NAVAL SECRETS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 March 1927, Page 9

NAVAL SECRETS.

HIGHLY PLACED OFFICER CHARGED. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cabin Association. LONDON. March 17. Lieutenant - Commander Mayers, recently holding an important post in th© submarine service, at Portsmouth, was charged at Bow Street, at the instance of the Admiralty, under the Official Secrets Act. The Court was crowded with notable personages.

Mayers was remanded for a week, bail being refused. He resigned his official position to take up an appointment in tbo Submarine Department of Vickers Limited. The prosecution said Mayers was charged with being in the possession of plans relatin': to submarines. The case was extremely serious. Detectives addressed the Magistrate in whispers, and spectators wore unable to gather the nature of the charge. Mr F. H. Rose (Labour Member for Aberdeen), moved a reduction of the Estimates by £IOO, as,a protest against the proposed airship construction at Cardington, which, in his opinion, would prove an absolute catastrophy. Sir Samuel Hoare (Minister for the Air), replying to the debate, said his technical advisers stated that they could anticipate airships flying safely from one end of the Empire to the other, and performing the very useful purpose of Imperial communications and defence. The amendment was defeated by 147 votes to 72. The Estimates were then carried. The Labour Party challenged a division on the supplementary vote of £950,000 for the Shanghai defence force. The vote was carried by IGI votes to 70.