Shortly after the outbreak of the war, Capt. Peifer, a German naval
officer in command of the cruiser _Yorke_, ran his ship on a mine and
the cruiser sank with nearly all on board, but Capt. Peifer was saved.
He was court-martialled and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.
The Captain being an expert in high explosives, influential friends
pleaded his cause with the Kaiser, who suspended the sentence. Capt.
Peifer accordingly was released and offered his services to the
commander of the German forces in Turkey. He was assigned to duties
connected with the production of munitions when the Gallipoli campaign
began. According to the story, the British forces might have succeeded
in reaching Constantinople if it had not been for Major Peifer.
With characteristic energy and ingenuity he started several munition
factories for the production of high explosive shells within a few
miles of Constantinople. His knowledge, combined with German efficiency
and tireless Turk labor, gave the defenders of the Dardanelles
sufficient high explosive shells to check the invaders until munitions
arrived from Germany.
Of course the Turkish and the German commanders-in-chief were highly
pleased with Capt. Peifer's service, and the latter sent in his name to
the Kaiser as an officer deserving the order of "Pour le Merite"--one
of the most coveted honors of all Germany.
For once German thoroughness and efficiency were inoperative. Neither
the Kaiser nor his closest advisers recognized in Major Peifer the
former naval captain who had sent his ship on a mine in violation of
proper warnings. The order of "Pour le Merite" was conferred on the new
military officer, who naturally thought that his previous blunder had
been forgiven.
Accordingly he applied to the naval ministry for permission to rejoin
his old branch of the service. This let the cat out of the bag, and
the entire matter was laid before the Kaiser. With true magnanimity he
commuted the twenty years' sentence, but ordered the Major to remain in
the army, promising him promotion in the very near future.