WHEN ON THE BRINK OF WAR.

Northern Advocate, 11 January 1912, Page 3

WHEN ON THE BRINK OF WAR.

A sensational report concerning the recent crisis in European affairs is cabled to the Australian papers that subscribe to the independent service. It alleges, on the authority of the Paris Patrie, tjat France narrowly escaped invasion. La Patrie alleges that it has details of the plans of the Germans for the capture of the whole of the frontier between midnight and! sunrise of August 15. It was stated that the Germans had parked in the frontier towns and cities hundreds of automobiles armed with quick-firing guns. Each of the chauffeurs had enlisted n.en, who, in citizen's clothes, had explored every highway of eastern France. It wa& figured out that eight men could be transported at a, speed of 40 miles an hour in each machine. At Malmedy there were 800 cars, at Metz 850, at Starburg 600, and' at smaller places cars in proportion. Within an hour word could be passed that 28,000 seasoned soldiers were to be at preconceived points well inside French territory at daybreak. They were to be reinforred by a similar number. Nancy and Luneville were the principal objective points. Both those places swarmed with German officers dressed in civilian clothes during the whole period of the negotiations. These officers knew where the telephone and telegraph communications could be cut. They even had' a census taken of the owners of automobiles in Nancy, and kept a daily cheGk on the gasolene stocks. French officers were allowed to sleep in private houses, but the Germans had men told off to overpower them in the event of an outbreak of hostilities. The articles are by Carl Metchell, probably a norn de plume, and La Patrie claims to have proof that he was one of the chauffeurs.