TOO SUCCESSFUL OFFICER.

Northern Advocate, 16 February 1912, Page 6

TOO SUCCESSFUL OFFICER.

TRAGI-COMEDY OF THE GERMAN MANOEUVRES.

A case wh : .± has just been heard before the Higher Military Court at Breslau (Germany), brings to light a peculiar and somewhat humorous incident of the recent German Army manoeuvres. The prosecution brought an action against Lieutenant yon Heydebreck, of the Oels Rifle Regiment, accusing him of misuse of authority, aj-d of causing grievous bodily injury and material damage. The facts as they were stated before the court were sb follows: —

Lieutenant yon Heydebreck's regiment co-operated in the manoeuvres with the Bernstadt regiment of dragoons. One night the lieutenant was ir.'structed by his superior officers to take a company of men and attempt a surprise attack upon a party of dragoons who were bivouacked several miles away. The lieutenant carried out his orders with startling success. Unchallenged by sentry or outpost, his company appi'oached the sleeping camp of dragoons, and opened fire with blank cartridges at close quarters. The effect was a wild stampede. F.orses broke loose from their tethering posts, and dashed madly through the darkness, ff ailing over Lent posts and breaking the poles, by which several men were injured.

The dragoons themselves, awaksned from sleep ry the rattle of rifle fire to find therr canvas falling about them, and with their heads full of the sensational war rumors current at the time, were immediately, convinced that the enemy was upon them in force. They lest their nervp utterly, and for a considerable time the wildest confusion y. evailed, in which moremen and animals were seriously injured . The lieutenant, in his own defence, declared of course, Jh.it lie had mere' iy carried out his orders, and the court, adopting his vi<v« of the master, gave judgment of acquittal.