SOLDIERS V. CIVILIANS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1954, 10 January 1914, Page 5

SOLDIERS V. CIVILIANS.

THE BRUSH AT ZABERN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisht Berlin, January 8. Conflicting evidence continues to bo given at the inquiry into tho recent clashes between tho military and tho civil population at the garrison itown of Zaborn, in Alsace-Lorraine. A military witness described tho stoning of soldiers by a howling- crowd of about a 'hundred persons, while two barristers gave evidence that there had been completo tranquility, and lhat there was no cause for military intervention. A sergeant in the gendarmerio testified that ho saw the military arresting people in the Schloss-platz at Zabern on November 28. Tho square was practically empty at tho time, and he did not know why tho people were arrested. Excitement always became noticcablo when the soldiers appeared. The Crown Prosecutor proposed the acquittal of tho commandant, Colonel I'on Route:-, oil'tho charge of usurping executive power, as tho colonel was not aware that ho was acting illegally, but suggested a week's imprisonment on the charge of infringing tho liberty of the subject. The Crown Prosecutor proposed tlireo days' imprisonment for Lieutenant Sclialt for striking a witness, Korniann. The sentences wero 'postponed until Saturday. Tho Berlin "Tagcblatt" states that the Crowii Princo denies that his telegrams were intended to imply that Alsace-Lorraine was an enemy to his country, but that tho honour of the uniform and tho officers must bo protected from insult. It was tho duty of tho commander to protect his officers ond men. A DRAMATIC APPEAL. (Rec. January 9, 11.5 p.m.) Berlin, January 9. Colonel von Reuter, in a dramatic appeal to the Court, declared that as a soldier and a, mail ho had done only what was absolutely necessary to prevent a worse thing happening. The honour of the army was in his keeping, and ho had safeguarded tho trust reposed in him. The Crown Prosecutor in his address said Colonel von Router had acted in good faith, but had unconsciously usurped tho police authority and violated the law by imprisoning citizens instead of handing them over to tho civic authorities.