MILITARY SCANDAL IN SWITZERLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1916, Page 8

MILITARY SCANDAL IN SWITZERLAND.

— CHARGES OF ESPIONAGE. HIGH ARMY OFFICERS' ARREST. A Frencn official communique 01 January IB states:— "The Swiss Colonels Watterwyll and Carl Egli, who are accused of having transmitted to the Central Powers information which came to their knowledge in the course of their duties, have been placed under close arrest. The Swiss journal Deraocrate recalls the fact that they wore intimately connected with Major Bismarck, Military Attache to the German Legation. The journal La Suisse adds that the question of the recall of the Military Attaches involved will be considered shortly. "The National Suisse publishes parti; cnlars regarding the two accused colonels, which, it is alleged, have been drawn from a reliable source. Colonel Watterwyll, Chief of the Intelligence Department, is accused of having transmitted, each evening, by means of a military cydtot, secret staff information to .the German and Austrian Military Attaches. It was one of these cyclists who first spoke of the matter in a cafe at Geneva. 'Colonel Egn, Under-Chief ot SUh* of the army, is accused of having translated a cipher document taken from the Russians by the Germans (which fcnn latter were unable to decipher) by means of a clever cryptograph he'rongjnß to the staff. He succeeded, and the text was afterwards transmitted to the German staff. Colonel Egli is also said to bo the object of a further accusation, about which nothing definite is at -present known. One may discern in this matter just the same procedure on the part of Germany as has been exercised in the United States: TTer diplomatic representatives- are merely official spies who endeavor to corrupt the administrations and the army in all countries where they are received. POPULAR FEELING \ROUSED. Geneva, January 15. Jt is understood that, a further charge h pendlnsr acminst Colonel Egli, but the 'nature of it has not been disclosed. The go-between employed bv Colonels Egli and Watterwyll and the German and Austrian Attaches was a person named Rtegemann. a German, who became a naturalised Swiss three yenrs ago. The Swiss newspapers are calling for the recall of the German and Austrian Attaches if the facts alleged are found to be true. Public opinion is in ravor of severe measures being taken asainst the officers If proof of their guilt i» established. The onqnlrv against Colonel Egli and Colonel Watterwyll is being conducted by Hnbei'. who is also a Professor of Law. The Federal Council held an extraordinary meeting this morning, and their decision will be made public. The incidents have created a great stir throughout Switzerland.