LORRAINERS AND GERMAN OFFICERS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 8

LORRAINERS AND GERMAN OFFICERS.

Tlie Kaisers birthday was being ■celebrated in a village near Metz ; and -.oldiers of the German garrison were •assembled in a. hall attached to an hotel. An officer noticed a couple of civilians talking in French while listening to the music, ~ and requested them to spoak German or leave the ■hall. They went into a neighbouring restaurant, and were joined by two other French-speaking Lorrainors, !>ut the lieutenant again spoke to them, telling them that they must leave the ■■place sinco their behaviour was not suited to the Kaiser's birthday celebrations.' Replying; in German, the S.orrainers objected to this order, and -Aaid they hoped they might be allowed io remain. The lieutenant then sent for the senior ■ officer present, & major, who seems to have been a Prussian of Prussians. He ordered the arrest of the men, and seeing that the latter remained covered, said: "Take off your hats; 3 rou stand before a Royal Prussian major." The report even adds that this sally was followed by j the forcible removal of one of the huts .•uid a" box on the cars for its wearer, 'file man at the time was held fast by soldiers. The men then sought to apologise, but the major is reported to iuvve continued: "Your manners ehow-c-'l who you are. All.the better From h♦v.on have left the country. What -»- Mains is only the- dregs.-" "ho [.ovrainers were led captive to ilio ■police station at Montigny, but wore shortly afterwards liberated. ■ ;