THE ALLEGED BRITISH SPIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 993, 7 December 1910, Page 5

THE ALLEGED BRITISH SPIES.

GOVEENMENT AND THE TEIAL. By Tckcraph—Press Association—Copyright Berlin, December 5. The German Government declines to allow a representative of the British Government to attend the trial of Brandon and Trench, who were arrested at Borkuni on charges of espionage. -

PENALTIES FOR SPYING. The penalties to which the accused men would bo liable if tho charge of espionage made against them could be established are severe. Section 91'of-the German penal code provides that foreigners who impart plans of fortresses "to the enemy" shall be dealt with "after the usago of war"—a rule'which presumably applies only when a state of war actually exists. If, however, they are under the protection of the German Empire at the time of committing the' crime they are liable to the same penalties as a German 6ubject.

Section 92 of- the codo states.: "Whoever deliberately imparts plans of fortresses or other such information concerning which he knows that the preservation of their secrecy froin another country is necessary for the well-being of tho German Empire, or makes such information known to that country, shall be punished with penal servitude of not less than two years, or, where extenuating circumstances aro present, with confinement to a fortress for not less than six months."

Tho "Tageszeitung" recently published a long article on the subject of alleged English spies in Germany. English espionage in Germany, it says, is carried on systematically from two centres/one in London and the other in Berlin, and branches are established from Berlin in the seaport towns. These branches disappear, at any rate temporarily, as soon as the ground is too hot for them, or when an arrest occurs. Thero is regular communication (the journal continues) between branches and London and Berlin. Krupps' at Essen also have much trouble to defend themselves from espionage.