SPIES SPREAD RUMOURS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15873, 12 April 1917, Page 6

SPIES SPREAD RUMOURS.

COMMOTION IN ENGLAND. Under date of London, March 26th, a cable message to tho Australian papers states: — ' 9 Tho atmosphere of sensationalism in London leads to repeated waves of tho wildest rumours, -which cxcitc the whole of the country, resulting in crowds in the street awaiting the newspapers, and general telephoning. This week-end the rumours included the destruction ot Margate and Ramsgate, the invasion of Scotland, tho sinking of two German transports and the capture of a third, whilst Zeppelins soared like snoivflakes over tho "south-west of England. These were followed by widespread rumours of revolution in Germany, and that 80,000 Germans had surrendered to the British. All were baseless. In tho House of Commons to-aay Mr Thorne asked whether the Government was aware of rumours that tho Germans had landed in Scotland and Lowestoft. Mr Bonar Law, Leader of the House, said: I hav o heard numerous rumours, l>ut have been unable to find any foundation for them. The commotion -was apparently created by tho fact that the home defence troops were ordered to prepare for emergency, which often occurs. It i* now stated that the rnmouis have beer spread by German spies.