FRENCH MILITARY HOAX.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 5

FRENCH MILITARY HOAX.

Tradespeople in a rural district are burning over a hoax which has been perpetrated on them, arid from which they stand to lose a fairly large amount (says the. Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph"). A few days ago a cuirassier, withglow^ iug . breastplate, aim uCouTiumg 8. prancing steed, rode into a town bearing the glad tidings that two regiments .wore about' to take up their, quarters there during the manoeuvres. Saying that he was deputed by his commanding officer, he ordered a 'large amount of bread and other provisions, and was entertained right royally by the delighted shopkeepers. From that town ho proceeded to another, with tho same result, but as ho happened to . mention imprudently that the two regiments of cuirassiers were waiting at a certain place, one inhabitant, who was inclined to be sceptical, took the precaution of bicycling thither, and returned with the very depressing announcement that they had never been near the spot. After some consultation, the -indignant tradesfolk sent a messenger in quest of neighbouring gendarmes, and pending their arrival they surroiinded the house where the cuirassier was being entertained. Ho was arrested as ho was sitting down to a meal, in which a brace of plump partridges figured. It soon transpired that the man had deserted, and had adopted this ready but (while it lasted) by no means rough way of keeping himself in food : and lodging.