THE GERMAN EMPEROR AND HIS ARMY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4749, 2 May 1900, Page 4

THE GERMAN EMPEROR AND HIS ARMY.

ST; s parade of the j, t „ .v« OiUuduee House, the jLiu^i-ivr tltiivtreu the tollowing adarteb io the officers of the Berlin (jrarrißou :—": — " Tbe first day of tbe new v*mury sees our army, in other words uur peupie in*arma, gathered around ibeir standards, -kneeling before the Lord ot Hoats, and verify if anyone ».a» tbpecial reasou thiß day for bow- •» ii bt t«>re God it is our army. . _ v.-v> ;.f ur n>andards suffices as •A; . >■••••, lor tuey are the emmia . • .; «ur history. In what ( 'i-as' i< _ cia i ue pugt century at its — . s.'-i: v- Bimv ? ihe glorious F . v.< r .en toe Ureat had slept ..tui^ies Fossilised amid all !_.> \ (n ijils i.f pipeclay, led by ,t, t mi uuaitd aijd inefficient generals, Witii i . oiliuci'B uuhCcusLumed to ueeiul work, lost in debauch, luxury, and foolish arrogance, our army, in a word, was not equal to its mission, which, indeed, it had forgotten. Heavy was the chastisement of Heaven which overtook it, and which fell upon our peopje. It was cast into the dust. The glory of Frederick was extinguished and our standards were broken*. In many long years of bitter servitude God taught our people to look to itself*-- and under the pressure of the foot of a- proud conqueror uur ueopie engendered in itself that most* sublime thought that it is the highest honor to dedicate one's blood and purae to the Fatherland in her armed service. Universal military Bervice in form and life were given to it by my great-grandfather, and new laurels crowded the newly-created army and its youthful banners. But universal military service only attained to ita true significance through our great departed Emperor. In quiet work he evolved the reorganisation of our army, despite the opposition offered by ignorance. Glorious campaigns crowned his work in a way which had never 'been expected: His' spirit filled the ranks of his army even as his own trust in God bore his troops .on to astonishing victories. With this, hia own creation, he broughi the- Gorman^ races together and gave us back 'the long-desired lieriuau unity. It is to l him our lhaukt) are due that, by the help of that army, the German Empire, com-