PEEPS AT THE NAVY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 179, 2 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

PEEPS AT THE NAVY.

Having several contributors who may he trusted to do justice to the Army, "Blackwood's Magazine'' has existed in "11.P." a writer who Rives us a peep at the Navy. The first Instalment of "A Ship's Company" includes .a lively sketch of the hatile of Heligoland and an account of daily li:0 on hoard. Apait from the evcrprfscnt hope of a brush with the enemy, routine is enlivened by a sub marine 'Stunt'' or mine "cliasse." Tlun (here is a glimpse of the ward-room during the dog-watches, when mailing, writing, and playing games are the chief amusements. "Br-r-r-r-r. . The alarm rattlers are stuttering out their warning that has hut one meaning—submarines! T T p dash the executive officers to their stations, .and In the mess are left but the Fleet Surgeon. Fleet. Paymaster, and Chaplain.

" 'After you with that paper, P.M.0.,' says the padre, managing to fit in the sentence he'v.een two round:; from a tin. g'.'n r.verhe.nd. •' '1 hope they sink ilu> swab,' is tie only lemari: I'av mai-.ei as he calmly p-mTh at his |.i] ?.''

life of the men who are guilty of these atrocities, and many remarkable facts about the rapid increase of crime in Gennanv.

Professor Morgan's conclusiin is that there was "a deliberate policy of atrocity by responsible German officers," and he gives abundant prop's of The doctrine Germany has taught is that there are no limitations as to what is justified by the exigencies of war. Looking to the future, Professor Morgan says he sees little hope fcv Germany except 1:1 a sentence of outlawry.

Ji.'io black-listing of the names of responsible German commanders, although worth doing (and 1 have reason to believe that at the Kronen War Office it is being done.) with a view to retribution, is not going to change the German chara.tcr. We shall have to revise our notions of both municipal and international law against her. . . .

THE TELL-TALE DIARIES. Prof-. 1 :-••or Morgan gives many extracts from diaries of German soldiers to show that at various periods in the war orders were given to take no Englishmen prisoners. The Professor cannot acquit tl.e German officers of the charge of having condoned and encouraged outrages upon the honour of women by Teuton soldiers. As an example, he has made a study of the German occupation of Bailloul. which was occupied 'ova regiment ol Gorman Hussars for a period of eight days. There were worn statements showing that there were thirty girl-., and young married women who were victims: it is probable that, owing to the natural reluctance of women to give evident". 1 , the number of outrages was much greater. At least live officers were guilty of such offences, -incl where, the officers set the example the men followed. Frequently th • victims were beaten and kicked, and i threatened with a revolver if they rcs.stod. Similar stories are given regarding many other occupied districts. YORKSHIRE-MAN'S TERRIISLE STORY.

A l;in_'P number of depositions by Hritidi soldiers are o noted hv i'rofessor Morgan. Private C ,of tho 2nd Ttatta'ioti Yorkshire Light Infantry, l;;ivi' tin-' following incident, which ociiiri'cd in a village near V|»l* >.-;, out if which tli« flcnnnns were driven: Captain A - ■■ wont upvr-iws aft.T leaving some men on the cellar step?; I followd lu'iii. In tli*> l>a k roo; :s was a girl aliont fifteen li.' had nothing on except a man's overcoat When we broke into the room wo. thought s]|M W -ii« absolutely iiinl. Wio r-rii-d out sonipllrr.g, !>ut we could not i:nd.'isl'ui(i v.lnt it was. <h" ni-liotl "in of liio room into the front bedroom, which wiis loi-b'tl. Wo smashed it in I'.ilh our rifle butts, ami there 1'...0id a woman, le-r mot'u r. Her hea-l had been ,-;t, as if uilh a i w.-ril. ikil. a ItavoiiC'i. We used our fit-Id l-i'ldii}-< and je.ilf her ::■ comfortable as wo could, and sent a vn 1 - liiite.or ha'k for Ktrotcher-bpmvrs.

Here is an extract from the diary of a German soldier: —

fn all large towns there lie certain places and certain days whereon members of the upper class.'s assemble, principally for the pi.' pose oi arranging beta.thals. Speculation and bargaining play the principal part; deceit and jobbery are not lacking. Army officer.-, head over ears in debt, but in possession of a ' noble" pedigree: roues whoso health iias been ruined, ann who seek repose and a good nurse ;n the haven of matrimony. i

Money compensates lor .ill defects of physique or character. Countless and highly-organised marriage agencies exist throughout Germany: daily they hunt up their prey to receive exceeding larger. Such is the tiered state of matrimony generally entered by the so-cailed upper-class in Germany. WEDDING REVEL-s.

The author d< scribes the revels by which German marriages are usually celebrated. At one stage of the proceedings the- eoti-pany seat themselves at :i table, drinking and jesting.

Then one <>i the male guest*-, disappears >tirri jil.iliuusly under tin-t-able mill removes a garter from the leg <.i' every one of tlie ludio-* present, ic being tlie t-iintnm ot lie ladies on such occasions to near bright-colour-ed ribbons "Xpressly for tlr- portion of tlie festivilios. The garters are tli. ii handed up above the table and cut into pieces for each of l-ho men to wear in hi* buttonhole. 'this custom is practised at tlie weddings of the wealthy ->iul arisiocratie elas-.'s. and is seldom omitted at the weddings of royal personages in tlie various Corniau States.

"Wiiikt crime l'i»« ll'Vll (locica-illg in England it has iiivatlv imroav.'d in (icnuany. The ;.uthor gives 'lie official figures, and quotes lVofoss-:;r Aschaf-I'e-nhurg, the well-known Gcr.unn criminologist, "that i-riiiK'.s of violciK o, etc.. arc increasing each year at an rate.' - ' And AschafFenhurg n.niiitaiiicil that many crimes were dealt with (no liulitlv, in- ignoivd altogellx ■ j The hook, as Lord Koseherv declared I after reading the advance nrool's, i< .» ! powerful arraignment of thv I'm-sinn ! social <-y-t.'in