GERMAN SCIENTISTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2663, 7 January 1916, Page 6

GERMAN SCIENTISTS

ABUSE OF HOSPITALITY

3y Telocranh—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, January 6. In connection with revelations coneerning the German scientists who visited Australia with the British Association for the Advancement of Science, it appears that Germany sent four distinguished professors, Doctors Penck, Goldstein. Graebner, and Pringsheim, who lingered here after war was declared. They approached the Government for permission to return, on. the ground that they were international scientists, and therefore neutrals. The Government assented, provided they took the oath of neutrality. Goldstein and Penck accepted, and the former sailed for Java and the latter for England. Graebner and Pringslieim objected. Eventually they took the oath, but they had aroused suspicion. Their correspondence was intercepted, and they were proved to be spies. They wc-re arrested and interned. Goldstein escaped, but Penck's baggage was overhauled whilst on route to England. It contained more complete information of Australia's military preparations than the correspondence which was intercepted, also military contour maps of the country surrounding the capital cities, representing many months' work, and having no vestige of use other than to serve the ends of a German army of invasion. It was proved conclusively that the scientists were official German spies, repaying the hospitality shown them by stealing defence secrets. Penek arrived in England as a prisoner, and was recognised as the leader of several scientific expeditions to the Isle of Wight, overtly to examine the geology, of the island, but really to spy on Portsmouth and the Channel.