The extraordinary efficiency of Prussian administration, pro- bably the most
efficient for its purposes in the world, cornea out in the government of occupied provinces outside Alsace and Lorraine. Herr Bethmann Holweg, for example, German Prefect of the Meuse, during his term of office there has re-established the post, repaired all the roads, reopened a canal destroyed by Baron David, protected the railways and telegraphs by fines for damage, stopped the rinderpeat, and reopened all the schools and lyceums. The taxes are regularly collected, and the strike of the judicial authorities has been met by establishing military tribunals, which take cognizance of all charges down to wife-beating. The extraordinary thing is, that in a district like this, out of the way of the actual campaign, nobody interferes with Herr Holweg, who is obeyed with very little more opposition than in Germany. One cannot help wondering how he would find it if he had Kent to govern.
Previous page
