EMDEN'S LOST BELL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21617, 9 October 1933, Page 12

EMDEN'S LOST BELL

CONCERN IN AUSTRALIA WORLD-WIDE SEARCH MISSING FOR FIVE MONTHS [fiiom our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Sept. 28 The theft, some months ago, from tho National War Museum, of the boll of, tho German raider, Emden, which was sunk by H.M.A.S. Sydney on November 9, 1914, is still causing the Australian Government some concern, for all efforts to traco tho relic have been in vain. It is stated now that a high oflicial of tho Government has been relieved of all other duties so that ho may concentrate on the ciuost for the bell—a finest that will be worldwide in scope. Although tho bell was stolon five months ago there has been no slackening in the inquiries by the Now South Wales police, and the definite instruction issued some time ago that the boll must bo found at all costs still holds good. The Commonwealth oflicial who has been placed in charge of tho investigation has a notable war record, and is actually a secret service man. Already ho has travelled hundreds of miles in following duos. More than a dozen detectives have worked on the case. Every important police force in the world has been asked by the New South Wales police to assist in the search. There is still a strong belief that the hell has been spirited away to Germany. Not long ago u newspaper cutting was received from Germany announcing that tho bell had reached a German town. Scotland Yard was asked to assist in the inquiries that followed the receipt of this • information, but so far has not reported any success. Extensive searches have already been made at Tokio, Noumea, Canton. Durban, Capetown, Java, Genoa, Suva, Vancouver, San Francisco, Rabaul, Hongkong, Singapore, Shanghai, New York and Amsterdam. Practically every port visited by ships from Sydney has been a centre of activity at one time or another. The German Government states that it is assisting the Commonwealth Government in this remarkable search. Recently the police were informed that tho bell had been buried at a farm not more than 50 miles from Sydney. The information came from a source which the detectives regarded as reliable, but they have been unable to discover tho exact location of the farm. It is suggested that if the police were able to discover the whereabouts of a German who disappeared from Sydney about tho time tho bell was stolen they would be able to solve the mystery. The bell has been twice stolen. It first disappeared from the naval quarters at Garden Island in Svduev. It was found some time later buried in tho Sydney Domain. May bo it has been buried again in just as handy a spot.