English place names, a (ieaor.p-.'ion «>. points of military importance in {-.n r.. Britain, the- English coin and Wi.igi.'.. tables with their German equivalent", and -a full description of v!u> and' grades of the British Army and Navy. There is also contained in ii> comprehensive contents, a. key to English pronunciation, and a.n excellently arranged elementary English grammar. Several pages in t.he fore-front of th<book, to which the " Daily Chronicle " was tha first London paper to diiect attention, are devoted to an explanation of British military terms, and equivalents of the words and phrase-; used are sot out in English. This portion of tlie compilation wonkl he very useful to a Germany army that managed to reach British shores. The possibility of the failure of such an invasion has not, very wisely, been lostsight of by German militarists, and a set of phrases are inserted in th: j book which are for use on '' unarmed English fishermen" sailors are probably meant—ordering them to " get up anchor" and "set sail"—doubtless for Germany. It is significant that several cages of this delightful little publication are devoted to phrases in English about "booty"—or "requisitions" which means tha same thing in the German ! military mind. The German method of "requisitioning"—or theft—from the civil population of the countryside through which the German army passes, is illuminatingly revealed 111 the following passage from the book, which is recommended as the form of address to be used by the German officer in command of his troops to the mayor of the English country town in i which he happens to find himself:— "Mr Mayor (or sir): 1 have orders 1 to carry out a requisition of food and ! forage in this place. I hope you wil! ! not compel me to use fom;. ! " Within an hour von -.rill have to i furnish on the spct—-head of cattle. 1 hundred*,visits of oats, flour, hay—j hectolitres of wine, potato*?. . "In c-'voe of r«?usal you will foe i arrested. 1

" I shall cause my soldiers to take the articles required whe.ro I .Vm-ill find them/ You s*e your refusal woe.'d bs of no üb«. Any~ resistßnce of the fnlia.bitants \rottld be swerely puulsb«d.. " You will a rjoeipt for the articles furni plied. Sy v;r^. : e of %<& receipt you will b» oo.upsjisated L-,ter on. " Take a resolution! I nut much time! You wDI not &b"e to call for assistance. All €td\vs jare watched. " Wr,-1. ynu force me to tn.ke myself what 1 It goes withont- s.-i.y'tuc that 1' shall start in jour ho«.«e. •''"You have a lot of fowls, yen will furnish 300 esrgs-! Your fowls don't lay? Well, thf-i:, we will take all these useless creatures frith us and slaughter them. Egfjs or fowls! You may choose I"

The compiler of the volume is <-?r----tainly not lacking in imagination, far he next permits his mind's eve to dwell upon the spectacle of ;i mob of wretc.h- ---! eel, trembling English prison*! «,• beau* brought- before the Grr-.ir.n rommar.c- , ant on the eve. of* transport to German prisons. The genial commandant thus addresses them " Silence! Xobc 'v is allowed to talk! Away with, the pipes (cigars'!! Take vour hands out of your pockets! "When I speak to you you hare to assume a. military attitude. Every insubordination and every breach of discipline will be severe punished. "All orders given by men of -the escort will be strictly obeyed. Whoever makes an attempt oil one of them will be punished with death. " "Whoever makes an attempt to escape will be shot at. It is forbidden to speak to any person passing by. " Tf you want to talk, do it softly. It is forbidden to speak aloud. The most striking feature of ti-e book is the brutal arrogance which apparently is the recognised (icnnnn military method of procedure toward? the civilised population in countries rh.ey pn&s through. The subjoined set of commands, supposed to bo addressed by a German officer to the leaaine civilian of a conquered English town, are no doubt unhappily to many a French " maire " or Belg'ai burgomaster:— " Where does the mayor (head local authority) live? Show me to him: Send him here! "Give me billets for. fire officers. | 220 men and eight horse*. " Send somebody with me who will show me the rooms for the officers, i "Is that the room for the officer? Don't you have a larger room F The rooms must be heated to-morrow. Put clean sheets on the bed. "Seo that the captain may have lunch immediately after arriving. " Have any sick horses been m the stable? Take that cow away! " Give notice bv the drum that the inhabitants will have to furnish the food for the soldiers quartered with thorn. Every soldier will b-f? entitled t<o Tjib of meat—in addition to thr.t :i pint of beer. For the night evcrv soldier must have fit least a. straw bed. n nillow and a blanket. '• Take care that my orders are strictly obeyed. I shall hold you responsible for that. •• Anv resist-a uco will be severely punished. . • /, ■ • •' The community (or municipalityl j •will have to pay a heavy contribution. " Whoever makes an attempt on one of my soldiers will be condemned to death. •' The village will he razed. i '• The mayor will, certainly he shot. ! "You will answer with your life for their safety." But tbi* form of address is eom-> p rati re politeness to that to be by the Prussian officer to the wrolcho.l English labourer who may he found coworintc j a country lane .seeking to escape the notice of the conquering German hosts. The soldier who discovers hhii is ordered tx> address h'»t m the following wo.is:— about hero! You v.-ill come with me to the piquet. _ " Walk in front of me! Be silent! You have only to answer my question;. " You seem .suspicious to'me. V".; will stay here until further tkviuv. If you make any attempt to escape \.ui will be shot.'' The unhappy rountrynr-M r. t.> bo dragged beforo the ' Iki's officer,

| who is instructed to question liim in the same humane spirit, as follows "Is that village occupied by troops? I When did the troops arrive there? I What number of men do you think are j there? Well? About two or three | companies? How many officers w--re | with them? Was there any artillery ? How ninny guns? Did you .see any cavalry? " Speak the truth. A lie couJd cost your life. " Has 111e village been prepared for defence? Are there any barricades M- ; - the entrances? Is there a church )d the village? Is there a castle or liiystrongly built, house? " Where aro the enemy's ontp<»at»? Didn't, you see any hostile v&trols in | that oart'? ; " Sow strong was tijs patrol? i Where did is come from, and in vvh&t ! direction did :t ride en? % ?/&s ft ooia- ; mnnded by av. ofac?r? | " Keep eloso to the side of tuy jvorw. !On the fir't to ossaw, *Sr, : if you take u\s the wrong wsy, I ArM' : shoot- vru. ; ' . " : j England being t»jap!ate!y oMtitsaiwc?, J the compiler of the vdtauw Ixiingiß hii 5 ? • besij English to bear the _ o~iii gonial task of ins trading the Slaias*.**# j wgiosß how to enjoy at ib& I expsMvQ of the or%>inw.j« *sritisa * j Hits part of fhe is 7**y «af©- : fully f.nd giew tsx •though uneovvrlorjs. «cc. '■ man glut way ira drunkfit.-'wa *Mw>' \ meals' in a:t hcur, by I wine, beer and wlnr, are 'wliat *k& ; O-inncn pirnr«ch viten iff I owner hasn't. to ;»av for ihwti, ' if-' | German is Vi'leied on sx>. I&t§j )iph and " the (Jersaa-i 'loldi&rs in'sl-rwts hin to express' &|s I .-lisiso.t-i-.'ffioti.m with *Jbe am&sesxeaw i *'-.nde . : or his aweanaodetioa *©( : his fnyoiantary hostess JJrJf ( " Skotr roe to ray rossa J Tkois aijrt£ : I-ols? "What, do yott think! | V?YM? You {jß?e no other worn !a ' this bi£ Louse 0 Opeu the doors? % ; «<n gr.tti,T io ehooaa a room i Here I shu'l stay. Take tbasse tiuagSf i out of iho roota! '; "Quick! I should like 4 *> have I something to est. A light xti) iihjstat : r: ill do for the present. Brsx, hv.r-ter, . cheese and soma meat. Some ' bottle of beer, a t {lass of milk. I e.ta ; very thirsty. | ''See that I aiu uot'disturbM! BonVi j make .iuy noise! Xow I want to ia'-hff:'' tor an hour. At 2 o'clock you. nid j have dinner ready. Call me when di'V j ner is ready.''' | After his two meals the soldier-' :i • j supposed by the compiler of the pi: | bock to be a little more t'ontrr.tej, • and is actually provided with a s»f«- ! fence to express satisfaction for hn ' food. Then, however, comes the . i'ob.. i lowing characteristic German ton?!;:-- ; " I want some moro beer! i>on't ; you have -t better sort of beer?" | ' Hut if the German soldier is fond > of food and beer and wine, his officer ! is even more inclined to gluttony and | drunkenness. The drinking powers oi i the Governor of North Carolina, wha j deplored the length of time between, | dnuks. must havo besn considerably.. ' inferior to those possessed by tlia" I average Gorman officer, if the compiler! I of the " German Soldiers Manual" ia 1 to be believed. Tho book imagines th«. I German officer in a good English j hotel, and provides him with a ntrnK j brr of Euiiiish phrases, so that na( ! niav order the best meal tho resouroerf j „f 'the establishment afford—with a I bottle of the best claret. After thaGerman officer has finished the meaf he and his companions start drinking? • beer, arid ha.steus the slow-footed Eng-< lish waiter with the following marks:— *' Walter. make liastel We don't like to v>':! it a quarter of an hour for every glass-of beer. "Sir. the attendance is very' bad. | The waiter is too slow. He se'ems to be obs.ine-i-e.

•' \Yi\ want another waiter. Other*' vrise. re ---hnll send for some soldier* to nttend on us. *"■ Tell ihose people to keep quiet (behave properly). Otherwise they- . must loaTe tlie room." A littlo later on appears this pas* , sape:— • ; T want to pay (order my bi11:,,;. p!env=eV Supper, one brandy, oit4 whisky atvl three glasses of beer*. > TToro am fire shillings (is a crown)." This UoL-k was not found in ths possesion 01 a prirato. It was tii<3 property of ;> German corporal, wiio presented it io an English chaplain who help ?d nurse him after he had been wounded in the fighting at La Ba«."ee. 'live German told the chaplain timt the book had been issued «c officers of other German army corps", As, however, it is the first ro'lmno'oi * its kind that has fallen into British . hands, it appears probable that, the .> German authorities have issued it w.ih great circumspection since the out • ' break of tjio war, and only to tmci ' I men, who are to be included in expeditionary force designed to against Great Britain for the purpose of, i invading it. Obviously, pr.ch a work , could not hare been in existence. except in inr,'anser;pt fninu betoiv ti;c. war. for the discovery 01 .'t wotiM have procip'tatinstant trouble between '.Trent and UoTinnu}. The sect;'-:.,- r.-'.-rm u>JsJ'U>:h naval jmkl T..n Mt>- •nacste a ueep v,,,- ,■ , subject, ana v,w - j jVom i-py * e forma-