"THE BRUTAL ENGLISH"

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 434, 13 December 1918, Page 1

"THE BRUTAL ENGLISH"

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Your leading artilce is always excellent and the delightful satire in your issue of the 26th ult. on " The Brutal English " gave me great pleasure. In one instance, however, viz., that of Consul Ahlers, you have been misinformed. He was certainly sentenced to be hanged but he appealed against his sentence on the ground that be had a double —an officer of high rank in the German army, who was in Sunderland for about six weeks in civilian dress as a spy and who managed to get away at the declaration of war, leaving Mr Ahlew under suspicion of being the man. Several influential persons, the. Lord Lieutenant of the County amongst the number, had had both these men to dinner and were able to prove at the second trial that the likeness between them was that of twin brothers, so Consul Ahlers got a free pardon. TSho miners thought favour had been shown so they surrounded his prison, meaning to hang him a la lanterne, but the authorities got him out secretly and down to a shipyard, where he was taken by steamer to Newcastle while the mob watched the railway station. He lodged with the Governor of Newcastle Gaol overnight and next morning a British gunboat took him over the North Sea, where he was transhipped to his own country by way of Hoi land. These are the facts as T ascertained them from a relative of mine who lives at Sunderland and who, for many years resided as a neighbour to Mr Ahlers and knew him personally, having also seen bim several times in the company of his double. Indeed, German though Mr Ahlers is, it is certain that he was not a spy, and if he were it redounds to the credit of British law that he was given the benefit of the doubt. —Tours etc., MARY CLEMENTS Papakura, December 1918,