Evening star., 1914-03-06

to the ZaDeru affair ard tf actions which
have grown out of IT. Thee notices have
case in its bearing upon the peace and
security of the empire However. the
foreign correspondents have followed
largely the exaggerated clamor OF the
radical German papers.
lust how the trouble started was not
DEVELOPED clearly by the governmental
investigation Tn
Evidence Offered inipeaeaaole vi
nesses. both civil
Is Contradictory. and military. in
several cases gave fatty contradictory
testimony. \ large residue of ant:-Prus-
sian sentiment was likely the chief fac
tor in the unrest. Alsace-Lorraine has
never fully returned the vehement affec-
ton which tore it from France and forced
Il back into the German fold. The Reich
land had belonged for 200 years to
France 1t has been part OF the empire
for mere forty years.
Alsace-Lorraine has been "debataoie
land from the days of the decline of the
Roman empire RomaniZed Franks ana
GerInanic barbarians began the struggle
for this boundary territory soon after the
VARYING successes this struggle has lasted
until the present day when there still
survives considerable French sentiment In
this territory under the German nag
First in Bismarck Stpulauons upon
the conclusion Of the Franco-Prusslan
war in 1871 was that Aisace-Lorraihs
should be ceded TO the newly estaolsneu
German empire. Against the accession
to this demand the Alsatians made oitter
protest Although overweeningly OF Ger
man stock the Alsatians had forgotten
their kinship'in their 300 years OF frehch
rule from the peace of Westphaiia III
164S Upon the transfer of the provinces
10 the Germans $4,000 of them removed TO
France rather than become German SUD
jects.
During the war with France, German
arms met with their most pitter resise
ance from the people OF Alsace-Lorralhe
Forty years of concfliatory ana pene
fetal government have not dlspelleu an
the bitterness. This dimming unoercur
rent of hostility. as well as the reactoil
OF the cold, precise and formal character
Of the Prussians upon the lighter south
ern spirits of the mercurial Alsatlans,
was probably the supporting cause OF
the petty ..rumpus'' which they started.
The friction between the citlZens oi
zohern and the officers of the Prussian
regiment garrisoned there, started last
fan The citizens were wrought up over
the strict discipline OF the Prusslah
colonel in command. and, more esp
the officers according to the witnesses
examined at the court-martiai IN Strass-
burg In truth, it is likely tnae tne ol
hcers' bearing of conscious superioIlts,
a leading characteristic OF the military
the world over, was the means OF toucn-
ing off the Alastians' resentment.
Petty auarrels arose between the sol
diers and the citizens. Col. v. Reuter-
tn e &C m
Offensive Articles mandins Of
in Local Newspapers. came sus-
picious that his men were being baited.
and that in melting out justice after
such quarrels. the courts were discrimi-
mating in favor of the townspeople In
volved Several offensive articles were
printed in a local newspaper. one OF
which, an attack upon Col. V. Reuter-.
was exposed upon bulletin board. add
ing TO the sense of injury of the wrathy
officers Col " Reuter- complained to
the civil authorities. The unrest of the
.ownspeople grew. Officers and soldiers
OF the regiment were rnolested on the
streets. Women and children gibed at
them they passed The colonel be-
came impatient at what he considered
the neglect and laxity of local ofiicials.
Further request was made to the chief
OF police of Zabern for protection. This
was promised Meanwhile. the temper OF
the populace became more strained.
Young artisans and laborers Joined with
the women and children In mockins the
officers Cries OF tvive la France" and
the notes Of the "Marseillaise sounded
as the soldiers walked along the streets.
Behind the backs of the officers the tor
menters shouted "Prussian swine and
similar epithets. suitable for working q
military man into a cold fury.
This state of things endured until the
doughty Prussian colonel declared the
town in state Of insurrection and pro-
ceeded on November q and % to sup
press ali annoyance to the soldiers by the
force of fixed bayonets. No blood was
shed, but many arrests were made, In
GLIDING some of the higher civilian on