PARDONED BY KAISER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15307, 21 May 1913, Page 7

PARDONED BY KAISER.

GERMAN ESPIONAGE CASES. * J ~" ENGLISHMEN RELEASED. j ' ■ COMPLIMENT TO BRITAIN. ; 1 By Telegraph.—Press ■ Association.—Copyright (Received May 20, 11.30 p.m.) ~ . Berlin, Hay 29. . . In order to mark the occasion of the marriage of his daughter, the Kaiser has pardoned Captain Trench and Lieutenant Brandon (two English officers) and. Mr. Bertrahd Steward \ (an English solicitor), who are now . imprisoned in Germany on charges of espionage. /; ».-■'.'.'■" In official circles the exercise of '- the Kaiser's clemency is regarded as a compliment that the Emperor is paying to the British nation in grace- , ful recognition of King George's presence at the wedding of the Princess. The German newspapers for the most part are silent on the subject. , The Berliner Tageblatt says tint as • ', Captain Trench and Lieutenant ; Brandon and Mr. Stewart do not ( belong to the mercenary kind of i spies, a"nd as they have formally satisfied the law their release will be , received with gratification through- ''. 'out Germany, especially when King i George's visit is demonstrating the * mutual wish for friendly Anglo-Ger-man relations. .- The Tage Zeitung says that while it declines to criticise the Kaiser's ! action it thinks that the release of [■ the prisoners will cause criticism and regret in Germany, and that the . public demand for the sharp punish- | ment of gentlemen spies will again ; be aroused. i;• ' : ' . ENGLAND'S GRATIFICATION. C ;V::-;.',f 5 ■- (Received May 20, 11.30 p.m.) » London, May 20. 1 The English newspapers applaud • the Kaiser's clemency in releasing 5 the three English prisoners. 5 ; ,■■■■■' ; .:.'" :',.''.- HISTORY OP THE OASES. Captain Trench and Lieutenant Bran- . don, who were convicted on charges of 1 espionage in 1910, admitted that they t went to Germany with the intention of i collecting information to place at Great , Britain's disposal. They were arrested ', whilst photographing the fortifications at ' Borkum, at the mouth of the Weser, and I they claimed the only question for settle- . ment was how far the information they got . was secret. They were sentenced, in December, 1910, to four years' imprisonment in a fortress. Trench was sent to 3 'Glatz, in Silesia, and Brandon to Wesel. 3 Their separation was attributed to fear j that they would consult and reconstruct the observations they had made, and of 1 which they had been deprived. b Mr. Stewart was sentenced in Februj ary, 1912, to 3£ years' imprison- } ment in a fortress, on a charge of espion- < age. The Court, in its judgment, said ': that Mr. Stewart was excited over the possibility of war over Morocco, and that he had sought information in regard to r Germany's preparedness in the North Sea. . He had paid an agent to secure information, but he had failed to communicate x to the British , Government what he had. learned, if anything.' An •attempt; to be- '" tray German secrete was, however, held "■: to be proved. The , Court said that Mr. Stewart was inspired with patriotism, and \ that this was a mitigating circumstance. '."'■' l , i „ ■ 1 ROYAL VISIT TO BERLIN. KING GEORGE AND QUEEN MARY. "-/ .' / London, May 19,. King George and Queen Mary left : for Berlin to-day in order to attend i the marriage of Princess Victoria r Louise (the Kaiser's daughter) to I Prince v Ernest of Cumberland on Saturday next. \ The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connaught, and Sir Edward Grey (Minister > for Foreign Affairs) farewelled Their Majesties at the Vic- - toria station. > .