A STARTLING STORY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12898, 8 February 1906, Page 5

A STARTLING STORY.

ALLEGED SEIZURE OF PLANS.

THE FORTIFICATIONS ■OF SYDNEY:

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received 12.2 a.m., February Bth.

- SYDNEY, February 7. ill" Ewing, vice-president of the Executive Council, who attends to matters appertaining to defence, was asked to-dav whether he had any official knowledge of the seizure of plans of Sydney harbour and' fortifications, which had been found in the possession of two foreigners at Thursdav Island.

Mr Ewing stated that he had not yet received any official information, though he wouid not say that it was not- known to him.

According to information received by a prominent citizen of Sydeny, from Thursday Island, a rather startling- discovery was made by the officials there in quite an accidental way. On the last trip of the steamer Australian two Japanese passengers who passed as merchants missed the boat when it resumed its voyage. Their luggage being left on board, they wired to have it put ashore at Port Darwin, and they would follow in the next boat. The luggage, however, was put ashore at Goode Island, where the Customs

officials discovered amongst the so-called merchants' effects, complete plans of Sydney harbour and fortifications.