DISTURBANCES IN ALSACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15937, 3 December 1913, Page 5

DISTURBANCES IN ALSACE

THE* BARRACKS PRISONERS.

DISCHARGED BY CIVIL COURT,

STRICT INVESTIGATION PROMISED

SOCIALIST THREAT TO STRIKE.

Piosj Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

BERLIN, December 1.

The prisoners detained over-night in the barracks were in the morning, under a guard of soldiers with fixed bayonets, marched to the civil tribunal, which discharged them.

The municipality afterwards approved a resolution protesting against .Von Reuter's open contempt for the law and his provocative proceedings. A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the Imperial Chancellor, the members of the Minis'try, the Statthalter of Reichsland, and the President of the Reichstag. In his reply the Imperial Chancellor promised a strict investigation, witli redress if the law had been broken. The Minister of War advised that all necessary instructions would be forwarded to the responsible military authorities.

The latest reports state that the Government lias sent a commissioner from Strasburg to investigate, and that the police at Zabern have been reinforced to prevent any further possibility of military action in the event of disturbances.

The press of all parties throughout Reichsland are unanimous against the action of the military authorities. The latter are anxious to maintain their ground lest the Imperial authorities in Reichsland suffer. A Conservative has represented Zabern in the Reichstag for many years. The present Deputy is a Progressive Liberal, hence the population cannot be described as Nationalists.

0 Three thousand Socialists at Mulhausen, including two members of the Reichstag, approved a resolution protesting against the military's conduct at Zabem, and threatening a general strike if the military dictatorship in Alsace-■ is not terminated shortly.

December 2. (Received Dec. 2, at 10.40 p.m.) It is reported that the Kaiser, is inquiring into the Zabern affair.

The protesters threaten a universal suspension of work in Alsace-Lorraine.

Count Wedel, a Staatholder, admits thai the military were wrong in taking action, although. a state of siege was not proclaimed, the Kaiser's express consent being required.

NOT A QUESTION OF NATIONALITIES.

PRAISEWORTHY RETICENCE.

LONDON, December 1,

The newspapers of France and Germany treat the Zabern incident not as a question of nationalities, but simply as one of conflict between the military authorities and civilians. The German and English newspapers speak in praiseworthy terms of the reticence of the responsible French organs.