A SUSPICIOUS VISIT.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13598, 7 October 1914, Page 2

A SUSPICIOUS VISIT.

GERMAN EXPERTS SEE BRITISH ARMAMENT WORKS.

The Berlin correspondent of the London "Mail" refers to the visit of Hen1 Krupp yon Bohlen und Halbach, the head of Krupp's, between June 14 and 23, to Birkenhead, Barrow-in-Furness, Glasgow, Neyoastle-on-Tyno, and Sheffield: —His charming wife, the Cannon Queen and proprietress of Krupp's, accompanied him. That bolstered up tho fiction that the visit was "private and unofficial." But in order that the inspection of the Firth, Laird, Vickers, Brown, Armstrong-Whitworth, Caminell Laird and 'other establishment should not be strictly informal, Herr Krupp yon. Bohlen brought with him his chief technical expert, Dr. Ehrensberger, .of Essen. There was a fourth member, of his party—Herr yon Bulow, a kinsman of the former imperial Chancellor, who until rec&ntly—perhaps yet, for all I know—represented the Krupps in London. The fact that the utmost possible care was exercised that the lynx-eyed Dr. Ehrensberger and'Herr yon Bulow did not see too much does not alter the underlying gravity of the visit itself. At the time Birkenhead, Barrow-in-Furness:, Glasgow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Sheffield thought it passing strange that Herr Krupp yon Bohlen shonjd suddenly desire to look us over. Intervening events^ I venture to believe, have given them furiously to think. Herr Krupp yon Bohlen lost no time in reporting to the Kaiser the wonders ho had - been privileged to inspect in England and Scotland. By prearrangement undoubtedly he came directly from them to Kiel; where William 11. was extending a hearty welcome to-Vice-Admiral Sir George Warrander's battleship and light cruiser squadron. The Kaiser always demands prompt reports from special emissaries. GrandAdmiral yon Tirpitz was at Kiel, too, to hear what the Master of Essen had gleaned in guileless Albion. And while the issue of peace or war with England hung in the balance at Berlin a fortnight ago, Herr Krupp yon Bohlen hurried up from E3sen to take part in tho rr.omentous councils of the Kaiser with his military and naval chieftains. Can we doubt that what he learned in this country in June was his principal contribution to the deliberations? Guileless, too, I remember now that I sought an interview with Herr Krupp -yon Bohlen at Kiel. It j "was the day

before Serajevo. I knew of the true British hospitality which had been showered upon him. I thought perhaps lie might be inclined to indulge in some glittering generalities suitable for publication. I know now why he dispatched a polite young secretary to my hotelwith the message that tho "nature of • Terr Krupp yon Bohlen's visit to Englaiid made it quite inappropriate for him to discuss it in public."