New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-06
Colonel Won Reuter- G;v..
Startling Testimony at
Court Martial.
READY TO GIVE ORDFp
TO FIRE If NECESSARY
Believed He Was Profess.
Prestige of the Government,
Shaken Authority.

Strassourg. Germany. Jan. 6-z.s.-
the little garrison town OF Alssc. ~.
rowly escaped widespread csrnaz. n, y.
vember IS. according 10 the te.tir,,.-
Colonel Won Reuter-. commander Of a.
goth German Infantry Regiment wh.r =.
was brought before court marta, ~.
to-day The colonel was charged -
gether with Lieutenant Schad. ~ a
same regiment, with various or.,~-
against the law.
On the witness stand Colonel -
Reuter- swore he had fully made IN =
mind TO order the troops 70 open An. |.
necessary to restore order" and Ia =.
companied Lieutenant Schad WHEN ~
troops were clearing a square IN a.,
personally TO give the command 10 An =
necessary. as he did not wish to ,ss,,
the responsibility TO so young an ofno,,
The colonel said that on that dssa 1.
had replied 10 an official who had -
whether he won Reuter- would allow M
come TO bloodshed as follows:
certainly. Blood may flow, and rnx,
certain conditions the story VIII b
good one II it happens. for we an mn
tecting the prestige and the honor OF a.
whole army and the greatly shaken a.
thority OF the government"
Addressing the court, the witness a6dsa.
Il was convinced that our govsrutaa,,
was allowing its relns 70 drag on d.
earth"
Colonel Won Reuter- seems to have ac$ul
under the impression that he was a.
supreme arbiter at Zsbern. He Inform
the civil authorities OF his intention .,
proclaim martial law, although thia N
the Emperor's prerogative. and he tai
the public prosecutor that ''jurispruden,.
ends here"
The colonel maintained on the nss,
that he was entitled TO decide vhsths
and when TO assume charge OF the sitrs
ton and TO superseds entirely the er,
authority.
The conditions in Zabern were unxtb
factory before his arrival there, the edo
mel said. many brawls between solder
and civilians having preceded the IND
dents in which Lieutenant Baron ya
Forstner. now in prison undergoing
sentence for his Illegal acts in Zaber
took such prominent part, and the scI-
diers preferrlng 10 pass their time in bsf.
racks when off duty rather than to lsT
themselves open 10 insult in the streets
An interesting light was thrown on tss
military conception OF what constitu.o
disorders by the testimony Of Lieutenant
Schad. He ordered the arrest Of
civilian. as he stated on the stand. "
cause ] suspected him OF having laughed
Lieutenant Schsd admitted having broksn
down the doors of a number OF dweli.s
houses In pursuit of persons who were
suspected OF deriding the soldiers.
States Attorney Krause TESTIFIED tns
the whole trouble arose out OF animosr
TO Colonel Won Reuter- on account Of Bis
alleged severity, and to Lieutenant bsr0
Won Forstner, as a result OF stories t't
bv former soldiers OF their III treatnssi
by him.
Several civilians testified that there vds
no serious disorders at any time ~
that tho attitude OF the German on'ee''
was provocative. All the witnesses asfsa
that the rowdyism was mainly the Won
Of young men.
Lieutenant Won Forstner TESTIFIED us
he had received 40 insulting letters ~
cards