GERMANS ARRESTED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 6

GERMANS ARRESTED

EX-CONSUL AND SECRETARY AUTHORITIES RETICENT By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, February 23. Tho arrest has been elfected under the Defence of the Realm Act of tlie ex-German Consul in Auckland, Mr. Carl Seegner, and his former private secretary, Mr. LoiLiar Eilundei'. liotli have been interned as prisoners of war, and are at present under detention at the fort at Worth- Head. It is understood that the action ot tho authorities in the matter was due to tlie suspicions aroused by the persons named in connection with their recent movements. Strict reticence is being observed both by the military -authorities and' the .police, but inquiries made in other directions have brought to light circumstances loading to the double arrest. It appears tliat iur six mouths past Messrs. Seegner •. and Eilander, and a third party, in the person of a wellknown -.resident of Auckland, who is a Cermau by birth, but a naturalised. British subject, have been in tlie daily ha! i; of meeting in the Domain. Business men . and employees of tho lirms whose - establishments are situated in Stanley Street and in positions in Parnell overlooking the Domain and its entrances havo noticed these daily meetings. Sometimes they would be ekted, and at other times glum, one observer that the k.ud of mood they-would be in could bo gauged fairly accurately by the tone of warnews' contained 'in the "Herald", in the morning.. 'Jhe conclusion winch observers came to was that tiic members I of the trio were probably debarred lror.i visiting' each other's .houses for some reason or other, and that ijhoy therei'oio selected the Domain for their daily consultation. More than once they wero followed surreptitiously, and it was found, that they did not always meet in the same spot, several benches in secluded places in the bush-covered portion, of. the ras'jrvK wen. us'ed by tueui ih turn,.rfor'ihe purp-.to of 'heir meeting*;; --On''wc occasions >i fourth per lion was !:Mi Willi tjie < i'ht three. '.! fie majority of the?,.' who noted the foregatherings; of 'two trio became so accustomed to-.it-that:lately they had ceased to be very much interested. Some, however, , took a different attitude, and not only wero their suspicions as to what might be afoot •aroused, but-also their resentment. This led to. certain persons making complaints both to the local police and the Defence "authorities, whilst in one or twq- ; instances • the matter was reported to the Defence Department in Wellington, " It'is^alSo.understood that the members of the trio concerned complained to the police lately that they had been by -employees cf one firm with ducking in the Domain pond iif they did not discontinue their dally meetings. AVhether because of' theso throats or because they became aware that they were being watched, 'Mr. Seegner, his ex-secretary, and thrrfr ' friend changed .their rendezvous a week or two ago; and instead of meeting in the Domain tliey wero seen together at Mount Hobson, at Campbell's Point, and in some of tho -city 1 parks. Within tho past day ,or two, however, they had reverted to the Domain. In view of the complaints received from residents and .business people, Messrs. Seegner and Eilander and their friend have been for some time past under surveillance. Why suspicion was attracted only to Mr. Seegner and his former secretary haa not been divulged, but it is understood that it was confined to them and not extended to the third party, who is , said to havo invariably been with them on the occasions mentioned. Tho military authorities apparently decided that I especially in view of the alleged threats uttered against the ex-consul and Mr. Eilaudcr, it would, be better to intern them, arid so put them out of harm's way.

Their arrest was quiotl.v carried out on Tuesday, shortly after they had separated. subsequently to having met oacli other as usual. They were immediately taken over to Devonport by ferry steamer,-and.handed over to the military authorities at tlie fort. In all probability both prisoners of war will be transferred to Motuihi or Somes Inland, where' there are internment establishments.