SUSPECTED ALIEN ENEMIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1549, 11 May 1916, Page 2

SUSPECTED ALIEN ENEMIES.

TWO ARRESTS MADE. The local police, acting under instructions from the military authorities, yesterday arrested two men J. Sehack and A. Romashko, who are suspected to he alien enemies. The men claim to he Russian journalists on a walking tour of the wo rid. They arrived in Foxlon about four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, and stayed the night, leaving yesterday morning at eight o’clock, walking in the direction of Levin. The police received instructions (o apprehend them yesterday morning, and at about midday located them at Levin. Roth military and police officials are extremely reticent regarding tin l matter, hut startling developments are expected in a few days. It appears that the two men have travelled from Auckland, ostensibly tor the purpose of gaining material for future articles in the Russian press. Though they had apparently bona title passports, (heir actions aroused the suspicions ot the military authorities, who kept

; watch on them. It is stated that at Bainesse on Tuesday they inquired of a farmer if there were any Germans or Austrians living in the vicinity, and on arrival at Levin asked the Town Clerk for the addresses of any foreigners resident there. The two men were taken to the Palmerston police station and searched. Ihe search revealed a miscellaneous collection of articles, including a serviceable-looking compass and half a dozen well stocked pocket books, which were carried in a leather satchel. The men also had -Belgian, Russian and British passports. One of the -certificates was issued last year to Sehack. It was issued by the Stephney Borough Council, and certified that Sehack was'a Russian tailor-presser, aged 1!), who had registered under the National Alien Registration. (From his appearance, Sehack is at least .15 years of age). In answer to a question, he stated that he was born in 1 SOS. Komashko slated that he was connected with a Russian agricultural paper. Another document made Sehack out to lie a Belgian refugee. He explained this by saying that he was one of the Russian refugees who lied through Belgium to London. “I was interned in Germany,” he said, A thorough search was made of the two men, they even having to remove their bools. The search did not disclose much of an incriminating character, although one of the photographs found on the men bore (he name of a Hamburg photographer.

The two men were then locked up pending the pleasure of th£ militarv authorities.