GERMAN INVASION OF AUSTRALIA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13903, 3 November 1919, Page 5

GERMAN INVASION OF AUSTRALIA.

ELABORATE SPY SYSTEM EXPOSED. [By Electric telegraph—Copykight.] (Per Press Association.) (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received November 2. at 0.5 p.m. SYDNEY, November 2. Two Germans have been sentenced at Brisbane on a charge of stealing military documents. The Sydney Sun states that one of the accused, an ex-member of the A.1.F., had, ■ while in the Military Intelligence Department, discovered a plot for the German invasion of Australia, which he disclosed to. the authorities. Accused pleaded that he took the papers by mistake, and intended ; replacing: them. (His disclosure led to the arrest of a notorious spy, who passed under the nam© of Ronald Graham Gordon during his remarkable career in various parts of the world, including confidential "work for Lord Roberts for a time in the South African War. It is alleged that Gordon, was employed as a courier by Germany, and was in Australia on an important Imperial mission. He took a prominent part in a number of patriotic movements, and "was oh friendly terms with many leading citizens. The papers were seized at his house. Some were hidden in what was Apparently .a. pianola., but in reality was a. secret press. They included letters from German correspondents and letters of credit on German banks, signed by the Chancellor. Gordon declined to give any information regarding his identity or papers, and is being deported.