REGIMENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 19 November 1915, Page 7

REGIMENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

The news that the 28th Austrian Infantry Regiment lias been sentenced by the Emepror Erancis Joseph to be "disbanded for all eternity and excluded for ever from the army for cowardice and high treason in face of the enemy,’’ is a reminder that much more severe penalties than these, even, used td be inflicted upon regiments guilty of similar offences (remarks Stray Stories). Decimation, for instance —that is, the shooting of every tenth man selected at haphazard—was in vogue in both the Austrian and Russian armies up till about 70 years ago; and the British "Black Watch" was once tried on bloc by court martial for mutiny and desertion and sentenced to death, the penalty afterwards being commuted, except in the case of three ringleaders, who were executed. For misbehaving themselves during divine service in the Peninsular War in 1812, the Duke of Wellington ordered the 12th Lancers to bo paraded at 10 o ’clock- every night and stand at attention while five hymns were- played by the band, the punishment to be continued for the space of 100 years. Incredible though it may sound, this was actually done, the last "hymn parade" being held in 1012. Because they failed to guard President Carnot from the knife of the anarchist Caserio, the Bth French Cavalry wore deprived of the right to wear cock's feathers in the shakos, a punishment that lasted I t years, when these highly prized decorations were restored to them by General Piccpiart. The present Czar of Russia once cashiered every officer in his famous Pi - 1 bajensky Guards, and banished the regiment from the capital, for alleged d ;s- ---! affection and insubordination. I n ‘ donbtedly, however, the most extraordinary method of punishing a regiment was that invented on the spur of the moment by King Frederick William of Prussia in regard to his famous .Potsdam Grenadiers. Bleeding was considered in those days a cure for every iir. It must, then, argued the King, have a beneficial effect uopn a restless or insubordinate soldier. "Bleed the regiment, colonel, every man!" was Ins command, it was winter, and bitterly cold. Nevertheless the unlucky grenadiers were at once operated upon, company by company, as they stood iindor 'arms. "’Never before or after,” writes a chronicler In bitter irony, ter the King was notorious for his lack on courage. "cui Preuenck W illuim caw-o so much blood to br spi t."