A LUNATIC SPY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 3

A LUNATIC SPY

PLOT TO'SINK A SHIP "WITHOUT TRACE" BOMBS DESCRIBED AS KINEMA v FILMS The methods of German cgents and their efforts to sink Allied shipping were recently revealed in the course of an investigation into the cause of an explosion, resulting in the loss of throe lives, on board a steamer three days after she left a South American port on a voyage to New York. The cargo consisted of hides, a species of bark' known as quebracho, a coilin, 15 cases of "minerals," and one case of

"kinematograph films." There was no doubt whatever about the hides and the iiiu'bracho, and after the explosion the coffin was intaot. It contained nothing but a corpse, and was subsequently landed at New York. Suspicion centred on the eases of "minerals" and "kinematograph films." About a week before the ship arrived to take in her cargo application ' for space in her for 16 cases containing minerals and kjnema films was made by a licensed Customhouse dispatcher, who said he was acting for some American engineers who had been exploring the country. As this man held a position of trust the goods were accepted and passed. It was evidently the intention of the perpetrators of the crime, whoever they might Im, to sink the steamer "without trace."

• By a fortunate chance the rases iwhich must have contained the bombs were not placed iii the bottom of the hold. Had they been, the force 'of tho explosion would have been downwards, and would probably have blown out the bottom of tho ship. As it was, they were near tho top, with the result that the force of the explosion was upwards.

The "evidence in tho case is voluminous and complicate* The first link in the chain of evidence is a document sent to Berlin by way of a neutral country, stating-that a German employed, at the port had informed the German WeeConsul immediately after tho departure of the ship that a South African Boer hud given him tho bomb . which had caused tho explosion, and that he had 6ee.ii to. its shipment. Nearly two years later a man was arrested in Now York for making a fraudulent claim against un insurance company in respect of the 16 cases. _ Ho was of unsound mind, and was detained in a ! criminal lunatic asylum. When arrested, he was passing as a captain of the Australian Light Horse. He was in uniform and wearing ribbons of the South African, "Matabele/ and /long-ser-vice medals, and tho Croix. do Guerre with palm.

On him was found a cutting describing the outrage, "It is believed," the extract ran, "that he and his' confederates escaped in a powerful motor-boat of which hi: was the owner. A'Tist of the crimes committed by these men a staggers belief. Since their operations in South America tho s.s. Salvador was completely destroyed by fire, the s.s. Van ban was barely saved from complete destruction by the same cause, tho coaling station in Bahia was burned, tho magnificent Pembrokeshire was destroyed in tho Atlantic,, tho boilers of tljo liner Liger burst throngii dynamite being mixed with the coal, the s.s. Tennyson was dynamited, an.illicit wireless station was built north of Pwnainbuco, four ships have ' left South American ports- and have never again boon heard of.'' ■

Other papers found on him practically proved his identity with a. newspaper correspondent arrested in Brussels during tho Boer War for anti-English intrigues, and imprisoned ini Bermuda, and later employed by. tho German Government. Other papers found r.n him included a recommendation from an Austrian Vice-Consul, Captain- Üborsezig,* in favour of "Mr. , Captain of Engineers in the Boer Armv"; and a pliotoirrnph of the original bill of lading for tho 10 crises, with the rcceint siven by the dispatcher for "payment 1 for services." "