Australia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 26, 6 January 1916, Page 5

Australia.

THE "SCIENTIFIC" REVELA-, / TIONS. ' : :.'fM FOUR GERMAN "PROFESSORS!" United Pbbm Abbqoiatiow. (Received 8.20 a.m.) { . Sydney, January 6..;. In connection with the revelation* concerning the visiting scientists, -it', appears that Germany sent four dis-" tinguished professors, Drs. Penck, Goldstein, Graebner, and who lingered afer war was declared, ■> and approached the Government for permission to return, on the grounds/> that they were international ists, and, therefore, neutrals. ?*f?j? Government assented, provided they.v took the oath of neutrality. GoW T stein and Penck accepted, and the former sailed for Java and the latter for England. Graebner and Pringsheim objeeted,but eventually took the oath. Their actions aroused the suspicions of the authorities, and their correspondence was intercepted. This , proved they were spies, and they were j arrested and interned, though after- ; wards Goldstein escaped. Penck's baggage, which was overhauled while he was enroute to England, contained a more complete l formation of Australia's military preparations than the correspondence which had been intercepted; and it also contained it military contour and maps of the country surrounding {he capital cities, lepresenting many months' work, and having no vestige of use other than to serve the ends of the German army in an invasion. It proved ly that the scientists were official German spies, who were thus repaying the hospitality extended to them with stealing defence secrets. Penck, when he arrived in England &s a prisoner, was recognised as the leader of several scientific expeditions to the Isle of Wight, overtly to examine the geology of the Island, but really «** spy on Portsmouth and the Channel.