RUMOURS DENIED.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15112, 30 October 1914, Page 8

RUMOURS DENIED.

(special to "the press.") WELLINGTON, October 2d. Rumour has been busy in Wellington about a well known German resident of the city. All kinds of. treason b.av© been alleged against him, and it has been stated that he has been put on Somes Island. The fact'is that he is carrying on his work as usual, and his position is such that thousands of people must know this. A paragraph in tho Feilding "Star" referred to tho man's case, repeating tne idle rumour, and urging the Government not to spare the man-because "he happens to be in society, and married to a Wellington lady of family." Tho Defenco Minister, referring to this rumour in tho House to-day, denied it absolutely, saying that it was not supported by one iota of fact. Mr Allen stated, also, that it was not true that wireless messages were being sent out from Wellington. One wireless plant had been found, and the owner of it was now a prisoner, but so far as was known, he had not sen*, messages. It was impossible now for messages to bo pent without the knowledge of tho Postal authorities. (Yri-ss association tklegram.) WELLINGTON, October 29. The Hon. James Allen made a statement, regarding the rumour that there had been 152 deserters from tho New Zealand Expeditinary Force. Tho force, lio explained, was short of one officer end 152 men. Of these, the greater number were sent ashore on account ot" illness, and 17 wero left behind, but he did not think that any one of these was a deserter. They had missed their boats from various causes.