JAPANESE ESPIONAGE.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11558, 20 February 1906, Page 4

JAPANESE ESPIONAGE.

The gunners at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, were, says the "Daily Telegraph, "not at all surprised when they were told that plans of the harbor defences had been found in the luggage of the Japanese merchants. "What they do not know is not worth knowing," said one soldier. "They know more about us than some of our own people do." After pointing out that it is an open secret tbat each nation has more or less accurate knowledge of the defences of its neighbors, the "Telegraph" says that residents of Northern Queensland talk about the Japanese espionage that is practised there. "They represent that Salvation Army 'soldiers' and members of cinematograph concert companies which havo come to Australia from Japan, keep their eyes very wide open during their travels, and invariably carry pocket books with them, in which they make careful notes upon almost every conceivable subject, from the cost of a dinner to the depth of water in small and obscure bays and harbours on the coast. Similar inquisitiveness displayed in European countries would bo speedily resented, bub not so in British countries." Members of the Royal Australian Artillery relate an interesting and instructive incident which took place in Victoria during the visit of Admiral Kamimura's squadron to Australia a few years ago. When the squadron was leaving Port Phillip, some of the gunners who hastened to the Heads to see the ships light their way through the turbulent waters of tho channel, were astonished wfien the Japanese Admiral suddenly put his helm hard over and brought his fleet skilfully through some very treacherous waters into a deep patch far removed from the paths of ships. Though this particular spot was right under the most powerful guns of the forts, it was the only stretch of water within range in which vessels could not be touched by these guns. Admiral Kamimura, evidently knowing the locality thoroughly, formed up hia squadron for battle in what is known as the "Dead Water," and had his ship cleared for action. Then followed an hour's brisk instructional drill, during which "the Australian officers, watching with their field glasses, were able to notice tho freedom and accuracy with which the Japanese guns were trained upon vulnerable points. They knew full well, and so did the visitors, that had the guns been there for use, the shore batteries could not have fired a single effective round in reply. Such was Japanese knowledge of Port Philip defences three years ago, and if they had particulars of arcs of fire so accurately then, then there is no telling what they may have now. "