ANGLO-GERMAN STRUGGLE.

Northern Advocate, 23 February 1911, Page 3

ANGLO-GERMAN STRUGGLE.

DUEL" IN SYDNEY.

The great Anglo-German controversy has reached a crisis. And it has been left to Sydney to be the scene of its attainment. Two wool-buyers, one :m Australian, the other a German, have quarrelled upon this momentous question. That open hostilities broke is undoubted. I-Tow far thiy went is not so easy to determine. It is even possible that the disputants settled their difference in Continental fashion by an actual duel with swords. That, at least, Is the report which everyone at the Wool Exchange was discussing. The story was to the effect that the two wool-buyers had argued the eternal Anglo-German question until the Briton was moved to cast reflection upon the German Empire. To the German there was but one way out of •be controversy—the appeal to arms, by which alone outraged honor could be vindicated. The Briton accepted, though he was no swordsman, and did not profess to be. A full-dress meeting was arranged for a lonely spot /imong the scrub in Centennial Park, with four swords, two seconds, and 3 fifth participant in case of wounding. The German drew first blood from his

opponent's arm; not a serious wound, but sufficient to annoy the Briton, who acted as any impulsive Briton might. He forgot the rules —if he eve- knew them —and fought "all out." That is, he wielded his blade with both hands, as if it were a mediaeval two-handed, weapon, and in his turn wounded his adversary upon the arm. The duel was then brought to a finish. Honor had been satisfied on both sides. Such was the story that was circulated among the wool-buyers at the Exchange recently . They discussed it very freely among themselves, and found it intensely amusing. The jest of the hour was to point to another buyer's arm and ask him was he wounded there. Everybody was amused, so long as only wool-buyers were around. But let it once be whispered that a press reporter was on the hori7on, and their attitude- became amusing in another sense. Everyone denied it—but in a way that was meant to suggest, if you were any good at reading expression and gesture, that they could tell you all about it if they only liked. Even the lift attendant looked very wise and shook his head. Probably few of them knew any more than you. They had heard the rumor, heard any number of names connected with the affair, and very few knew what were the facts of the case. For reasons which it is "superfluous to mention," the principals did not want lo figure prominently. A duel is a serious breach of the law, and the Wool Exchange made one great, combined effort recently to be dumb to all inquiries. But there were two names associated with the report in a sufficiently circumstanial njanner. No doubt can exh,t as to who was the Briton referred to. Last night he did his best to ridicule the whole business when a "Daily Telegraph" reporter found him at home. This wool-buyer was at first highlyindignant when he was asked if he was in any way connected with what was supposed to have occurred. That was intelligible enough. As he aftervards pointed out, the report was calculated to injure him in his business, and he resented the inquiries made of him about the matter. He further refaced to discuss the subject at all, and d d so at some length. . "Just because of a little affair that had happened yesterday," he said — and then broke off in order to repeat that he would not discuss the matter at all. He asserted that he had not been in Centennial Park for a long time. "But have you had any difference with a German buyer out of which the duel story could be built?" "Yes, of course, we have little differences with German buyers, and French buyers, too, but we soon forget all about them."

This gentleman admitted that he was the person credited with being a party in the duel, but persisted in brushing away the rumors as 'all rubbish' and refusing to discuss the matter at all.