White Slavery in Germany

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17249, 3 May 1930, Page 9

White Slavery in Germany

“HOES white slaw iiailic b'cfwwn (lernthuv and South America still conl'iiilie ’ ’ is the qm-slimi asked on March I by lim Berlin pre-s— with much more interest than it shows to u arils any other topic. ’Hie reason for this sudden pieuceupatioii with the gnve problem is a strange incident whirl: look place late, last evening at the Leluter station. Passengers were gathering for the last train to Hamburg, which leaves about 11.c0. Among them was. a party of attractive girls, all blondes, between the ages nt 21 and 25. Their clothing and their travelling trunks were brand new. A middle-aged woman seemed to lie in charge of them. As one eye-witness said, she fussed round them 1 1 kr a lien anxious to keep its chickens within sight.. Three or four stalwart but otherwise unprepossessing men appeared to belong to the party, for they interposed themselves whenever possible between the girls and rela lives or friends who bad conic to bid Uiom adieu.

Police Powerless Presently Hie word went round that the girls wen members of a ballet, and bad been engaged to dance in variety halls, cabarets and cafes in Buenos - Aires. An ollieial of the political police in civilian clothing came up ami demanded I lie passes of the party. Alter he had examined them he raised no objections. 1 Suddenly a man dashed out of the 1 crowd towards the girls and, in a subdued but, earnest v oice, implored them : “Don't go. You will regret it-.” The . stalwarts closed round him. ■‘What . business is i 1 of yours!'' they said. . “Why do you want to spoil Hie women s honest business?'' Fists were shaken at the intervener, but other members of the crowd came 1 to his assistance. There was a noisy altercation and blows were struck. Hie 1 ! uniformed police parted the combatants. To the appeal Hud they should stop Hie entraining of llte girls, however, they 1 replied that they had no authority to do so. The young women were of age; I they bad signed an engagement; their v passports were in order, and they could r not be inlerfered with. lu point of fact, one of the girls was . under age, and bad run away from her - parents. It\ who 11 she was recaptured before the train left. Three others took I flight and stayed behind, but the remaining eight departed and shipped in

a. Frendi steamer at Hamburg; ibis afternoon. 'L'licse facts all admii of an innocent interpretation, but those best entitled to know, construe them in a. sinister sense. |Tho Argentine consul refused visas to tho whole party, and says that, if they reach Buenos Aires, it will Vo by u roundabout route. Disregarded Warnings He has lold Hie press Ih.-ti lest year the same woman took a parly of gills to Buenos Aires, where their work consisted of dancing with the male clientele o 1 light resorts and encouraging them to drink. Their hours were from 9 a.in. to 4 a. m. Among the presAit parly there is not one trained dancer. Tho girls have re received a few lessons, and been told that- their tiaining will be conipteicd at Bueno; Aires. Their engagements are in the Spanish language, which none of I hem understand, and. “io hardly disguised form, contain the obligation to lead an immoral life. ’ Hie consul earnestly warned them not'to go. But apparently tliev disregarded his advice.