MANUFACTURING A WAR SCARE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 4 June 1913, Page 8

MANUFACTURING A WAR SCARE.

GERMAN SCANDAL ALLEGED BRIBERY BYKRUPP'S Berlin, April 20. Allegations of the most amazing character in regard to tho underlying causo of the anti-German agitations .in Franco wero made at tho close of Friday night's session in the lteiclistag by Dr. Karl Liebknccht, tho well-known Socialist deputy. Dr. Liebknecht declared in the debate on tho Army Hill that knowledge had come into' his possession several weeks ago to tho effect that Messrs. K.rupp, of Kssen, and the Deutsche Waften und '.Munitions Pabrikcn, of iicrlin, tho manufacturers of Mauser rifles and other munitions of war, had been resorting to cea'tain illicit methods of inducing leading organs of tho French press to create an antiGerman sentiment in their country, lhe object, Dr. Liebknecht said, was to create ait atmosphere which would facilitate tho iucreaso of armaments for tho German n Tho'deputy stated that as soon as the information reached hiin ho placed it in the hands of General von Heeringen, tho Prussian Minister of War, who promised that a thorough investigation should bo made forthwith. Dr. Liebknecht asserted that investigation in the meantime had entirely verified tho correctness of tho information which had com© to his noticc, and that several "eminent' persons at Kssen hud been arrested and were now in prison awaiting further inquiry. These statements creatcd a profound impression in the llouso. General von Heerlngcn made a very brief statement, declared that Dr. Uobknecht's speech contained gravo exaggerations, and it was regrettable that the information had been given publicity before tho inquiry had been complete! . lie promised the House that nn official statement with regard to the matter would bo forthcoming, but gave no indication when. . Dr Liebknecht represents Potsdam m the Reichstag. He is the son of onei of tho founders of tho Socialist party in Gelmany, and has served a term "nprisonment in a fortress tor anti-militarot propaganda^ ||eged offjM

Dr. Leibknecht also declared that a scandal of perhaps even greater mMmtudo had taken place 111 German} itselt. He said that one of Messrs. krupp s officials had succeeded in bribing certain noncommissioned officers employed at tho War Office in Berlin to extract in advance information regarding the forthcoming army estimates from tho °toci ttl files and communicate detailsof the ten ders of rival firms. It was in tills connection, he said, that arrests of certain "eminent" persons had taken place at von, Hecringen admitted that thdre was a basis in pr. Leiblcneclil s ostertions, but wished to assure the liouao that there had been no disclosure it '■military secrets." Tho House was in an an"ry mood following tho Socialibt deputy's statement, and was disinclined_to give General von Hecringen a patient rearing when lie roso to reply. ~ llu Dr Liebknecht made fresh allegations vesterday in the Reichstag, winch is completely under the spell of his C k«"-E<-S-The War Minister was under firo from all sides His appeal for a reservation or foment until the official 'i« was ended was generally acceded to, but the party kadew left no doubt that the country will not humour or tolerate any "white-washing" or "hushing up. General von Heeringen was told that the public would not bo satisfied to Inn e "small thieves hanged and the bjg-ci escape." Finally ho had to give a. pledge that the Reichstag would be kept full} informed of tho progress of the inquir} Which is being conducted by t\vv> separate tribunals. An Army Court is dealing with tho military officials and employees of t u War Office who are alleged to be implicated, while tho polico and legal auth °"" ties are eoncern'sd with the civilians saw to bo involved in Berlin and Essen. Dr. Liebknecht named llerr von JJewitz an ex-officer and a prominent official of Messrs. Krupp at Bssen, as the custodian of "safes full of surreptitiously obtained secret reports.". The incriminating documents on which the present charges were based had, he said, been seizeS from Herr von Dowitz by the police Tho deputy himself was in possession ox copies of some of theso reports, and had given tho War Offics access to .them. Messrs. Krupp's Defenca. The Socialist organ "Vorwaerts" is amplifying Dr. Liebkncchfs statements in the House, and asserts lo day that Hc-ir von Dewitz was temporarily • under pi rest nt Essen, and'was only released Ml bail. Dr. Liebknecht declared that Mwsrs. Krupp "for years had operated by raeaiiß of bribery and the treasonable disclosures of military secrets. 11 Tho information so obtained included, he said, not enly tho figures of rival tenders but a'so construction secrets. Summing up his chaiges, Dr. Liebknecht said tho artair could only bo described as "a Panama worse than Panama"— referring to t.ho yrat C'uruption scandal in connection with tho French Panama Canal Company ten years ago. Several statements in I'hair cicft-ncc have been issued on behalf of Messrs. Krupp. The Ann assert that Dr Liebknecht's revelations are designed to create wholly false impressions in tho publi: .wind. It was impossible to associate tho linn lith any illicit acts on tho part of .'i'.eir employees. The firm maintained an in Berlin. Among its duties was Iho obtaining of prompt business information, including the prices of competitors' tenders. An "under official" of this agency, who was formerly in tho army, appeared to have made "small gifts" to different subordinate military officials, soino < f whom were his former comrades, and from whom ho received "information." These facta had been brought to tho attention of tho authorities through Dr. Liebknecht, who learned of them in consequence of "unbridled denunciation" bv a vindictive employee who had been discharged. The Berlin "Morgonpost" summarises public opinion as follows:—"Tho country's filial verdict must be withheld pending tho result of the official investigation, but the proceedings in tho Reichstag already permit the following to bo regarded as established facts:—

1. Tho war material industry uses tho foreign press to exercise pressure on Germany for increases in armaments.

2. Tho industry practises espionago at tho expense -of tho military administration for tho purposo of acquiring manufacturing secrets and secret armament plans. 'Tutting all these things together, ono secures a picture of corruption whoso existenco under tho nicknamo of 'armourplate patriotism' has long been in tho public mind."