On Tuesday twenty-seven citizens who had been locked up in
a coal cellar by Colonel von Reuter were examined. In proof of the allegations of insolence all that could be estab- lished was that children and boys had jeered, whistled, and hooted; per contra, Colonel von Reuter admitted that he had called a boy a rascal for not removing his cap in passing. The evidence of the civil Judges, police officials, and the Chief Public Prosecutor of Zabern, given on Wednesday, was equally precise as to the provocative attitude of the soldiers and the abnormal sensitiveness of the officers. In short, to quote from the Times special correspondent, "the civilian and military standpoints are so diametrically opposed, and the
evidence of the two parties is so flatly contradictory, that the tribunal will probably be obliged to give an unequivocal verdict in favour of one side." The trial was concluded on Thursday, when the counsel for the prosecution, dropping the more serious charges, demanded that Colonel von Reuter should be imprisoned for seven days for illegally imprisoning civilians, and Lieutenant Schad for three days for assault. In this context we may note that the German Crown Prince is alleged to have telegraphed on November 28th and 29th his cordial approval of vigorous military action. The exact words need, as reported in the Frankfurter Zeitung, have been semi. officially pronounced to be incorrect, but it is admitted that be did telegraph to Colonel von Reuter expressing approval of the action taken to prevent the uniform being insulted.
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