STRANGE DESERTION BY AN OFFICER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 8, 21 February 1891, Page 7

STRANGE DESERTION BY AN OFFICER.

A LIEUTENANT named Wernert has been tried by court-martial at Toulon for deserting and seeking refuge abroad. Lieutenant Wernert is an Alsatian, 27 years of a«e, and has risen from the ranks. He served in the Tonquin expedition, and was regarded as an ■excellent officer. Five months ago he disappeared, and nothing was heard of him until three months later, when it was ascertained that he was staying with his parents at Schlettstadt, in Alsace. The report went round in the French papers that he had fled to Germany with the design of selling to the enemy the plans of the defences of Toulon. A charge like this in France, like the charge of witchcraft in the Middle Ages, has only to be made, and it is at once accepted by the public as being in itself ■evidence. In this case not a remnant of doubt was left in the public mind. Wernert was a traitor. Death would be his punishment if he should be caught. The deserter, seeing all this in the papers, returned and surrendered himself. He could not bear it to be thought that he had betrayed France. Public opinion, which had judged him at first with exaggerated severity, now passed to the other extreme. A sentimental interest sprang up in his favour. His surrender was thought worthy of a hero. Before the courtmarshal he made the following strange statement: —‘ Some terrible events occurred recently in my family. What they were I cannot, and never will sav. I prefer being sent to prison or being dismissed from the service. But I cannot bear the imputation of espionage. The cause of my flight was as follows :—ln May last a man who hates my' family arrived at Toulon from Lyons to fight a duel with me. The affair had been settled by correspondence, and the utmost secrecy was preserved. My adversary brought his seconds with him and the duel took place at night in my garden. He was seriously wounded and was carried away unconscious. Five days later one of his seconds sent me a challenge from Lyons. The duel again came off in my garden. I was slightly wounded, but inflicted serious injuries upon my adversary. I afterwards learnt that the first one had died. Fearing the consequences of my rash action I resolved, in a moment of despair, to leave France and stay with my parents in Alsace. I can tell you no more. You will never know the name of my adversary, nor those of his seconds, nor the cause of the duel. Do with me as you please.’ The speech made a deep impression upon everybody, and when the chief officer announced to Wernert that he .vasacquitted a number of his fellow officers passed round and congratulated him.