POLICE RAIDS ON FACTORIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144351, 16 March 1914, Page 3

POLICE RAIDS ON FACTORIES.

ANTI-TRUST WAR IN GERMANY. BERLIN, Jan. 21. The Gorman authorities have opened in a sensational manner a carefullyprepared ami long-premeditated war on tho American Tobacco Trust. Dresden, tiio chief centre of tho German tobacco industry, has bceu greatly surprised during tho last day or two at numerous mysterious and lengthy visits by strong forces of police lo about 25 ot tkc principal tobacco firms of tho city. At first it was thought that tho action was connected with an extensive and lalely-disPoverod system of tobaccosmuggling over the Bohemian frontier, but to-day it transpires that tho visits have to do with tho alleged illegal doings of firms in connection with the American Trust. According to German law any dealings with organisations tho purpose of whoso existence or tho constitution of which is withheld from tho State Government, or dealing with a concern which socks to achieve its purpose by illegal means, is punishable by imprisonment. Qno judgment on. this section of tho legal code states that tho law is directed against organisations dangerous to tho well-being of the State, so that its application to tho alleged doings of tho trust is something new. The police evidently began operations some time ago, for it is stated that watch has been kept for months on tho foreign correspondence of suspected Dresden firms, Tho most lengthy police visit was that paid to tho well-known firm of Jasmatzi, which is believed to bo the headquarters of tho trust in Germany. On this occasion a strong force of police was employed, and tho examination of the factory and its books and papers lasted for ten hours. During that time the factory was in a state of siege. Doors were guarded by plainclothes policemen, and no one was allowed to enter or leave tho building. Tho telephone instruments were all watched "and their uso prohibited. Police officers acquainted with foreign languages were employed so that the, firm’s dealings abroad might bo fully investigated. It is stated that tho expectations of tho police have been surpassed, and that some films believed to be free from all connection with tho trust were found to he concerned. That thp trust has been doing extremely well in Germany is confirmed by tho discovery that ono of the firms last year increased its sale of cigarettes by 500,000,000. Messrs. Jasmatzi’s commercial offices are in Berlin, and there it is stated that the firm has never concealed its dealings with foreign concerns, but that those connections do not bear tho character of participation in the doings of tho trust. _________