ESPIONAGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1395, 22 March 1912, Page 5

ESPIONAGE.

FOUR GERMANS ARRESTED.

Bj Telesrraph-Prtis Association -Copyrlebi

London, March 20. iour alleged German spies lutvo been arrested in the precincts of St. Helens Fort, (ho ciisleru defence of Hie Isle of Wight.

A singular incident in connection with he recent visit of tho German cruiser lanther-of Agndir fame-was mentioned a a nicotine nt Freshwater recently bv Major Pnkcnliam, a retired Army officer (states the "Military Mail" of February

1)2 i . J ? nuar r I s ho was walking along the ugh down to the west of the Isle of \\ iglit, when lie noticed a foreign wnrsup steaming through the Channel bv .1 io Needles. Just as she was abreast of ilio Needles Lighthouse he was surprised to see her take a sharp turn shoreward" and heave to" for a time under the .Needles Battery. From inquiries he made subsequently he learned that (hose on board were plainly seen photographing the battery above. Further inquiries made in an authoritative quarter by a press representative elicited (he fact that the vessel was undoubtedly the Panther, and that Hie coastguards on the cliff above, with the aid of their powerful telescope, could plainly see an oflicer taking photographs with his apparatus standing on the bridge. It is stated that coastguards reported the matter to the naval authoriies.

It is believed that important alterations in the armament at tho Needles are shortly to lie carried out.