GUNS FOR RUSSIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 September 1924, Page 6

GUNS FOR RUSSIA.

SAIUGGLED FROAI LONDON

FISHING SAIAGK’S EXPLOIT

SECRET AUD,NIGHT TRIP

An attempt to smuggle machine guns jut of London for use in Russia was discovered a few weens ago and frustrated by Scotland Yard officers. Trie were, it is understood, for use against the Soviet Government, with -s’riich Britain is at peace. In these jircumstances their transportation was d bieach of international law as well -is 3 " offence against British law, which prohibits the exportation or. importation of guns without a license from the Joard of Trade

Several hundred of the weapons, of a comparatively modern . pattern, were jought in the open market and stored -n a warehouse not far from the Tower. Ihe next step was to get them out of uhe country without the knowledge of me authorities. A fishing smack was aired, and in the darkness of early morning a first instalment of the guns, numbering 72, was stowed aboard. - The /essel then slipped quietly down the Ihames to open sea. ’ Somewhere in,the North Sea—the police themselves do not know exactly ■vhere—the guns were transferred from the ashing boat to a steamer of unknown nationality. -A heavy sea was running on‘ the night of the adventure, md the transhipment of heavy arms ii these circumstances must have been i hazardous undertaking. One of the guns fell into the sea, and others were damaged by coming into sharp contact with the steamer’s iron hull. The fishing smack returned to London, where information as to her secret midnight crip leaked out and came to the ears of Scotland Yard.

By order of Scotland Yard officers, a number of cases consigned to an address at Amsterdam, and awaiting shipment at Brewer’s quay, Tower Hill London, were retained at the Customs House. Ihe cases, which were marked is containing steel castings, actually •leld machine guns in parts. Similar mses were shipped a short time ago rom the same quay. They came from * ga r a S e at Wanstead used as an improvised warehouse, and were'similarly marked steel castings.” Allegations that tho contents of the •ases were guns, and were really going co Russia by way of Amsterdam came ,o the notice of Scotland Yard, who lutliorised a watch, when more cases s "™ ed f « r ex P° r C Watch was also mpt on the Garage at Wanstead, which SmSil ° r 41,6 con -

ca j es T ten of them , unusually aige, made of wood an inch thick, and iron-hound-were aHowed to remain in i, ® + hed alon f=side the quay while obmi rations werp kept, and persons who an © to see about them were immedi.itelj questioned by the detectives The •ases were opened by the authorities. InsKle each case was a zin c lining, md inside were found dismantled machine guns and their mountings tons S T? r ould about two tons. The detectives kept a watch on + T th ? shi P whi ck was to mie taken them left the Thames The mses were not taken onboard, but were handed over to the Customs by thd W 6 ’ J !i 1S S^ ated that "either the nvnimr%l the l vhar hngers, nor the firm idea tLf rt St6amer had the slightest hHf Al . fe case ? contained anything JHt the light steel castings they were supposed to hold. 3 ARhough the supply of gun s was thus 5 th ° sif 3 " 16 " with the first instalment pursued its course undisturbed s ?, I far as \ s known) landed the guns either on the coast of Russia or at a spot near the frontier. Inquiries made -by Scotland Y T ard revealed that trie smuggling enterprise was of ]arger size and importance than was at hrst thought. It is stated that more than 1000 guns in all had been bought, and that triese were all for transhipment to the same destination. Even then the police were not satisfied that they pot to the bottom of the mv.sterv, ;ind seal-cues, and inquiries wore made at other ports but without result.