NOTORIOUS BERNSTOFF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1697, 12 April 1917, Page 3

NOTORIOUS BERNSTOFF.

HIS EARLY WANDERINGS. There is strong evidence that Count Derust off, recently German Ambassador at Washington, was once in New Zealand. The matter was suggested by a query raised in the Adelaide Observer of March 17th, which slates: —There are indications, so strong as to be almost conclusive, that many years ago, when the Kaiser was .considering his conquest of the earth and required information essential to his plans, he sent to Australia an emissary, who has since become a spectacular figure in German diplomacy. This was probably no other than Count von DernslolV. Ilis identity first attracted the attention of Mrs 11. J. Sutherland, of Avenue, Range, Adelaide, She was struck by the resemblance of a photograph of Count Derust oil’ in the newspapers to a photograph in her possession. For curiosity she compared au old portrait in her album with Ihe recent picture, and there is no doubt in her mind that Dernslofl was in Adelaide under the name of “Ernst.” Those who met “Ernst” in Adelaide have no doubts that he was Derust off. It is said that he admitted to a Mr White, who was an intimate friend, that he was really a count, but that he had a purpose in travelling incognito.

Whether “Ernst" is or is not Count Benistoff may be open to < | nest ion, but there is no doubt that the aristocratic German reported in South Australia 20 years ago was in Dannevirke 21 years ago. A copy of the A.delaide Observer has come into the hands of Mr I’. G. Cowper, chairman of the Dannevirke County Council, and he identities the published photograph of “Krnst” in Airs Sutherland’s possession. Mr Cowper stall's that 21 years ago a distinguished German, calling himself Baron Krnst, arrived at Xapicr and became intimately acquainted with Air B. T. Walker, formerly editor of the Hawke’s Bay Herald. Mr Walker gave the German a letter of introduction to Air G. Knight, of Tahoraite, and thus armed, the inquisitive gentleman arrived in Dannevirke. In those early days Air Cowper was a young bachelor farmer, pioneering on his property at Kaitoke. He met the German at Mr Knight’s, and the acquaintance became so pleasant that “Ernst” decided, as an experience, to share Air Cowper’s bachelor life at Kaitoke.

While there he was never tired of sketching, and look away with him innumerable drawings of the Dannevirke district. He was in frequent correspondence with a German foreign ottjeer, and frankly admitted it was their policy to obtain as much information as possible regarding the outlying portions of the

world. Mr Cowper often chaffed him on power of the British to deal with German diplomacy. “Ernst” had a most sauve manner, and was an adept “lady’s man.” After leaving Kaitoke, Baron “Ernst” went on a sketching tour to AVoodville, and proceeded on to AA'anganui.