The Han and New Zealand

Levin Daily Chronicle, 6 April 1918, Page 4

The Han and New Zealand

A GERMAN PAPER'S FORECAST,

That the Germans have their eyes on this country in the event of Britain being worsted in the present struggle, has been evidenced on, more than one occasion. Further proof is produced by the Eev. H. N. Roberts, Chaplain to the New Zealand Forces, who has recently returned from the front. In conversation with a "Press" reporter on Saturday evening, Mr Roberts stated that before leaving England he read in a German paper an article forecasting the seizing of this country by tho Huns. The article pointed out that after dealing with England it would be necessary for Germany to dispose of the United States, and then there would be only the control of the Pacific, and with this country out of the way would come into reality the German dream of Deutschland über alles, or world domination. To properly fight Japan, naval bases in the Pacific were necessary, but though, inucli money had been spent on Samoa, no suitable harbour was available in that island. It was useless to seize Sydney or some other Australian port, owing to the vast hinterland proving a thorn in the invaders' flesh, therefore it was necessary to secure New Zealand, where there was a harbour —Akaroa—which could easily be made impregnable. Banks Peninsula, where Akaroa was situated, eould easily be fortified against any attack from the plains, and the paper by means of a perfect map of Banks Peninsula showed how Akaroa Harbour could bo made a perfect fortress, safe from attack by land or sea, and how guns mounted on various heights could easily dominate the Canterbury plains. The paper went on to say: "The inhabitants of New Zealand are an indolent, pleasureloving peoplo, and we would make them work to complete the fortifications that would make Akaroa impregnable against any nation and a base for attacking Japan or any other Power in the Pacific. The New Zealanders are so indolent that they do not utilise the magnificent rivers they have, which, if harnessed, could produce power to run many manufactories for the production of munitions or anything else they liked."

The article quoted above proves that New Zealand has received the unwelcome attention of emissaries of the German Foreign Office in tho past, and many stories have been narrated of boasts by German visitors to these shores in pre-war days of the information they had secured in relation to this country. in. the days of the late Lord Kitchener's visit to the Dominion a member of "The Press" staff encountered a man in Auckland whose persistency in dogging the famous soldier on his visits of inspection to the coastal defences was, to say the least, suspicious. A report of this affair appeared in "The Press" about a couple of years ago. Shortly after the war broke out a member of the staff of this paper was given translations of a series of articles appearing in a German paper written by a German woman, in which she supplied most intimate details concerning this country which she visited shortly before the war. She boasted that she had enjoyed the confidence of high military officers, politicians, newspaper editors, and others, and undoubtedly the German Foreign Office must have received from this source many welcome particulars concerning the Dominion, in addition to those apjiearing in print. In connection with Mr Robert 's narrative, older residents will remember the visit of the German warship Bussard about twontv-six years ago (says the "Akaroa Mail"). The vessel lemained in Akaroa harbour several weeks and torpedo practice and soundings, etc., were carried out. Kammandant Seheder in charge of the Bussard was very sociably inclined, and besides being on friendly terms with the shore people, he sent the band on shore to play to the people on several occasions. At a later date another German vessel put into tlie harbour, but no communication was held with the shore at all, and it was stated then that the vessel spent the five or six days here in taking soundings. No doubt the second vessel was verifying the good report given by Kammandant Sclveder on Aknron Harbour.