3 JULY 1926, Page 20

A STORY ABOUT BISMARCK

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Sin,— I can bear out from my early recollections Mr. St. Lac Strachey's point as to the bad behaviour of officers when drilling German soldiers. In 1869 or 1870 when watching the drilling of Bavarian soldiers from the Englisdier Garten ill Munich, which overlooks the parade ground adjacent to it, I saw an officer violently box a private's ears. Though only a child of seven at the time, the brutality made an ineffaceable npression.

Referring to the incident in later years my father expressed his satisfaction that such an incident in the British Army and such behaviour on the part of a British officer were alike inconceivable and impossible.—I am, Sir, &c.,