AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

JUSTICE STRINGER AS ARBITER Australian-N.Z. Cable Association. Received Nov. 20, 10.30 p.m. Brisbane, Nov. 20» Mr. Justice Stringer, of. the New Ze«« land Arbitration Court, arbitrate* on the railwaymen's claims in connection with the rece:.; strike. BOGUS GENERAL GAOLED. ; Received Nov. 20. 10.45 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 2ft Betclikc, a liopps general, hag been tentenced to two months' hard labor., (A Sydney cable, of November 0 stated that a most amazing imposition has been revealed by the arrest of Frederick John Betcke, charged with unlawfully wearing ft military uniform. He appeared in court in the full uniform of a brigadiergeneral, with many decorations. The police evidence showed that the only war experience Betcke had ever had was an a trooper in the New Zealand Forces in South Africa, when, Awing to an ininrv to his hip, the Imperial Government Allotted him a pension of a shilling a dp v. Betcko told the police ho was born in N'cw Zealand, and'was the adopted son of a full-blooded German named Otto Betcke. For the past six years he ha» been posing as a military officer. He first promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and gave military to influential citizens of t\e 'western suburbs. Finally he assumed the rank of general. He appointed ft returned soldier whom ho met in a tram to bo his A.D.C., and presented him wift official papers promoting him to the rank of captain. Betcke headed a recruiting procession at Leichhardt, in full regalia, and mingled in the test social circles. Hi* downfall came when he was attending a garden fete at Hnratville, where he; was arrested and pleaded guilty. H* followed the calling of an electrician: Betcke was remanded for medical observation, owing to doubts as to hi* sani ity.) ; j