NAVY SECRETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15375, 9 August 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

NAVY SECRETS.

GERMAN SPY SENTENCED.

FIVE YEARS' PENAL SERVITUDE.

A German* dentist, William Klare, aged 42, was tried at the Winchester Assizes on Juno 26, on charges of feloniously obtaining secret information from Portsmouth Dockyard.

The indictment alleged that for a purpose- prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State the accused, counselled, and procured Charles John Bishop, an employe in the dockyard, and Levi Rosenthal, tobacconist, Portsea, to obtain a book containing information relating to torpedoes, and likely to be useful to an enemy; further, that Klstre feloniously received the book.

In opening the case for the prosecution Mr. Foote, K.C., explained that the book obtained by the prisoner wag the "Annual Report of the Torpedo School," which was a naval book of great importance and highly confidential. A document of that kind in the hands of an enemy would be exceedinly useful to that enemy, and most injurious to this country. That Klare obtained the article was quite clear, because he had it in his possession when arrested.

Prisoner, counsel proceeded, had lived at Southeea, and ostensibly carried on the business of dentist. In October last he saw Rosenthal, whom he knew slightly, and told him there was much money to be made by obtaining naval information, but that it was a bit dangerous. He first stated that he wanted a book on submarines, but in the course of subsequent conversation he said it was a book on topedoes that he desired. Klare remarked that the information was required for Germany, that about £100 would be paid for the job, and that this was but the commencement, and would lead to hundreds. Rosenthal spoke to a town councillor of Portsmouth on the subject, _ and later the police and naval authorities were apprised. By an arrangement Bishop was introduced by Rosenthal to Klare, and Bishop (who is in the office of the Com-mander-in-Chief at the dockyard) got the book, and handed it over to prisoner. Letter from Germany. In the course of the negotiations prisoner read a letter to Rosenthal and Bishop which he had received from Germany. It said : "I am glad to hear the operation is coming off at last. I bad almost given you up. I will meet you at the Cosmopolitan Hotel at Brussels" and pay your expenses, and pay you well when we meet." Counsel added that he understood the •substance of the defence was that prisoner acted innocently and that Rosenthal was the villain. There was nothing to justify such an assumption, but even if Klare had been incited by Rosenthal, if the ' jury thought he intended to get tins book and take it to Germany it would be their duty tc convict him.

Levi Rosenthal, a man between 50 and 60 years of age, then gave evidence. He related his meeting with Kl&re, and the circumstances as to the latter promising 1 money if he could get the torpedo book from the dockyard. The amount accused promised was between £200 and £300, and he explained that he only wanted the book for about three dr.ys, just time to get- it to Germany and back. When approached, witness said, "I have done this land of thing before," his intention being to see how far prisoner would go. Finally the book was handed over to Klare : by Bishop at witness's house, and prisoner ! was arrested. All this was done with the approval of the naval authorities and the police. -- : ..•■■' ■"■;■'■ . ' ; :l; In cross-examination, witness said the first occasion on which he had « conversation with Klare was October 18 last year, and he never discussed any matter of spying with him before then." It was ; quite true that Klare seemed willing to place a good deal of confidence in wit■ness.. ,>'-; \,:. ■';■ .:;,-: -t' ■', ■-■ r: - : '- ''It is quite true," ito said, "that 1 SiAd when ''"approached by the prisoner that I had done this sort of thing before.". ''■:•'V'., ::-.-_;: . ,■#% •J Mr- Dimmer (for the defence) : You got very chatty at a first meeting? \ Witness : If he wanted to sell the country he is : getting his living in I think .1 ought to >©a chatty. (Laughter.) I said' what I ; did > because I wanted to see how far Klare would J g0..-'.^'.;':.,■:'..• ■ - '■■■.-;- : . '"-.• "England is My Country."

Counsel : Yon were. playing a very clever part, acting wi'ih the police, anil at the same time pretending to take a part with. Klare? I acted on behalf of the police. / . Don't you think that Klare put a good deal of confidence in you. I ?Yes, he did ; more than I would put in anyone else! (Laughter.) With indignation : What motive has a man to sell the country he is getting his Hving in? (.Cheers in public gallery.) 1 call myself an. Englishman. I have been here since I -was two yearn of age, and I claim England as my country, although to my knowledge I am not naturalised.

Mr. Bishop stated that when he saw prisoner he said that there, was plenty of money behind it, and that witness ought to make £500' a year out of getting information. The book which he handed to the prisoner -was inscribed : "For the information of naval officers in Hjjs Majesty's service only. No. 212. Annual report of Torpedo School, 1911, with appendix Wireless Telegraphy." The police- evidence showed that three days before prisoner was arrested a telegram wse addressed to him at South/sea from Berlin, "Agree last proposal. Letter follows."

Mr Francis Harrison Smith, Paymasterin- Chief of the Navy, ;ind Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, told the Court that it was prejudicial to State fzitereste that the book should be seen at all by unofficial persons. A man who saw the outside of such a book was one stcsp on the road to seeing inside. This ■' concluded the case for the Crown.

Klaip then entered the witness-box. Ho protested that Rosenthal was the prime mover in the matter, and that witness acted throughout on his instructions. Rosenthal, required the book for his own purposes. Prisoner had never applied to Germany for any money in connection with obtaining this book. Prisoner's Explanation. In cross-examination lie admitted that ho took the book for the purpose of Rosenthal nia'dng money out of it by selling it and gi vr.ng him some of the money. He really die .not know why Rosenthal wanted to get fie book. Mr. Foote, in his final address to the jury, a lid this appeared to be the case of a. man who was doing this "dirtv work" for mom. v. It differed entirely from the case of otleers' in the Army or Navy who exposed themselves to risks, not to make money out of it but for the purpose of endeavouring' to .serve, their country. Mr. DiniTOH'i' contended that Klare was beinc: made? the scapegoat. Was it credible, he afited, that a man who was engaged in .She spying service would go up to a man openly and speak to him about espionage l It would be the work of a fool.

! The/jury, aftei* deliberating in the box ! for about five miltnfceo, found the prisoner guilty. * According to the* police, prisoner had represented himself '«<> be a dentist, but ho never did any work. Ho had lived mainly on the earnings of hi* wife. He had largely associated until service men. • In passing sentence, ids lordship said prisoner had been guilt}'-of a serious offence. He had endeavoured for a considerable period of time' to get money from Germany to enable <him to get the book. 1' T . , His lordshin concluded : ' L entirely agree with the" verdict, and '.do not think the jury could have come tSo any other conclusion. The sentence >v,ill be : five years' penal servitude. .* Prisoner made, no remark, Li*. 1 - at once walked down the steps of the dock- *