THE KAISER'S SPY

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13178, 6 October 1914, Page 3

THE KAISER'S SPY

hbbr krvppt visit to en«j ", , iJand, • GERMAN EXPERTS IN BRITISH SHIPYARDS.

Doforo our fjonses nro nnmhod by Ihe clnslt and din of titanic killings on land and sen—befoie we loso tho faculty of remembering tho past; in tho staggering attempt to grnsp tho prosent, I would like to take Englishmen back tn an event which happened m theii unsuspecting midst exactly two month*) ago (says tho Berlin correspondent,of the Daily Mail). A most simstei event, in the light of what has happened since, and one designed ns haidly any other could be to persuade the most sceptical among ns that tho War Kaisor's plans for the sacking of Europe were deep laid, deliberate, and stealthy. It reduces to .criminal nb ; surdity tho German contention that Armageddon wns kindled nt Sarnjovo. ; I refer to.tho strange visit, paid by Jlerr Krupp von Bohlon and Hnlbach, tlie hond of Krupp's, between Juno 14t,h and 23rd, to Birkenhead, Barrow-in-Fur-ness, Glasgow, Nowcastle-on-'fyiie, and Sheffield. His chnrmnig wife the cannoii queen and proprietress of Krupp's,. accompanied him. That bolstered up tliCifietion that the visit was "private and unofficial." But in order that the inspection of tlie Firth, Laird, Vickers, Brown, Arinstrong-Whitworth, Cammell, Laird, and other establishments should not be strictly informal, llerr Krupp von Bohlcn brought with him his chief technical expert, Dr Ehrensberger, of Essen. There was a fourth member of liis party—llerr von Billow, a kinsman of the former imperial Chancellor, who until recently—perhaps yot, for all 1 know—represented the Krupps in Lon-. don. llerr Krupp von Bolilen's previous visits to England'have been undoubtedly privato in character. Both he and his wife were fond of London and liked to eome to us informally, to live quietly ljko well-born people of nieans at a fashionable Piccadilly hotel.. In recent times they came primarily to sit for 1 tho late. Sir Hubert Horkomcr. Nevoi': until the visit of June, did they come,accompanied by their experts. They camo this time, in other words, strictly for business.' And it is not a comforting reflection to think that, they accomplished their business thoroughly.-

Instigated Visit. ■ There enn be no manner of doubt that Heir Krupp von Bohlcn's last sojourn in these islos was at the direct instigation of Somebody Higher Up. There is but one person in Germany who could send him on such a mission. And that someone is tho Kaiser. Ilerr Krupp Von Bohlen is not iu the habit of "travelling" on bohalf of his gigantic firm. The tour of England, as a matter of fact, was the first of the kind he ever made. He undertook it because tho necessity of spying out the armament secrets of Great Britain had suddonly become a matter of vital significance to Germany; and he came at the behest of the Kmpps' great family friend, The Emperor, who as we now: know preached peace while plotting 1 war, • The gencsia of the Krupp investigation of the state of preparedness of our facilities for manufacturing land 'and sea armaments is no less remarkable than the investigation itself. Early in May certain of the firms above mentioned received a delightfully courteous letter from the Master of Essen announcing his intention to visit England during the season. Frankness incarnate, the letter suggested that an inspection of the establishments making articles similar to those manufactured i by Krupp's would naturally be of great interest.

The recipients of Ilerr Krupp von Bohlen's letters forthwith communicated with our naval and military authorities. Tt was agreed that, subject to the elementary precautions advisable in such circumstances, thore could be no harm in extending to the Essen visitors hospitality for which, I fear, wo are sometimes all too famous. They came and they saw. 'Whether they conquered remains to be scon. Doors, at any rale were flung wide open to tliem, There was even some spceelminking, The fact that the utmost possible care was exercised that the lyux-eyed Dr Ehrensbcrger and Herr von Bulow did not see too much does not alter the underlying gravity of the visit itself. At the time .Birkenhead, Barrow-in-Furness, Glasgow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Sheffield thought it. passing strange that Herr Krupp von Bohlcn should suddenly desire to look us over Intervening events, I venture to believe, have given them furiously to think REPORT TO THE KAISER. Herr Krupp von Bohleii lost, no time in reporting to'the Kaiser the wonders he had been privileged to inspect in England and Scotland. By prearrangement undoubtedly lie came direetly from them to Kiel, where William IF. was extending a hearty welcome to Vice-Admiral Sir George Warrender's battleship and light cruiser squadron. The Kaiser always demands prompt reports from his emissaries, Grand-Admiral von Tirpitz was at Kiel, too, to hear what the Master of Essen had gleaned in guileless Albion, And while the issue of'peace or war with England hung in the balance at Berlin Herr Krupp von Bohleu hurritfd up from Essen to take part in the momentous councils of the Kaiser with his military and,naval chieftains. Can we doubt that what he learned in this country in June was his principal contribution to the deliberations? Guileless, too, I remember now that I sought an interview with Horr Krupp von Bohleu at Kiel. It was. the day before Sarajevo. I knew of tiro true British hospitality which had been •showered upon him. I thought perhaps he might bq inclined to indulge in some glittering generalities suitable for publication.- I.know why. he despatched a polite young secretary to my hotel with a message that the "nature of Herr ..Krupp von Bohlen's visit to England madeat quite inappropriate for him-to'discuss it in public.','"'. '•; •.'.;