MILITARY DESPOTISM.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1914, Page 4

MILITARY DESPOTISM.

(Dei- Wahre Jacob)

From intermittent paragraphs in different newspapers we have seen what military rule has done for the inhabitants of Zabern, a town about midway between Strasburg and Nancy. A translation of correspondence, dealing with the rise, progress and final o f the extraordinary comedy will be of interest to every libertyloving Britisher. ' • Translation. —A feeling of antagonism has existed here for years between the military and civil authorities, but .when Colonel yon Reuter came here as commandant affairs went from bad to worse. The colonel had- a great opinion of himself and encouraged the officers under his command to teach the civilians that next to their God the Kaiser and his officers were entitled to homage and respect, that by showing the citizens a bold, front and treating the people with contempt would result in crushing the spirit of antagonism and would be for the good of all. But Colonel yon Reuter had overlooked the humorous side of the v.testion. When Lieut, yon Foerstner or any of the other young officers came strutting down the street showing the approved military swa -jser everybody was expected to stand respectfully aside with an expression on their faces of respect and wonder. Any citizen in hot showing admiration and respect would be noted as an enemy. Complaints were made to the civil authorities by the Officers about the uncouth manners of the people, with a request that the police should be instructed to see to it that proper deference was shown to the army. The police were instructed accordingly, and soon numerous cases had to be dealt with by the magistrate. The charges were generally of a, trivial nature and were dismissed or a small fine imposed. :

I ghall here give a few particulars just to give an idea of'the paltrycharges made. Three youths were charged with "making a nose" (nasemachen). This is a simple operation. The lads stood in line laying their right forefiAger on the side of their nose and grinning in concert just a» Lieut, yon Foerstner was passing. He gave them in charge for insulting behaviour and they were'fined lOd each (one mark)

A man, being the owner of a splendid White Leghorn rooster; had a fancy ; for blue wings; he the bird's wings sky-braer T?he effect was great. All day crowds of people would visit the fowlyard and talk , French-to the,.rooster. A charge t of sedition was laid against the'owner by one of the officers, because he had displayed French colours tb 'the annoyance of the army. The magistrate ordered the bird to be destroyed, and an apology was exacted that he would never do like again. He was also fined 15. marks; '

A bootmaker had been at a tavern for a glass of beer and just as he stepped outside the door a fly settled on his nose. Up went his hand to brush it away when Lieut. Schad stepped in front of him and accused him of grinning and attempting to ."make a nose." It was given in evidence that the bootmaker was a very harmless person and that his hand was still six inches from his nose, when the officer, with his hand on his sword, accused him of insulting behaviour. The officer sjaid if the bootmaker had not actually committed the offence, he had strong suspicions that he was going to do it. . Case dismissed.

But it seemed that the more complaints the more amusement the general public derived from the overbearing behaviour of the military. Colonel yon Reuter had ci.yen notice to the civil authorities that he would take charge of the town unless more drastic punishment was dealt out to s offenders. When this became known great excitement took possession of the people, and-the worst, was feared. Any little disturbance might cause bloodshed, because it was rumoured that the warlike colonel had issued instructions that the soldiery could use arms if they thought it necessary to defend the honour of the army.

A senseless prank of a young fellow very nearly led to serious consequences. He had fastened a bright brass /candlestick on the top of his cap and was wearing a short wooden staff suspended from his belt on his left side. When he appeared in the street it wasn't long before a dense crowd of boys and others* were following Everybody was in good humour,when they met with a patrol of soldiers. The yqung fellow was arrested, his cap and staff were and the crowd, after a little good-humour-ed chaff, dispersed.

Colonel yon Reuter looked at it in a very serious light. He took charge of the town, ordered any person, even on suspicion, to be arrested who, in

the opinion of the soldiers, was not giving sufficient proof of his devotion and admiration to the army. The above Is a short history of events that led to the trouble at Zabern.