GUN-RUNNING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 547, 30 June 1909, Page 5

GUN-RUNNING.

AFGHANS AND NEW ZEALAND RIFLES. BRITISH FIRMS SUSPECTED. It will bo remembered that some time ago there appeared in, The Dominion some startling disclosures 'concerning the discovery, in Afghanistan,' of discarded Martini-Henry rifles bearing 'the Now Zealand brand. Australian, rifles were also reported to have turned''up in the country of tno Afghans. The official explanation, as supplied to the Colonial" Office by .the .-.New- Zealand authorities,, was to the effect that so; far as they wero aware the rifles in-question , must have: boon those: returned to England somo time ago, and; they, uuderstood;'sold to a manufacturing firm with knowledge of the Home authorities. -It was also understood that the rifles were not .to go out of England. The New Zealand .authorities, further informed the Colonial Offioe that instructions had been issued that in future no obsolete rifles were to bo sold for exportation to England,; or any other conntry. .■ ■■' The explanation which emanated , from the defence authorities at Melbourne was as follows:— ■

"On looking into the matter the Minister of Defence finds that in 1905 several thou' sand obsolete Martini-Henr'y rifles'wore sold ,to ; a well-known; British.,firm. . Smaller <iuantities i; had ' been previously disposed' of by. auction to. a local buyer. This was.reported to the War Office by Capt. Collins in London m* August', 1907, when he also stated that the British firm 'which: 1 had' purchased the larp ( o quantity had informed him that, so far as it was aware, none of the purchased rifles had been shipped to India. In December, 190S, the Minister of Defence approved a. minute to the effect that no more obsolete rifles .were to be sold." ■ ' : London-the Ceniro'of the Illicit Traffic.; A> strict inquiry into the wholo question is now being. hold by the War Office authorir ties: in : London, as the illicit traffic in arms between certain European seaports and the Persian Jlulf arid lted Sea has become a! very serious y ; matter.' The Departs ment at' the War Office lias! collccted evidence and figures relating to the operations of the gun-runners over a period ot. fivo or six years, and .is now. in possession of ample proof, . from' confidential: Customs returns, 1 and reports ,by naval and military , officers, that certain British firms have.been:.acjtively engaged;in illicit tralßc in,arms.. " ./From, .iriformatibn provided by the Admiralty, ,tho; Customs authorities, and various Consulates .on the' Continent, and in the^Persian,,Gulf;.., it. is. certain- . that.. the 'of : illicit, gun-running is, iii London;A i watch has been kept.,by. the authorities 'on ,< the exports of more than one lai'ge . trading firm in London, but the whole business 'is,' cleverly managed from start to : finish. • : During- the '.campaign in Somaliland, it was found that /modern rifles and ammunition were. in - possession .of '-the enemy,; and many of these had been (Smuggled into the country by Arab merchants who met cargo steamors off the coast and transhipped eases of arms into their dhows at night. , , Tho Work of the Cun-Runners. ' '.The'- Indiaji '''.Government,in their confidential reports to tho India/Office, havo informed ; the authorities' of 'the' arrangements made to deal with' tho'smuggling of arms by caravans. . These caravans succeed, With ,few exceptions, in : 'travelling from".'the coast" of the Persian Gulf; tho, Indo-Persian frontier,, and disposing.of their .cargo almost under-,the .eyes;, of ithe frontier guards. Tho arms '.aro' boiighti/at, a', big price,' ari'd-'ilie profits to everyone mixed up in the business; from the; trader in Europe down ." to-; the caravan ymerchaht, are buormous., '. ', . It is a risky-business, . but there are always -to be found 7 persons willing I toincur the danger of exposure and • imprisonment for, the; sake of raking in a small fortune oyer, a successful, deal •ih gun-running.; : ■