GERMAN MACHINATIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 76, 2 April 1900, Page 2

GERMAN MACHINATIONS.

A pamphlet, published in Capetown by Mr William Taylor, reveals the Transvaal secret service in allits naked ugliness — yet nofc aU the tale of iniquity i s dis. closed, the trump cards, so to speak being kept to be played after the war is over. Mr Taylor's authority is Mr A E Heyer, who for some years had exceptional opportunities of spying upon the secret service while employed in the South African National Bank, where he held the office of confidential clerk and private secretary to the general manager of the bank. "Here it was." says Mr Heyer, "that I was able to get at the keynote of what I afterwards knew to be a huge conspiracy and plot directed against the Power of whichl am proud to be a naturalised snbiect." And if half the tale Mr Heyer tells is true, the Transvaal secret service has been one of the most iniq.C-us and far-reaching conspiracies the century has witnessed. Ihe dramatis persona, of this Macchiavellian drama appear to have been well chosen for the individual role they had to adopt. Dr Wilhelm Knapue, having proved a huge failure as consul general for Germany in Samoa, eventually became one of the general Managers of the Transvaal National Bank. At Samoa his career was brief, aa it was inglorious. -Formerly a soldier, he continually desired to rule the roost, and treated the natives as if they were dogs, flogged them for the most trivial offences, and cruelly maltreated the women on the slightest provocation, and whenever his evil-passions got the upper hand took other undue advantages of the defenceless creatures." Moreover, Mr Heyer says, Germany barely escaped war with Spam through the high-handed proceedings of Knappe, who was recaUed by Bismarck. To Bismarck and Dr Leyds M.r Heyer gives the credit of laying the foundation of the Transvaal Secret service, *• the administration of which, a. to cunning and device, has yet to find its ? flU i a i' A kind of Vigilance Committee had been in existence previously, but its functions were unimportant. While in Hamburg in 18S6, Mr Heyer says Bismarck's organ, " Nachrichten," referred to the Transvaal as the next strip of territory likely to fall into the hands of Germany and the country northward; but, thanks to Mi- Rhodes, Germany was anticipated in that particular portion of Africa.

The particular chapter in the pamphlet dealing with the plotting of Bismarck and Dr Leyds makes rather entertaining reading, although the disclosures will hardly be appreciated iv German high quarters. Mr Heyer says "It- had always been Prince BismariVs desire to oust the Imperial claims to paramountcy in South Africa, backed up by tho clever devices and intricate schemes of Dr Leyds. A striking proof of Germany's attempt to swamp the Transvaal with troops, with the ultimate view of destroying British paramountcy in South Africa, was the annexation of Damaraland and Great Namaqualand. A party of German engineers and stir. veyors landed at Swakop Mouth, and a line of railway, via Windhoek and Northern Kalihart, to Johannesburg, was to be immediately constructed Again Great Britain frustrated the sclmnie by quietly anexing Bechuanalacd." Continuing, the author of the pamphlet says : " I have before me a copy of a document, dated Pretoria, August 24, 1892 (the original, which is still in a certain Government office in Pretoria), wherein a PretoriaBerlin scheme is detailed— namely, how a few regiments of Prussian infantry could be landed at Dalagoa Bay. and force their way into Transvaal territory, aud, once in, defy the British suzerainty^ and for a time hang the 'annoying question of her paramountcy on the nail." The name of Herr Von Herff, then German consul at Pretoria, appears on the document. This document must surely be an affair of subordinates, for tho leaders of the German Government would not dream of thus throwing down the gauntlet, which England would quickly take up. While the plotting was at its height Mr Heyer got permission to sleep on the bank's premises, as a sort of caretaker, having charge of the manager's and secretary's keys. His nightly exploitation of documents yielded a rich harvest. The secretary and manager looked upon him as "an innocent and harmless duffer," but if what he now declares to the world be true, they must wish they had hanged him instead of "riving him the custody of the keys. Secret meetings were held at the bank, and the names of the prominent men who attended are given, including Knappe. and Leyds. " President Krnger, who was once present with his son-in-law, Jan Eldff, said that ' England must not be the supreme Power in South Africa. I feel sure that, providing we have Germany with us, and with the Orange Free State and the colony, we shall win the day.' This statement was received with loud cheering, and the posse of Zarps stationed at the Landclrost Court next door rushed to tho place, wondering wliat had happened. A rumour was curront next morning of an attempt to break into the bant.

The editor of tho late "Transvaal Observer " will remember the incident At that time feeling ran high letween. the Progressives and the Afrikander Bond in Cape Colony. The Bond was in a quandary as to where it would find funds to defray election expenses. However, the difficulty was soon <- 0 t over " A certain notorious member of the present Cape Ministry not particularly noted for his gentleness of demeanour or affectionate regard for lofty principles, may remember receiving abont this tiie (April 1892) the sum of £im in eight £100 notes fir w tlo S- al Bank > • rith the nan X* toot of W^ Knappe (manager) and S. Memoes (accountant), the notes being takearrou-BookA." Again, "A pr<£ inmanfc Cape politician, sometimes termed the Dictator and Ministry-maker, may remeniber that during the general election of 1594 sums to the timo of .£I2OO to •£2OOO were sent to his care for electioneering and like purposes in Cape Colony by the Berlin HandelsgeseUschaft. which institution, fcr the benefit of English readers, may be termed the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. Another and Particularly unctuous and patriotic member of the Cape Ministry, distinguished by a sweet amiability of temper and admiration for the Right Hon. C. J. Rhodes, may recollect receiving a cheque" from a Transvaal secret service a<»ent during his struggle to -power in 189S/" A certain German, whose movements Mr Heyer says he watched during the 1898 elections, travelled all 07er the colony in tho interests of the Bond, spending money freely, and now holds a snug biUe't Vial CToTemment sseer ™c across the The mysterious meetings of the National Bank, Mr Heyer says! were held at the direct instigation of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, "and I afterwards ™ a f?% dtheEmpe / or had a band ia it Both Germany and the Transvaal antbo^

ties had one eommob object in view— to undermine the paramountcy of Great Britain in Sonth Africa." Abont that tiffie Germany, aided by Dr Leyds, approached Lisbon over and over again with a view to get Delagoa Bay ceded to the Transvaal, but without avail. The next move was-the foUowing offer to the Boer Governmi-nt, through Von *Herff, the German representative at Pretoria : — « Germany agreed to send 12,000 trained men, via Delagoa Bay, into the Transvaal gradually as immigrants, miners, aad the like. A large number of experienced military officers were to go to Pretoria to train the Staats ArtiUene, to b___fa forts, etc., on the German aud Frelieh'principles, and generally to supervise affairs." (To bo Continued.) !■___■_■_---»__■_--_ ll S ■ ■ I Ills s