AN INTERNED BARON

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 49

AN INTERNED BARON

GERMAN INTRIGUES IN EGYPT. (Fbom Odb Own Coeeeopondeht.> LONDON, September 1. The career of Baron Otto von Gutnppeo berg throws an interesting light on German intrigues to stir up hostility to England in the Near and Middle East.

The Cairo correspondent of the Indian Pioneer relates: “The Baron is, or was, an officer in the Prussian artillery. Ho made the acquaintance of Enver Pasha when that worthy was military attache to the Ottoman Embassy in Berlin. The two young men—the Baron is still under SO—■ struck up a warm friendship. Baron Oifco had a turn for Oriental scholarship, and learnt Arabic. During the war between Italy and Turkey in 1911 he obtained leave to visit Tripoli, and, accompanied by two other German officers, he set out for his destination. As the direct sea route was barred by the Italian fleet, they proposed to reach Tripoli via Cairo; but the authorities in Egypt refused permission to cross the frontier, even when the Baron declared that ho was going in charge of a medical mission. Ho contrived, however, to evade their vigilance, and before very long joined his friend, Enver Pasha,_ at Derna. Enver gladly accepted his services, not as a surgeon, but as a military officer, and he was presently engaged in drilling Turkish troops. His chance of leading them in the field was spoiled, however, by the signature of the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1913 lie was a train in Cairo, and from that time fill tho outbreak of the present war ho seems to have been on intimate terms with the extremists of the Egyptian Nationalist Party. He is also said to have paid a visit to the Senussi Sheikh, and to have been engaged actively in encouraging tho antipathy of Arab tribes to the Italians in Tripoli and the British in Egypt. But as ho was nowable to pass himself off as an Arab with little risk of detection, it was very difficult to follow iris movements. Shortly afterwar between Great Britain and Germany was declared he suddenly disappeared from Cairo, and till the other day nothing more was heard of him, though the Egyptian Government made anxious inquiries in all directions. But the Baron’s adventurous career was destined to be interrupted. A Turkish sailing ship bound for Syria war held up in the Mediterranean by one of on/ cruisers. There was a solitary passenger cn /board, who protested that ho was an Am-.ri-can citizen, and produced a United bt ales passport. Something or other arouse suspicion, and it was thought best * tak? both passenger and qvcw to Alexandria, There tho Baron was at once identiiiou. and In's mission for the time being is at an end.’