THE ZABERN INCIDENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6, 7 January 1914, Page 5

THE ZABERN INCIDENT.

FURTHER REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) [United Press Association.J Berlin, January 6.

in the court-martial of Colonel von ileuter, officer commanding the 2abern garrison, Colonel von ileuter stated that lie accepted full responsibility 1 for his junior officers' acts. tie gave instances of brawls between soldiers and civilians, in which the former were punished, but the authorities had not proceeded against the civilians. Witness said he instructed his officers to use their weapons in such a way as to facilitate Ithe identification of civilian brawlers, as the police failed to protect the army from insult. He ordered Lieutenant Schadt to enforce respect. Witness admitted fliut lie' 1 told the civil administrator that it was a good thing, under certain circumstances, to let blood llow, for he was defending the prestige and honor of the whole army. Lieutenant Sehad't testified that be arrested everyone who was suspected of insulting the army. Tressed whether he; would say that a bank clerk whom he arrested was laughing, witness replied: No, hut I suspected him of laughing. The people were too cowardly to insult us to our faces. Therefore we had to be guided by

presumption. Hen- Wahu, district administrator, stated that from the first there was no co-operation between Colonel von Iteuter and the civic authorities. Lieutenant von Foerstner gave evidence that besides many offensive expressions being shouted at him, he received abusive letters and postcards. The Mittag Zeitung says that the Crown Prince should be practically stripped of his military authority for congratulating Colonel von Reuter.

CONFLICTING STATEMENTS

'.Received 9.0 a.m.) Berlin, January- 6l

The chief feature of to-days evidence at Strasburg was a sharp conflict between statements of educated civilians and officers regarding tJjo behaviour of the people. Civilians, including judicial officials, are positive they heard no hooting, shouting, or hissing while the soldiers were clearing the streets and arresting demonstrators. The president of the court vainly sought to persuade them to qualify their statements.