GOVERNMENT'S EPLANATIONS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14841, 5 December 1913, Page 7

GOVERNMENT'S EPLANATIONS.

NOT DEEMED SATISFACTORY. VOTE OF CENSURE 310VED. (Received December 4th, 10.50 p.m.) BERLIN, December 4. Tho Government's replies to interpellations aroused indignant interruptions. Hcrr yon Bethmann-Holhveg said the Army's duty was to guard tho honour of their uniform. It was solely consciousness of this duty which led the military at Zabern to intervene. Th© Minister of War said that had the authorities yielded in regard to Lieutenant yon Foerstner, peace might have been restored, but it would have been a treacherous peace. Amid tumultuous protests, he said there was a necessity for maintaining the army's record for honour, which was the only thing in a moment of danger which enabled a soldier to choose between death and disgrace. Young officers must be protected, even if their youthful exuberance went too far. Herr Feherenbach, spokesman of the Centre Party, said the explanations of the Government had aroused a feeling of shame and bitter pain. The indignation regarding the Zabern occurrences was universal in Germany. The Minister of War intervened, and said it was better that an officer should be escorted by soldiers to arrest molesters than he should plunge his sword into the body of a person insulting him. The Socialists proposed a vote of censure on the Government, which will be debated to-day.