EX-CONSUL RE-ARRESTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1919, Page 10

EX-CONSUL RE-ARRESTED.

AUSTRALIAN INVASION PLOT. WAR INTRIGUE RECALLED. ATTACK BY GIANT SUBMARINES. Sydney, Nov. IR. It is reported from Brisbane that Dr. Hirschfeld, formerly the German Consul for Queensland, has been arrested at his pleasant suburban home in Brisbane, and re-eommitteed to the internment camp. His liberation and re-arrest made the story of war and post-war events in Queensland worth re-telling. When war broke out, Hirschfeld was not arrested. He was permitted to live quietly at home under supervision. But good work by the intelligence section of the Defence Department showed that the good doctor was still endeavouring to serve the Fatherland. He was. suddenly arrested, and amemg compromising papers seized were some that showed that a plan for the invasion of Australia was actually in existence. Jt depended for execution upon tne development of giant submarines of the Deutschland type, and Dr. Hirschfeld was deeply involved in it. The ex-Con-snl was now treated as an ordinary war prisoner and the papers were lodged in the Defence offices. The papers: were stolen by ?■ clerk with a foreign name—who was trusted because lie had formerly done notable wo--iv as a secret agent—and they came into the possession of a Brisbane solicotor, a gentleman with a very German name- He approached Mrs. Hirschrold. mi Australian, who is very anxious that her husband shall not be deport t-d. He represented to her that for a certain -nm ho would destroy these compromising papers. The iadv had sufficient sens", to stall him off, while she look a hurried trip to Melbourne, anrl laid the whole matter before the Actiinj-Minwtar for l>fen'ce. The clerk and solicitor were forthwith arrested and sentenced. About, a fortnight ago. Dr. Hirsr-Meld appeared in Brisbane, apparently at lilierlv. Public indignation soared quickly to a high point. More or less harmless Germans, it was pointed oct, were being deported, but this German who had been engaged in plots against Australia, was allowed to remain. Furious telegrams were sent to Mr. Hughes. It is known that Mr. Hushes was taken by surprise, and that he kne-i----nothing about Hirschfeld and his liberation. He acted quickly. He demanded to know on whose authority the man was liberated, and why. Just what happened iritcr-Departmentally is not known. But Dr. Hirschfeld is back in durance vile, and Brisbane has ceased to simmer.