The morning call., 1892-08-21
A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
Incidents in the CheCkered Career of
Sydney 0'DannG.
He Was 0nce Instructor to the Present EN-
peror Of Germany-Eow Confined in
Prison.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALI.

Sydney ODanne has Just been condemned
to three years OF prison and FIVE years loss
| Oh CIVIL rights for siandering Lieutenant
| colonel Huehne, once German military at
| tache in Paris. Sydney O'Danne was con-
nned In the prison of Ploetzensee, near Ber-
lin, and during his trial he sent petition
to the Emperor, at the same time accusing
Herr Won Huehne and his colleagues OF
| treason. Contrary to custom the act Of ac-
| cusation against Sydney O'Danne was not
read in public and the trial took place be-
| hind closed doors. 1t is said that when
| Herr Won Huehne was in Paris Sydney
| ODanne was in league with him, and be-
| cause Huehne was spy for Germany it
was feared that O'Danne's indiscretion dur
| ing the trial might cause scandal
| Sydney O'Danne was expelled from
France in 1887, and as he returned to Paris
| after his expulsion ne was condemned to
| prison. When released from this prison he
! went TO Brussels, and while there heard
| from his own lips the following statements.
| L had always supposed him TO be an Irish
| patriot at the head of the National League
| in Ireland, determined to take Ireland for
the Irish and distribute to the people all
the land possessed by the present landlords,
| etc. Great was my surprise therefore to
| hear him say:
Before occupying myself with Ireland 1
i
| and also with the French Government. The
| French Government has made a great mis-
| take TO lll-treat me after the many services
| / have already rendered and the many more
that might have been in my power. / can
| make trouble tor both the French and Ger
| man Governments. However, if 1 go to
1 Germany now | shall be arrested for assist
| anee l have given the French Government;
| in any case, l prefer German justice to
| French lngratitude."
| MORE THAN ROMANTIC.
Sydney ODanne told me that his life ad
| been more than romantic. He was born in
| Ireland, but as his father was military in
| struetor of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-
| Schwerin, when very young he was taken
| to Germany Because of Grand Ducal in
| fluenee he was admitted to the royal corps
OF cadets at PotsGam and Berlin. After his
| studies were finished he entered the Prus-
| sian army and for % years took an active
| part in all the German campaigns. He was
| decorated with the Red Eagle of Prussia;
the Iron Cross and the Mecklenburg Cross
of Merit So great did the Emperor con-
| slider Sydney O'Danne's military talent
that no chose him for instructor to Prince
William.
/ saw Sydney O'Danne before Prince
William became Emperor and asked him
| what kind of ruler he thought his pupil
would make when called to the throne.
"a poor one. indeed. Like all the HOhen-
zollerns he is soldier, but he has no Mill
eral like his father. am not responsible
for his hatred toward France and Russia,
| the blame for that lies with General Coll
| berg, who perfected his military education.
l was only captain and when the kron--
| priDZ became imperial he needed general
! for my post. Prince William hates me.
| One day, when about 10 years old, he was
| taking his BATH the more J urged him to
| hurry the slower became his movements,
! and finally l boxed his ears He has never
1 m William
| violent temper, but he has determination
| and perseverance TO remarkable degree.
| 1t Is wonderful what he can accomplish
| with his one arm. In 1869, at the time of
| the royal maneuverS In POmeranla the
| Italian general, Count di Robelant, who is
| one armed, was presented to the Prince.
| For many days William studied him atten-
| lively, and after patient effort succeeded In
| initiating the generals skillful manage
ment OF the arm remaining.
| IMMERSED IN DIPLOMACY.
After Sydney ODanne left Prince VIII
liam he plunged into diplomacy and poll
| ties, and since 1872 he has interfered in
many diplomatic affairs between France
Germany and England. 1t was he who,
| incOgnito followed all the French maneu-
vers at Nancy aud wrote the account that
made so great sensation in the Beriner
! Tageblatt He came to Paris with the in
tention of making acquaintance with
| French officers, and by General Campenun
| Sydney O'Danne was recommended as
| professor of German. In very short time
| he had 60 officers as pupils, and he says
that each one OF these officers knew he had
been in the German service. With General
| BOulanger his relations were at first of a
| friendly character, but afterward Sydney
| O'Danne lost his good opinion of the bray
| general. In fact, he related the following
| incident to prove why he no longer had
| esteem for General BOulanger: I'm 1856
| German off1eer-one of my comrades
| wrote me that was 10 receive box con-
| tanning some military works and asked NE
to give the contents to Colonel Vincents
| adjutant. Captain thinner. When the box
was opened by the custOm-house officers, il
was found to contain the latest model OF
| German gun. l warned the German Minis
| ter of War. notified my friend that | could
not execute his commission, and sent the
| gun to my house in Geneva. But German
newspapers then said that the gun was in
the hands of the French Minister of War,
and as General Boulanger occupied that po-
| sition, he sent for me, and asked if l knew
| who had sent sueh dispatch to the Ger
| man press, and If could give him informa-
| tion about the Prussian spies in France.
More than that he offered me 10000 francs
for the gun, but this bride l emphancally
refused"
TRUE TO NO COUNTRY.
In reality, Sydney O'Danne was true to
no country; after he left Brussels he
| crossed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
and entered Switzerland. From Zurich he
| wrote to Herr Won Huehne that for large
price he would send him package
of important documents concerning France
| and her military forces. ODanne'S
| offer was accepted, the package was posted,
and when it reached Paris, instead of the
| promised documents were found papers
which proved that ODanne was in posi-
tion to compromise seriously the Hohen-
zolerns. Bismarck seized the occasion to
! ask the Swiss Government for the imme-
date arrest of O'Danue for having stolen
papers belonging to the state. The adj
| venturer was imprisoned, and as he is a very
| clever strategist he has made much trouble
for the German Government. Not paper
could be found in his possession and I'M
| aided he was able TO persuade the court to
adjourn his case so that he might gather
evidence for his defense. In the meantime
Bismarck was succeeded as Chancellor and
ODanne conceived no better plan than
to accuse Herr Won Huehne and his col
| leagues of treason. Three years of prison
may teach him reflection. but he is strong
| enough, according to those who know him
l nall hid ccta INIT utnn IL,