TRAITORS AND SPIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8054, 7 March 1912, Page 5

TRAITORS AND SPIES

GERMAN SECRETS BETRAYED ARISTOCRATIC GAMBLER MAKES AN ACCUSATION. By Tehgraph—Press Association—Copyright BERLIN, March 5. Three persons hays been arrested at Frankfort-on-the-Main on charges of betraying military secrets. They include a German mechanic, who wrote to tho French Embassy offering drawings and details of a new Krupp gun and of a projectile. During tho bearing of the charges against Count Gishert AVolff-Metter-nich and another of complicity in the swindling by a gang of international card-sharpers, AVolff-Metternich accused Lieutenant Backhaus, from whom he alleges he won £350 in London, of espionage in England under the direction of tho German military authorities. Backhaus, ho said, sent reports regularly to the German Government. Lieutenant Backhaus testified that he had been sent to London partly on military and partly on private bust.ness. ’ BACKHAUS’S DENIAL. (Received March 6, 11.15 n.m.) BERLIN, March 6. 4 Backhaus denies that ho acted as a spy in England or went there on any official mission. He visited Aldershot, where lie was received os ft German officer and shown things which ordinarily no one is allowed to see. Hieronymus, on© of tho men arrested at Frankfort, is charged with attempting to negotiate with th© British and French Embassies.