THE STRASBURG HOAX.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13644, 8 February 1913, Page 5

THE STRASBURG HOAX.

ALL GERMANY LAUGHING

EIGHTEEN THOUSAND TROOPS PARADED,

AN INGENIOUS DECEPTION.

(Received Feb. 7, 10.10 p.m.) Berlin, Feb. 7

All Germany is laughing at Walter's hoax at Strasburg. He sent a telegram to himself, and rubbed out the contents and substituted the following:— ■

"Arrive at twelve j coming by motor car and proceeding to the Polygou parade ground. Entire garrison to be alarmed.—(Signed) Wilhelm."

The prisoner forged special marks, indicating, that the message was from the Emperor.

General Eglaffstein, oblivious of the fact that the Kaiser was a /thousand miles away, summoned; the garrison. The-, populace believed that war was imminent, and the women became- tearful. ,

Within two hours 18,000 troops were on the ground, and the new Zeppelin was overhead. '

Thirty thousand spectators gathered, including Walter who was overheard to say that he wished he could set the fleet demotion also/ - - • -

Finally the chief of police motored to Strasburg, 2£ miles distant, and tele-, phoned from there, learning that the Kaiser was at Koenigsbcrg.

The "Morgen Post" recalls that the Kaiser in 1893 unexpectedly stopped tors train and himself alarmed the Strasburg garrison.