GERMANY'S ARISTOCRACY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 9 January 1915, Page 7

GERMANY'S ARISTOCRACY.

TOLL OF WAR. Berlin, November 11. War is wiping out Germany's aristocracy. This is the striking social result of the unprecedented struggle against seven enemy states. The corps and regiments of which the Fatherland is proudest; the corps which in Fred-j crick's time made feudal Prussia, and which make feudal Prussia to-day, are being swept into the abyss. The tragedy is outwardly most visible at Berlin, where the Uerr Lieutenant is the traditional hero of the sentimental pigtailcd; V'Btiekifisch." H'he ll'avarian journalist; writes that So terrifically has our mi!i-_ tary aristocracy dwindled that after I the war we shall have a new democratically officered army like that of France." Totalling up daily sixty lists of wounded and killed, shows that the ten regiments which count as "smartest," have lost, on an average, half their, officers. Tn peace time these regiments have a total of ISO lieutenants. Of the lieutenants, only "S survive. The reserve officers taken into those regiments have lost forty per cent. Four of the regiments have lost their colonels: two of the regiments have lost two thirds- of the captains. Many officers are only slightly wounded. They will return to the front. But as the war goes on. few of the original officers will be left. ''Two years hence," writes Major Lehmann, ''the army will be commanded by promoted non-coms. These men will excel, because they have bad practice in fighting which will replace theoretical training. But the aristocrat with leadership in bis blood will have disappeared."

Every aristocratic name is in the list of killed and wounded. Among famous military and political names I find Bismarck. Moltko. Buelow, Blueher, Bredow, Klh-st. and Stein. All the lost officers of these names are knismen of past wars or polities. In the northern provinces all the males of several families have perished. -Worst arc conditions in thi- west of Brandeiiberg, Mark, and in Po'ticrania, both old bulwarks of Tlohcnzollorn power. Fourteen princes belonging to some of the twentythree reigning families are dead or wounded. There are still a hundred of these princes at the front. The losses'; of the reigning families are exaggerated. 1 Every day foreign telegrams come to Berlin recording the death of (Jerinan princes who do not exist. Most are described as "cousins of the Kaiser." Tn addition to his sons. William 11. has nine cousins and nephews at the front. Six are regimental officers. All these undergo the sann' risks as other officers of the line.—ChrNtehureh Press Correspondent.