GERMAN FORTRESS TOWNS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8356, 17 February 1913, Page 7

GERMAN FORTRESS TOWNS

TO PREVENT FURTHER HOAXES. SPECIAL CODE FOR GOVERNORS. BERLIN, February 14. General von Egloffistein, Governor of Strasburg, has been superseded. A special code is being devised for the use of Governors of fortified towns. A telegram, was received at Strasburg, stating that the Kaiser was arriving at midday to witness a test alarm parade of the garrison. The ' commander-m----chief mustered the troops on the drillground, including Prince Joachim or Prussia, The town was decorated, and great crowds waited .for, four hours, when telephonic inquiries revealed that the message was a hoax. It was afterwards found that Herr Wolter. formerly of the Paymaster’s Department, and recently court-mar trailed and dis* missed from the service as not responhibio for his actions had. in order to demonstrate that he was in full possession of his faculties, disguised himself os a postal official and delivered the telegram. He first sent a telegram to himself, rubbed out tho contents, and substituted the following "Arrive at twelve. Coming in motor oar. Proceeding to the ground, entire garrison to be alarmed. —(Signed) Wilhelm. Then he forged the special marks indicating that the message was from the Emperor. General von Egloflstem, oblivious of the fact that the Kaiser was one thousand miles away, summoned tho garrison. ’The populace believed that war was imminent, and the women were in tears. For 1 two hours l8,(K/0 troops were out on the ground, and a; new Zeppelin airship hovered overhead. There were thirty thousand spectators, including Welters, who was overheard to say that ho wished ho could set the fleet in motion. Finally the chief of polioe motored to Strasburg, two and at* half miles away, and learned that the Kaiser was at Koenigsborg. The "Morgen Post" recalled that the Kaiser in 1893 unexpectedly stopped the train himself, and alarmed the Btrosr burg garrison.