SECRET DIAMOND FIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 17

SECRET DIAMOND FIELDS.

MifSfEHY OS* BMtjeGLEb frßilS.- - An engineer hits been arrested tv Berlin on a charge of diamond He is a yoting Berliher hamed Georg Heim, who in Otftober, 1809; irii engaged -as a diaiflond tapeft by the "Kolonial BefgbaU Gesellschaft" and sent to Luedefitzbudht to act as prospector ena valuer of the company's diamond fields. During the eight -months that he acted for the company, Hfelm, with the aid of accomplices, is alleged to have smuggled £10,000 worth of diamonds to Germany, mixing the stones in soft cement, which was afterwafde allowed to harden, thereby deceiving the Customs. Helm returned -to Germany last May, and sold the stones at Dresden, Leipzig, Hamburg, and Breslau, where he did such good business that he contracted f<>r filtu<e purchasers. "When the original supply of atones was exnatfet«d, Helm sent h's occomplices money for more, Which were also einuggied to Gefmany in cement. At first Helm avoided Berlin for fear of detection, but, emboldened bj , his success, he bought in July a viila in the 'Berlin suburb of Grossiliohterfeldei and -resided there with his Wife and child, unconscious of the fact that detectives were watching him day and night. He wae nhally arrested on the Potsdamer Pktz. Before going tb the remand prison he received pefiniselon to Visit his villa, accompanied by police. On arriving there he attempted suicide by jumping out ol the window, but only sustained some bruises. The "Slofgenpost" says that the correspondence seised Shows tn<vt Helm was planning another big coup. He Is said to ■have discovered large diamond fields in the southern part of South-west Africa, near Cope Colony, which, however. Helm agreed with his accomplices should not be worked until his (Helm's) return from Germany. Helm intended to conduct the operations and erect a secret polishing plant on 'the fields, so as to avoid -all possible chance of detection, By cable orders from the Colonial Office, ■Helm's accomplices in South-west Africa ■were arrested, but the aQthorities are much embarrassed, as they do not know the location of these rich new diamond fields. Heim'e correspondence reveals nothing regarding their whereabouts, and the prisoner refuses to betray his secret. The colonial authorities are making every effort to trace the spot. ACTRESS AS SALVATIONIST. A STRANGE COXVTBRSION. Habitues of the theatre in Berlin were electrified 'to read in their paper "at the ena of September that Hilda Wangel, one Of the'inost talented actresses on the German stage, had abandoned her prr-fesston, joined the Salratldn Army, and devoted herself to a -life of religious work. TBe lady In question'ia the wife of • a musician n-anled Stabernack, and for some time had been playing most dlftlcult roles fit the Deatsches Theatre, which in its standing, aims, and reputation corresponds roughly to His txfejeety'e In London. For g couple of years ft had been known to her intimate friends that a spiritual change was going on within her. She showed a preference for society of the emphatically plot* type In conversation, and she frequently sought to tempt her acquaintances and colleagues on to theological" ground.

■••.In-!-, the second half of August Fran, Wangel's company visfted Frankfort and gave a series of performances in the theatre at the Aeronautical Exhibition. It happened that simultaneously _a congrese of the Salvation Army was being held in the town, and on a free Fran TVangel attended one of 'the meetings. An "address was given by Commissioner Ollphant, who was formerly a minister of the Church of England, and Is at present head of the Salvation Army hi Germany. When he concluded, as is customary, with an appeal for converts, the actress at once rose, walked up to the penitents' bench, and, amid .1 scene of great enthusiasm, offered up prayer. It was not till September 29, however, that she finally severed her connection with, the stage. That evening she played a part In ''Faust," and on leaving the theatre she decl-ared that "she would never again enter the temple of aft, as she was now dedicated to the service of the temple of God."' It is stated that the ex-actress' husband does not at all sympathise with th-e trans-, formation that hae come over her views, and that he has already tnken steps to obtain a conjugal separation. Frau Wangel will be formally received Into the Sal-Cation Army with particular solemnity, and will then pass through the usual probationship as a novice and "common soldier," preparatory to entering the officers' Corps.