DISCOVERY OF A HOAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20156, 17 January 1929, Page 11

DISCOVERY OF A HOAX.

BOGUS COMMUNICATIONS. APPEAL FOR THE GENERAL. EXTRAORDINARY REVELATION. AastraHsn aacf N.Z. Pr»s* Association. January 18, 6,5 p.m.! LONDON. J*a. 15. A remarkable hoa.t has been revealed in connection wit.li the receipt of cablegrams from field officers abroad in reptv to messages despatched frGtn a London telegraph offiee on Monday to 85 foreign headquarters, including those in Australia and Neiv Zealand. The latter were signed in the name of Commissioner E. J. Hijgrins. chief-of-staff and second in command of the movement. The messages suggested that Commissioner Higgins desired unsolicited replies appealing for the retention of General Booth. A printed circular letter, couched in similar terms, was sent to 500 British branches of the army. The small staff at the Stmhury Post Office was overwhelmed hy the replies received to-day. Many of the communications contained the veiled views of leaders of the army in all parts of the world. Some of the recipients of the messages were suspicious and had the terri repeated back, asking for confirmation. The High Council was unaware of what had occurred and there wa3 a sensation when the post office authorities asked for a considerable sum from Commissioner H:ggins as a surcharge on the messages. The High Coaßcil accepted Commissioner Higgins' explanation and later, as a result of a conference the post office officials discovered the perpetrator of the plot. The bogus cablegrams read: "Do yon realise that the doctors say the General will recover in six months. The General asked for time hut the Council's reply was a demand for bis retirement. Is this fair after his lifelong work 7 " The official staff can carry on in his absence. There is growing indignation in Britain at the Council's action. If yon desire the General to be given time, telegrach immediately to the Cbsef-of Staff.

APPEAL TO OFFICEBS. SUPPORT FOR GENERAL. INTERNAL DIFFERENCES. United Service. LONDON, Jan. 15. A dramatic last-minute change made by General Booth in his reply to the High Council is likely to bring the final settlement to Court. His refusal to retire, according to the Daily Mail, was strengthened as a result of a telephonic communication between his sick room and London. Owing to the delay Mrs. Booth did not leave Southwold with the General's letter for the council until this morning. la the meantime there has been a further cjash between his supporters and the council. "Adjutant Herbert Bubbers of Kingston, addressed a letter to 1100 field officers, appealing to them to pledge their support to General Booth's proposal to establish a new council during his illness. Directlv the council heard of . this they dispatched telegrams, at a cost of £IOO, condemning the letter as unauthorised, and said those replying to it would do so at their own risk. The council summoned Adjutant Bubbers to Sunbury and gave h;sn the opportunity of apologising, as otherwise he would be transferred. Adjutant Bubbers said he was acting in accordance with his conscience, and with the support of his brother officers, i * There were dramatic dements in Mrs. Booth's motor-car journey from Southwold to Sunbury this morning. She started at daybreak in a blinding snowstorm to cover the 126 miles in three and a-half hours. The General added his signature at midi night, to his reply to the council's | ultimatum. The car arrived at 11.50 ! a.m. at Sunbury Court, and an elderly woman stepped out with a large envelope ! in her hand. The authorities at Sunbury are receiving hundreds of telegrams rram all parts of the world, protesting against the attempt to remove General Booth. These have not been placed before the H:gh Council. There was much conjecture as to whether Mrs. Booth would be allowed to appeal to the council, with that eloquence has won over thousandSj in the hope of saving her husband.