EMDEN BELL ECHO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 26

EMDEN BELL ECHO.

NEWSPAPER'S DISCOVERY.

EXPLANATION TO PUBLIC.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, January 13,

The finding of the lost bell of the EJmden, under the dramatic circumstances that have been described, caused some sensation here, and not the least noteworthy feature of the incident was the attempt made by the "Sydney Morning Herald" to securc publicity for its "scoop" by methods which may fairly be described as entirely alien from the traditions of that usually dignified journal. Naturally the newspapers which cherish grudges against the "Herald" have made the most of their opportunity. But since then they have been afforded a further opening for criticism,, which placed the "Herald" in an invidious position.

The man Kaolmel, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for stealing or "receiving" the bell, has also been charged with obtaining money under false pretences, and, in defending himself, he told the Court that he had intended to repay the money which he had '"borrowed" out of money comiffg to him from the "Herald." This paper, Kaolmel told the police when he was first charged, "has offered me a large sum of money so that they can accompany me to get the bell and give them an exclusive story." This statement placed the "Herald" in tho unprecedented position of apparently bribing an offender to supply it with information, so that it might get ahead of all competitors and rivals; and the other newspapers, feeling that it would be quite superfluous to point the moral, simply quoted Kaolmel's statement, without criticism. But the "Herald" seems to have felt severely the imputations thus conveyed, and it has now published a disclaimer, or apologia, which, as it speaks for itself, I will be content to quote in full:—

"In view of the statements made at Kaolmel's trial, it is desirable'to explain that the whole of the investigations by members of the staff of the 'Sydney Morning Herald' were undertaken and carried out at the request of the Naval Intelligence Department, on lines suggested by the Department. The services of the 'Herald' were enlisted only when other lines of investigation had failed to result in the diseovcry of the bell. By lending its assistance to the Department in the way it did, the 'Herald' was actuated only" by a desire to recover for the nation a memento of great historical value." This, I trust, explains itself.