Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1897 — Why the Soldiers Were Too Short. [ARTICLE]

Why the Soldiers Were Too Short.

Just at the time when vague reports were beginning to creep abroad that Germany was meditating fresh extension of her frontier at the expense of Holland a Dutch official of high rank happened to be visiting the court of Berlin and among other spectacles got up to amuse him a review was organized at Potsdam. “What does your Excellency think of our soldiers?” asked Prince Bismarck as one of the regiments came marching past in admirable order. “They look as if they knew how to fight,” replied the visitor, gravely, “but they are not quite tall enough.” The Prince looked rather surprised, but made no answer, and several, other regiments filed past in succession, but the Dutchman’s verdict upon each was' still the same: “Not tall enough.” 1 At length the grenadiers of the guard made their appearance—a magnificent body of veterans, big and stalwart enough to have satisfied e'-en the giantloving father of Frederick the Great, but the inexorable critic merely said: “Fine soldiers, but not tall enough.” Then Prince Bismarck rejoined: “These grenadiers are the finest men in our whole army; may I ask what your Excellency is pleased to mean by saying that they are not tall enough?” The Dutchman looked him full in the face and replied with significant emphasis: “I mean that we can flood our country twelve feet deep.”—London Tid-Bits.