GREAT WAR FORETOLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 13

GREAT WAR FORETOLD.

DISREGARDED WARNINGS. PREDICTIONS IN 100 S, MAN WHO SPOKE TRUTH. The echoes of nearly a. generation ago have been awakened by the death of Col. H. 11. Mulliner, iu London on April 22. Colonel Miullmer was the man who discovered in 1906 that Germany was se-cretiy accelerating her battleship and gun budding programme; that not only Kruppa at Essen, but all the engineering lirms m Germany were taxed to their utmost to provide machinery suitable for heavy guns. Ho was in a position to speak \vith authority, for lie was the head of the great Coventry Ordnance Works which ha had founded. These works .were engaged on Admiralty contracts, particularly in relation to heavy gun platforms. It was Germany’s custom to maintain an elaborate espionage system in England. The British secret service was nothing in comparison; but Colonel Mullincr, who was a man of extraordinary energy and vision, had taken it on himself to institute hi* own intelligence system in Germany. Thus lie learned that Germany was trying to hoodwink Britain; that she was attempting to forge her great armaments in secret and so when the time came to crush her enemy by a surprise stroke. The Liberals, says the Daily Express, were in power at the time. Lord Haldane, the War Minister, was obsessed with’ tho idea that kind words to Germany would tame tho tiger. Tho Government were intent on cutting down the navy in order to provide more money for social reforma UNWELCOME REVELATIONS. Colonel Mulliner burst into this Utopian atmosphere with his unwelcome revelations. Tho Government were dreadfully upset, and attempted to belittle his statements. He persisted. He forced them to admit' him to a Cabinet conference, where ho told them tho truth, and still they sought to tilde the unpleasant news. Eventually it is state-d Colonel Mnlhner was forced out of tho Coventry Ordnance Works. His co-directors bought him out by paying him £IOO,OOO. He maintained stoutly that the works bad been boycotted by tho Admiralty because of his revelations, and that no further orders were given to his firm until ho left. Then orders came after his retirement. Still Colonel Mullincr persisted in his cry of alarm and eventually the Government admitted that Germany had stolen a march on them, and four more battleships were laid down to meet the menace. Tho Mulliner controversy raged for six or seven years. On one side were tho “Fisherites” of the Admiralty, who took the Government’s side ; and on the other tho Beresford faction who attacked. Finally, when Germany’s cupidity was unmasked, Colonel Mulliner’s foresight and patriotic attitude were understood by the public, MAN OF MANY PARTS. Apart from his activities as an armament manufacturer, Colonel Mulliner was a man of many parts. He belonged to the old family of Mulliners, the coachbuilders. Ho was interested in Hooper’s, in St. James’ street, and he founded Lenygon’s, the great .antique firm, because he wanted a tenant for a Queen Anno house that he 'had bought at the back of tho Roval Academy. _ So he took Mr Lenygon," a salesman, installed him there, and established a flourishing business overnight. Colonel Mulliner was one of the best judges of old furniture, prints, pictures, and tapestry in England. Colonel Mulliner also bred horses, ran a mode! dairy at his country seat near Bugby, and raised a couple of batteries for the Great War. He was over six feet high. Ho was 63 years of age.