MILITARY DESPOTISM.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1921, 2 December 1913, Page 5

MILITARY DESPOTISM.

ALSATIAN CITIZENS DRAGOONED BY SOLDIERS. EXTRAORDINARY SCENES. IMPRISONED IN COAL-CELLARS. By Telegraph—Press A!.'3oci.&Uon— Copyright Berlin, December 30. There have been renewed disturbances at Zabern (Alsace-Lorraine). Citizens bustled officers, who called out the guard. Tho front ranks of the soldiers knelt and threatened to hro unless the streets wero cleared. The crowd fled, the soldiers using tho hutteiuls of their rifles. Forty arrests were made, including two magistrates. •Officers wero unablo to appear on the streets without a guard with fixed bayonets. Unofficial versions accuse the military of violent excesses. Tho public demand the removal of tho 93rd Regiment. Tho authorities rue much concerned, and liavo ordered an inquiry.

(Rec. December 1, 11.2-5 p.m.) Berlin, December 1. Tiie situation at Zabeni has undergone a series of extraordinary developments. Lieutenant Von Foerstner, with four other officers, were crossing from tho barracks overlooking the Schloss-platz whcii they met some students leaving tho Continuation School in the same square. One boy, recognising Von Foerstiicr, shouted a word having some reference to certain manoeuvre affairs, in which Von Foerstner had been implicated. Overhearing tho insult, Lieutenant .Schalt summoned four armed soldiers, who chased and captured tho offender, who was marched to the-barrack yard, from which he cscaped. Meanwhile, a large crowd assembled when they heard the roll of tho drum inside tho barracks, from which emerged, on Colonel Von Heutcr's orders, sixty soldiers, with rifles loaded and bayonets fixed. Tho front knelt, and the women and children fled. Somo of. tho men entered shops and houses near by, but others, who refused to move, wero arrested, including counsel, accompanying the Judge, «'ho was then leaving the Court. Tho Crown Prosecutor, . finding the military forces acting without first seeking poiico assistance, said to tho officers: "What you are doing is illegal." Tho officers, turning to several soldiers, exclaimed: "Arrest that manl" When tho Schloss-platz had been cleared, the soldiers returned to the barracks, hut it was announced officially that patrols would be sent at intervals to keep High Street clear, and enable officers returning to their homes to arrest any insulters. Subsequently, the Crown Prosecutor and threo other officials of tho Court, were released, at the instance of the President of tho Court,

Tho remaining twenty-six spent Iho night in tho cold, damp coal-cellars f;t the barracks, foodless, without covering, and treated as the worst criraina's.

Lieutenant Von Foerstner, of flie Garrison at Habern. incurred tho ire of Hie public, and the displeasure of his superiors, by offering his men last month ton marks for every Alsatian vagabond they stabbed.' A mob numbering one thousand besieged Von Feerstne-r's quarters, and threatened to lynch him. Troops eventually dispersed tho crowd. The-re were angry citizens everywhere, threatening tho soldiery. Von Foerstncr was placed Under arrest, and was afterwards transferred to another district.