The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
BOAST OF MAILED
FIST" IN ZABERN
Col. Won Reuter- and Lieutenant
Admit Arresting Alsatians
for Laughing.
READY TO FIRE ON THEM
Head Of Doth Regiment Tells
Of Overriding Of Judges
Orders.
READY TO FIRE ON THEM
Special Gable Despdtch TO THE sux

mere ioT MS pdTt III TIC tToupitS uctWeen
the soldiers and civilians at Zabern. ad-
mitted to-day that he was ready to order
his troops to open Are on the people Of the
little town for the purpose. as he said. Of
restoring order
After saying that he accompanied Lieut..
Scbad OF the same regiment to the pub
lie square in order to give the order to
Are personally so as to save the younger
officer from the responsibility. Col Won
Reuter- admitted that a report Of a state
ment which he made at the time was cor
rect The statement reads:
Certainly. blood may flow. and under
certain conditions, II will be a good thing.
We are protecting the prestige and honor
Of the whole army and the greatly shaken
authority Of the German Government"
Trial on Several Charges.
Col Won Reuter- and Lieut.. Schad are
on trial on several charges. one OF which.
Illegal deprivation OF the liberty OF cit.
zens, makes them liable to imprison.
ment without the alternative OF fine.
illegal assumption Of the executive power
and the invasion of private houses In
order to make arrests.
Lieut.. Schad is the man who ordered
his men on November IS last to clear
tho public square OF Zabern, He was one
Of the principal upholders OF Lieut.. Baron
Won Forstner. the originator Of the trouble,
and We'd with that officer. who Is now
undergoing a sentence of imprisonment
for his part in the affair. in activity
against the Alsatians and insults to the
nag of France.
Both Col. Won Reuter- and Lieut. Schad
assumed responsibility for their acts and
told boastingly of the orders they had
given 70 the troops. The former acted as
n ne were the supreme authority In
Zabern and admitted that he had told the
burgomaster that civilian authority was
at an end IN the garrison town. lie In
sisted that he was right In threatening
10 declare martial law there, although that
10 the prerogatlve OF the Emperor.
Talks to Court as to Recruits.
Lieut.. Schad a slender young man OF
II? when called to the stand addressed
the court as IL lie were talking to squad
81 recruits He said Col. Won Reuter-
ordered him to clear the streets OF Zabern
and arrest all persons who were shouting
H. added that he caused his men TO arrest
several civilians whom he suspected or
laughing at the troops. although he did
not see them actually laughing.
.;chad justified his action on the ground
that as he suspected the civilians he had
to make them understand the gravity OF
he said. whom
he tried to arrest, ran away, thereby Civ
,,- avoidance OF his guilt The
workers. he added. went away quietly
when the order was given. but the Judges
Of the civil court of Zabern ignored
the order.
.-i'he public prosecutor was particularly
provocative" said Lie ut. Schad. 'One OF
the Judges said to me- will take no
orders from you. Naturally ! arrested
him. had every man whom l sus-
pected Of laughing at US arrested. As
they were too cowardly to do II to our
faces We had to be guided by presump-
ton. We were obliged 10 break into
some houses to catch the delinauents,'
Civilian officials on the stand contro-
verified the main statements OF Col. Won
Reuter- and Lieut.. Schad.
judge Completely Ignored.
Herr Mahi Chief judge of the Zabern
oourtA said he was not sufficiently IN
formed Of the trouble at the beginning
and was offended because Col Won Reuter-
had not appealed to him. When the street
troubles began, the Judge said. he ordered
the Burgomaster to see that the pohce
IL nd nrOtertp0
soldiers from insults.
When the chief Of police received letter
from Col. Won Reuter- threatening TO pro-
claim martial law Judge Mahl informed
Col, Won Reuter- that that was preroga'
two of the Kaiser. Col. Won Reuter- re-
turned Judge Mails letter, Endorsed tc
the effect that the crowds were forming
again and that he was well aware OF Ms
duties.
Judge Mahl and the Burgomaster ther
went to the street and found that three
fourths of the crowd were women anc
children, Of whom the police arrested
twenty.
The Judge said he heard no cries o.
''Vive Ia France but he had learned
that the people white the "Marseillaise.
Col Won Reuter-, ne Saiu, repeatedly "SHe'
him to go and see him, but he had refused
because the Governor, Count Won Wedel
'old him that II the commander OF tn
regiment wanted anything it was his plac
10 visit the Chief Judge.
After detailing further his efforts u
parify public opinion Judge Mahl said:
ION the night Of November 26 officer
and platoons OF infantry were goin
through the streets filled with nois
crowd heard that Lieut. Schad ha
arrested Herr Kahn, teller OF bank.
found Lieut.. Schad. who was accom-
panied by patrol OF four men, and toll
rin he had no right to arrest anybod
and If he did arrest any person he shout
hand him over to the police"
When Judge Mahl said he though
Lieut.. Schad was drunk at the time tn
latter interrupted to repudiate this al
serton and there was a long discussio
between him and the Judge on degrees O
sobriety. Judge Mahl insisted that tn
.oung officer was "tipsy'' but not drunk.
He added that Lieut.. schad had not dis
graced his uniform.
Judge Mahl went on to say that h
officially notified Col. Won Reuter- on No