"THE GERMAN MENACE."

Otago Witness, Issue 3245, 24 May 1916, Page 49

"THE GERMAN MENACE."

ANTI-GERMAN LEAGUE'S CHARGES. INVESTIGATIONS BY AUTHORITIES. The Minister of Defence has handed to the press the following details of the career and parentage of allegedly German individuals named by the Anti-German League as included in the New Zealand Defence Forces or otherwise treated with favour by the Government:— CAPTAIN BR BEBUSTEIN. This officer is in charge of Te Waikato Sanatorium. He was commissioned in the New Zealand Forces under similar conditions to medical officers so placed—i.e., being paid exclusively by the Government. He was born in Yorkshire, where his father's people have been domiciled for at least 120 years. He is a very loyal Britisher, and is greatly respected by leading public and business men of Cambridge. Dr Roberts, of Cambridge, is from the same town as Captain Bernstein, and can substantiate his statements. LIEUTENANT VERNON CRANLEY BOSSELMAN. Lieutenant Bosselnjan was born at Nelson on October 21, 1895. His lather was a native of Germany and his mother a New Zealander, ox British parentage. When Lieutenant Bosselmann was at Nelson College he was recommended by the principal of the College for a Territorial commission, and to take charge of the Cadets. He was confirmed in this appointment on May 12, 1913. This recommendation was approved of under General Regulation 1911, 88 (b). Mr Bosselmann is now at Canterbury College, and at the present time has no connection with the Territorial Force, other than holding his commission. LIEUTENANT F. L. BUCTILEK. Lieutenant Frederick Lancelot Buchler was born in New Zealand. His father was bom in England, and also his grandfather, who was a British officer, so that his father's ancestors were in England in the latter part of the eighteenth century, at which time they were known as von Buchler. His mother is of purely English descent. Lieutenant Buchler was appointed an officer on probation on March 14, 1914, and attached to the Stratford High School Cadets Prior to being commissioned, he had served M the School Cadets and the Eleventh Regiment (Taranaki Rifles). This officer bears an excellent character, and is well spoken of by those who were closely associated with him. He left New Zealand with the Ninth Reinforcements. DOLLINGS. The statement regarding the Dolling family is absolutely incorrect. Neither of the brothers has enlisted. Fritz enrolled, but his services were not accepted, _ as he was born in Germany, although it might be remarked that he arrived in New Zealand when he was only three and a-half years of age. Eric has" also not been accepted. Fritz. Dolling served for eight years in the Field Artillery. He was thought a great deal of by his commanding officer. He has testimonials from some of the leading citizens in the dominion, and one special recommendation from Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P. LIEUTENANT ARTHUR A. E. FLOHR. Lieutenant Flohr is an ex-Imperial Army officer. Ilia birth and parentage are well known to the War Office. He is not of alien' enemy descent. Mrs Flohr, nee Greenaway, is a daughter of wcll-K.nown New Zealand people, who are Scotch, lieutenant Flohr entered Trentham. camp on March 17, 1915. as a non-commissioned officer on probation. He was promoted second lieutenant on probation on June 15, 19it>. He was in July and August acting as camp adjutant at Tauherenikau camp. He was not confirmed in his appointment on probation as a second lieutenant. LIEUTENANT ROBERT M'GBEGOB GOLDSMAN. Lieutenant Goldsman was born at Dunedin on March 13, 1886; father, George Goldsman, born Aberdeenshire, Scotland; mother, Jane Goldsman, nee M'Rae, born Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Lieutenant Goldsman is in camp as lieutenant on probation with the Twelfth Remiorcements. H. H. FELS. 11. H. Fels was born at Duendin on May 13 1891. Next-of-kin, Willi Fels, naturalised October 15, 1890. He served for four years in the Volunteers and Territorials. He was a year and a-half in the Otago Hussars. MAIITHA CROSS. Miss Martha Gross was permitted to leave the dominion in compliance with, an agreement between the British and German Governments that women be not retained. She was engaged as a nurse by Dr Christie when he was in Germany. When Dr Christie left with the New Zealand Forces the agreement was terminated, and this lady could not obtain employment in the dominion. There is no information in the possession of the Defence Department that she could be considered as a paid German spy, nor were there any grounds for suspicion that she was other than a trained and highlyqualified nurse. DB A. S. HERBERT. Dr Arthur Stanley Herbert (formerly Wohlmann) was granted a commission in the New Zealand Forces as a captain, New Zealand Medical Corps, on November 19, 1915. It has been ascertained that Dr Herbert's great-great-great-grandfathcr was a British subject, born in London, England, find his descendants have all been British subjects. In June, 1915, Sir Francis Bell, who was then Minister of Internal Affairs, consented to his changing his namo from Wohlmann to Herbert. CAPTAIN C. A. HERMAN. Captain Cedrio Arthur Herman is a native of New Zealand. His father is also a native of New Zealand, and his mother is of purely Irish descent. It is understood his grandfather on the father's side was a German. Captain Herman was appointed a second-lieutenant on April 4, 1911, and, prior to being commissioned, he had served in the Christ's College Cadets, and had done 15 months' training with the Canterbury Collego Officers' Training Corps. He came into camp with and proceeded to the front with the Seventh Reinforcements. There was some talk in Auckland of certain statements made by Cnpfcain Herman at a supper party, but on' investigation it turned out to bo not worth taking notice of. LIEUTENANT IVAN HIRSOHBERG. Lieutenant Ivan Hirschberg was commissioned in the New Zealand Territorial Fdrco

in August, 1912. He had previously served eight years in tho .cadets. Ho was born in Mastorton, his father being William James Hirschberg, law clerk, who was born in Greytown on April 8, 1860, and whose father was" Montz Hirschberg, a German, who arrived in New Zealand at an early age and settled in the Wairarapa. He married Miss Jane Hall at St. Peter's Church, Wellington, on January 29. 1858. Lieutenant Hirschberg sailed with tho Eighth Reinforcements. CAPTAIN F. R. lIOTOP. Captain Francis Rudolph Hotop was appointed an officer in tho New Zealand Medical Corps on December 1, 1915. He is a native of New Zealand, his father being Ludwig Hotop, a German, and a chemist of Queenstown, who has been resident in the dominion for some 50 years, having arrived at the ago of 15. His mother was of purely British descent. Mr Hotop bears an excellent reputation in the Queenstown district, and is considered a loval British subject. He has been Mayor of Queenstown on several occasions, is a justice of the peace, and is coroner for the district. Mr Payne stated that it is alleged Captain Hotop has two brothers in the German army. It is therefore well to say that Dr Hotop is the only surviving son. his brother having died some years ago in Sydney. Captain Hotop since he came to Trentham camp has been performing excellent services, is a first rate officer, and his loyalty has not been doubted. This file was placed before Cabinet on March 30. who minuted it " No action at present." SON OF JOOSTEN, EX-GERMAN CONSUL, CHRISTCHURCH. Jooston was married on June 5. 1907, and his eldest son is five years of age. There is, therefore, no son of this man in the Expeditionary Force. It might be remarked that Jooston is onlv 35 years of age. KEMNITZ. The only Kemnitz that can be found having any connection with the Territorial Force is the clerk of the court at Invercargill. This gentleman was appointed second-lieutenant in the Senior Cadets on November 28, 1912. Prior to this appointment he was for four years a sergeant in the Waitaki Boys' High School Cadets. His father and grandfather were born in Australia. LIEUTENANT A. E. KRETSCHMAR. Lieutenant A. E. Kretschmar is a native of New Zealand, of German parentage. His parents arrived in 1851, and were naturalised on June 24, 1862, prior to tho birth of Lieutenant Kretschmar. They have not been out of New Zealand since their arrival. Lieutenant Kretschmar served for seven years in the Volunteers, and was commissioned as a cadet officer on September 7, 1910. He is at present on the reserve of officers, and is actively employed by the Defence Department. He is looked upon as a loyal British subject. CAPTAIN LANGGUTH. Captain Langguth is a natural born British subject, and had to do his compulsory training the same as any other British subject. He is at present on extended leave of absence. Ho has not been engaged at the forts since September, 1914. He entered Walsh brothers' flying school with a view of going to India and offering his services as a pilot, but he was informed that he could not be recommended on account of his parentage. LIEUTENANT LOBENZ W. METJLI. Lieutenant L. W. Mculi was born at Manaia, Taranaki, on June 20, 1891. He was granted a commission as second-lieu-tenant, unattached list (b). on March 25, 1912, and was appointed to the Manaia Cadets. Previous to bcing_ commissioned he had served five years in the College Cadets and one year in the Mounted Rifles. His parents are Swiss. One of the family, who was particularly well-known throughout the dominion as a footballer, was killed at Gallipoli. Lieutenant Mculi sailed with the Eleventh Reinforcements. LIEUTENANT CHARLES HENRY HOLTZEN. This officer is a member of the Post and Telegraph Services. He is a native of New Zealand, his father being tho late inspector of public works in Southland district. His father was a Dane, and born near Copenhagen. His mother was Miss Suckling, a member of a very old English family hailing from Essex, England. Lieutenant Holtzen's father had fought against the Germans m 1863. and it has boon a well-known fact that Lieutenant Holtzen himself has always had a deep objection to the German nation, and has expressed such views so long back as 15 years. SERGEANT-MAJOR. C. IT. RITZ.EMA. Sergeant-major C. 11. Ritzema was born in tho British army. His ancestors have resided in England for hundreds of years. This non-commissioned officer fought throughout the South African war with the British regiments. He was accepted on the instructional staff of the New Zealand Forces shortly after compulsory training came into force. This non-commissioned officer's father had retired from tho army when the present war broke out, ho having completed 28 years' service and reached warrant rank. He, however, again rejoined the British forces, and was killed in action on the Western front. Sergeant-major Ritzema's "oldest brother was wounded at the Dardanelles, and again rejoined his company, and is since believed to have been killed in action. His only other brother is an officer with the Regular Forces, and is .at present on active service. Sergeant-major Ritzema states he was well aware of tho interest the Women's Anti-German League took in hirn, and that he had to submit to a good deal in Napier and Hastings. Ho could have given information that would havo cleared him in the eyes of tho public, for ho was in possession of letters from tho War Office, but he considered it was his duty as a British soldier to treat his calumniators with silent contempt. CAPTAIN J. F. ROCKSTROW. Captain Rockstrow was born in New Zealand. Ho saw service in tho South African war. His father was born in Germany, but had been many years in New Zealand, having arrived in 1862, and was naturalised before his marriage. His mother was an English woman of English parentage, Ho is employed in clerical duties in the examination branch of tho Headquarters TrainingStaff. His caso was put before the Aliens' Commission, and the recommendation was that he should continue- in his present employment. 8. F. SCIIANK. Temporary Sergeant-major S. F. Scha.nk was appointed as an instructor in Trentham camp on October 24, 1914. He was born in Australia. His' parents were Swiss. They arrived in Now Zealand 45 years ago. LIEUTENANT FRANZ SCIIERF. Lieutenant Franz Schcrf arrived in Now Zealand as an ensign with the British Forces about 1850. Ho was commissioned as a lieu-

tenant in New Zealand in 1866. He served through the. Maori war. It has recently oeen learnt that ho died six years ago, but. as no notification of his deatn was received by the Defence Department, his name continued to appear in the New Zealand Army List as being in tho Reserve of Officers. LIEUTENANT J. C. SCHNEIDER. Lieutenant Jonathan Charles Schneider was appointed a lieutenant on probation in the New Zealand Railway Battalions on July 7, 1913. He was born at tho Hinds, Canterbury, on February 26, 1881. His father was a German and his mother an English woman. Lieutenant Schneider is a clerk in the Railway Department, and bears an excellent character. CAPTAIN W. J. A. SCHWARTZ. Captain Schwartz is a New Zealander by birth. He was a keen Volunteer, and wax elected a lieutenant in the Ashburton Guards Rifles on September 9, 1902, and captain on June 17. 1903. His parents were Danes. This officer bears an excellent character. He is at present on the Reserve of Officers. KRUTZEB. "Krutzer" is Major Daniel James Sweetzer, late of the Imperial army. This officer's ancestors have resided in England for many hundreds of years. The home of the family is now at Oak Tilla, Mortimer, Berkshire, where his family has been domiciled for over two hundred years. SON OF SEEGNER, EX-UEBMAN CONSUL, AUCKLAND. Seegner has no family, h is therefore imposs.ble for a son to be in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. MAJOR E. TEICHELMANN. Major E. Teichelmann was born in Adelaide on March 23, 1859. His father was a German missionary, and his mother a Scotch woman. He was educated in Australia and England, and is a F.R.C.S., England. He joined the Australian Forces on May 25, 1892, and on his coming to New Zealand he joined the Westiand Rifle Volunteers about February, 1900. He had not been to Germany prior to the year 1912, when he passed through the country on his way to England The Imperial Government asked for the services of surgeons from New Zealand. Major Teichelmann was recommended, his services were accepted, and he left the dominion on August 26, 1915. VOG HTUERR. This man was discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as soon as it was learnt that his lather and mother were not naturalised. On his discharge being handed to him he informed Colonel Adams that he was recruited by the Patriotio Society of Hastings, who told him it was quite right for him to join the Expeditionary Force, and that hia loyalty was not doubted. LIEUTENANT RONALD VOLCKMAN. Lieutenant. Ronald Volckinan was born in New Zealand. He was gazetted secondlieutenant on February 5, 1912. Prior to receiving his commission he had served in the College Cadets and Territorials for four years. It has not been possible to ascertain tho nationality of this officer's ancestors on the father's side, beyond that his father was bom in London and his mother in Northampton. Colonel Chaffey and Colonel Millton have known Lieutenant. Volckman from infancy. Colonel Millton states that he has known Lieutenant Volckman's father for 20 years, and that he is absolutely loyal and decidedly anti-German, and has been so at all times. Lieutenant Volekmann is at present in the Bth (tSouth Canterbury) Mounted Rifles. CAPTAIN 1". W. YOSSELEI?. This officer was born in Wellington in 1878. He joined the Garrison Artillery as a lieutenant in October, 1912. His parents were both born in Germany, and have been naturalised in Now Zealand. The senior officers, of the Wellington Garrison Artillery Division are quite satisfied regarding tho loyalty of this officer, and are confident that his entire sympathies are with Great Britain and her allies. He is at present on extended leave for the period of the war. LIEUTENANT WASS. Lieutenant Wass is on Imperial Army officer, and is on loan to the New land Government until the end of the war. He was. on tho outbreak of war, one of the senior warrant officers of the Army Service Corps, Laving 23 years' service. He is now on active serv : cc. attached ieuiporarilv to the New Zealand Forces. STAFF SERGEANT H. P. W 1 )• CIIEBN. Sergeant Wiechcrn was born in Nelson on August 20, 1887. His was a German and his mother an Englishwoman. He was appointed to the New Zealand Permanent Staff as an instructor on May 12, 1912. He is at present employed as area sergeant-major, Wellington. There has been no reason to doubt his loyalty. K. WOLLEBMAN. This officer i» a native of New Zealand. His parents are German. His father arrived in New Zealand in the early seventies* and was naturalised on October 12, 1886. Lieutenant Wollerman is employed as military censor in Samoa. The Administrator considers that he has rendered very valuable service to tho Empire, being the means of bringing to light various German methods of evading censorship, etc., in Samoa whilst in British military occupation. His case was piaced before the Aliens' Commission, who, having received the statements of the Administrator of Samoa, decided that it would be in tho interests of the Empire to retain him in his present appointment. COLONEL G. C. B. WOLFE. Colonel Wolfe is a son of Major-general James Wolfe, late of the Imperial Army and late British Commissioner of Basutoland. He was born at Plymouth, England, and educated at Maramcad School, Plymouth, and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He was first appointed to the Royal Marine Artillery, and was subsequently transferred to the Royal Marino Light Infantry. Served in Channel and Mediterranean Squadrons. Retired in 1897 with rank of captain. He was then gun commander of H.M.S. Theseus. Ho joined New Zealand Forces in 1900, and was appointed to command Nelson military district. Has subsequently held following ap-pointments:--Officer commanding Auckland military district, adjutant-general and inspector drill halls and rifle ranges.. Ine latter appointment he is still holding.