GERMAN INTRIGUE IN JAVA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4, 31 July 1918, Page 2

GERMAN INTRIGUE IN JAVA.

SECOND EDITION Continued.

A DANCER TO AUSTRALIA. States the Sydney Drily Telegraph:, On May 27 wo published a letter from , Colonel J, S. Lyster, in which he referred to the danger that, even if beaten, Germany might gradually and peacefully invade Holland with natur lised subjects sufficient to obtain the necessary power to secure the incorporation of thai: country with Germany. By a similar process, with a lavish expenditure of gold the Dutch East Indies (Java and other islands, with a population of 40,000,000) a possession of Holland, would, under the instruments of inter-pene tration and 'intrigue, lie.gradually absorbed and eventually glory in the doctrine of "Doutschland über Alles." In this way the position of .Australia would be seriously imperilled. Colonel Lyster now writes that he had no idea when he penned these statements that German intrigue was already active in .lava. In support of this remark he forwards a cutting from the London '"Times" of -May |lO which he considers deserves the closest scrutiny and counter-action I Evidently Australia's immunity from I jnter-penetration was a myth.

The cutting referred to is a report by the "Tintes" correspondent at The Hague of a lecture delivered by Captain Vermeer, of the Dutch East In . dian Army, on German intrigues in .the Dutch East Indies. The lecturer, 'who had, been for 16 years in the service of the Colonial Government. showed how the Germans had been endeavouring to extend their influence over the Mohammedan popula tion there, and to use that influence as a threat in case of trouble between /Holland and Germany.- They had also used the Dutch East Indies as a- starting point for intrigues in British India. The Germans had succeed i,d in getting a number of their nationals info the Dutch Colonial Army. They had six officers, 12 inidor-oflicors, I and 625 non-commissioned officers, 'and'also technical employees, such as .photographers,, chemists, etc. There i were no English, Americans, or Japanese, and only one Frenchman in the Army.' Krom 1901 onwards all barracks in . the colonies had been supplied with good pictures of the Geriman Emperor and the Sultan of Turkey. These were now seen ill every

barrack-room. Sympathy with the Germans had been carefully aroused in the Mohammedan section of the colonial forces. This influence was mainly exhibited in the anti-English tone of the Mohammedan press and in the desertions from the force itself,- especially since the war. Shortly before the outbreak of the war, and as far as possible afterwards, German,-} from Japan, Hongkong. pore, New Guinea, and elsewhere fled to the Dutch East Indies, where they were kept going by the German Consulates, and where they were active

ijn encouraging native unrest, chiefly 'in order that the flame might spread to British India. These Germans lived largely in the highlands of Java, in the district called Preangeo. They went about in i'ezzes, talking to the natives.' From this district the-,loth Battalion, stationed at Samarang. was was recruited, and it was significantthat Samarang had been cliaracleris ed lately by native disturbance; Dekker, who founded the Indian National Party in 1912, came from Samarang. He was arrested at San Francisco for taking bribes from Germans to' raise trouble in British India, and is now imprisoned. Captain Vermeer also stated that Preangeo was visited by Admiral von Spec during the visit of his squadron to Java. He stayed with rubber planters, and at one place where he lodged the Dutch authorities subsequently found a wireless apparatus!