Page 2 Advertisements Column 3

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 209, 12 October 1916, Page 2

A GANG OF TRAITORS. THE I.W.W. UNMASKED. SYDNEY, October. 11. Startling revelations as to a gigantic conspiracy to cause havoc and destruction and to endanger the lives of people were made at the opening of the treason charges against twelve members of the I.W.W. —Chas Reeve., a native of England), Thomas Glynn (Ireland), Peter Larkin (Ireland), John Hamilton (Victoria), Bernard Besant (England). Donald McPherson (Scotland), William Teen (Tasmania), Wm. Beatty (England), NorriS Fagen (Russia), D. Grant (Scotland), Thomas Moore (New Zealand), and John King (Canada. Besides the allegations of treason, the men were further, charged with conspiring to burn buildings in Sydney and elsewhere by means of phosphorus inflammable material in order to intimidate and over-awe the State Government. The Crown Prosecutor, outlining the case, said the charges ha;l arisen out of ■/; series of city fires which, if successful,, would have caused damage of at least half a. million. Evidence would show that attempts had been made to place difficulties in the way of fire brigades stopping outbreaks. Accused were the associates of a notorious German e5,..,r,,... ~.,r,,... fvnvn t-hr internment camp. How difficplt to

tactics adopted were pleasing to the enemy. The I.W.W. adopted a deliberate system of sabotage to force the Government to release Barker. Fives commenced on June Ist being aimed at a building owned by the Government. It was further alleged that with the object of forcing the Government to abandon the conscription policy, many occurred after Mr Hughes' declaration On the very day of the speech, the Cooperative Stores were blazing-. This was due to one of the accused. Another declared that he was prepared to burn down Sydney, and that it would cost capitalists £IO,OOO for each day Barker was imprisoned. It was believed roe iv.-Tfinisatiou started ten fiv-s, including Winn's, Simpson's, Mark Foy's... Stedraan's, Riley Bros, Brown's furniture warehouse, Beard and Watson's. Burns Philps' wharf, Buckingham's, and Bronnan's. Evidence was given to show how an Austrian participated in drawing lots to carry out the plans. The Austrian then indicated the places he would attempt to destroy:-

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