EMDEN’S LOST BELL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1933, Page 8

EMDEN’S LOST BELL

CONCERN FELT IN AUSTRALIA. MISSING FOR FIVE MONTHS. SYDNEY, October 2. The theft ,some • months ago, iroin the National War Museum, of the belt of the German raider, Einden, which \vas sunk by H.M.A.S. Sydney on November 0, 1914, is still causing the Australian Government some concern, for all efforts to trace the relic have been in vain. It is stated now that a high official of the Government has lioen relieved of all other duties so that he may concentrate on the quest for the bell—a quest that will be worldwide’ in scope.

Although the hell was stolen five months ago there has been no slackening in the inquiries bv the New South Wales police, and the definite instruction issued some time ago that the bell must be found at all costs still holds good. The Commonwealth official who has been placed in charge of the investigation has a notable war record, and is actually a secret service man. Already he has travelled hundreds of miles in following dries. More than a dozen detectives have worked °n the case. Every important police force iri trie world has been asked by the New South Wales police to assist in the search. There is still a strong belief that the hell has been spirited 'away to Germany. Not long ago a newspaper cutting was received from Germany announcing that the hell had reached a German town. Scotland Yard was asked to assist in the inquiries that fob lowed the receipt of this information, hut so far has not reported any success. Extensive searches have already been made at Tokio, Noumea, Canton, Durban, Capetown, Java, Genoa, Suva, Vancouver, San Frahc.sco, Rabaul, Hongkong, Singapore, Shanghai, New York and Amsterdam. Practically every port visited by ships from Sydney has been a centre of activity at one time oi- another. The German Government states that it is assisting the Commonwealth Government in this remarkable search. Recently gbe pblice were informed that the bell had been buried at a farm not more than »v 0 miles from Sydney. The information came from a source which the detectives regarded as reliable, but they have been unable to discover the-exact location of the farm. It is suggested that if the police were, able to" discover the whereabouts of a. German who disappeared from Sydney about the time the hell was stolen they would Tie able, to solve the mystery.

The bell has been twice stolen. It first disappeared from the naval quarters at Garden Island in Sydney. Tt was found some t'me later buried in the Svduey Domain. Maybe it has been buried again in just a s handy a spot. ■ ■