MOBILISATION MISTAKE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 136, 5 December 1912, Page 7

MOBILISATION MISTAKE

- ' ' » - GENERAL BLION COMPLIMENTED. Uy TelegrapiwPreflg AMOcktlon.— Copyright. (Received December 5, 8 a.m.) PARIS, 4th December. General Bhon has been comnlimehted on his promptitude in mobilising the troops on the Franco-German frohtier last month. rThrough mistaking instructions, Gen errtl Blion, commander of a brigade in the Department of Meurlhe-et -Moselle, on the Franco- German frontier, directed a general mobilisation instead of a local ono. The men available in seven communes oefiembkd at night-time, before the error was discovered. Extraordinary scenes were witnessed. General Blion, who'wne' arrested, believed the telegram he teceived wsb fin order to mobilise, and opened < certain sealed instructions which were in, hie keeping for use in euch an emergency. The church bells Were lung, and the town crier roiißcd 5000 men from their beds. Posters were hastily pasted on walls, munmoniiitf all between the ages of twenty-five and for-ty-five to join the colours. Reservists left weeping wives and hastened to headquarters. It was five hour* before the error was discovered. Meanwhile military telegraphists took posseetion of the post offices, sections of troops march* ed to protect the railways, and patrols hastened to the frontier,]