GERMAN BARON'S FRIENDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12405, 24 August 1918, Page 7

GERMAN BARON'S FRIENDS.

ENGLISH CAMP LIFE.

VISITS AND PRIVILEGES.

Al. Pontefract (Engand) on Juno IS a general court-martial was held in tho ease of Quartermaster ami lloner ary Lieutenant Albert Canning, Special Reserve of Officers, employed as adjutant ah Lofthouse Park Prisoners of War Camp, A\ akelield. He was charged on four connus with breaches of military diseipliim. ilio main allegations against him being that ho declared in the officers 1 moss, “ Aon have only to bo a baron in this camp to bo fronted in a preferential manner," and that on being told it was his duty to carry out tin l commandant's orders, lie replied. "No. it is not; it is for mo as a public servant .to do as 1 think lit."

The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was defended by -Mr Ai'ihur Willey. Lieutenant-Colonel G. F, Haines, commandant of the camp. said that on tho evening of Wlav 16 at tho officers’ mess a discussion arose ns to the visit of a certain lady to a prisoner, Baron Leopold von Plessen. Witness beard it said in the course of the conversation that the lady was a German who was mixed up with another lady. Airs Harris,. whoso husband was supposed to be in a Government position. An observation which followed from accused he thonglrc was in bad taste, seeing that accused hod supervised the interview*, and he made the remark. ‘‘Well, the lady is English.” Upon this Lieutenant Canning said in an offensive tone, “ You have only got to he a baron in this camp to goo preferential treatment-" Witness asked, “By whom?” and accused answered, “By you; you are always breaking the regulations." BARONS. COUNTS AND LADIES'. Witness, in e,goss-cxaruination, admitted that Lieutenant Canning instanced the ease of von Plessen,. who, ho suggested, had been ringleader in an attempt to escape by tunnelling. Von Plessen iiad been removed from the north to the south part of eamp as a punishment, aad after Airs Harris’s visits he had been brought back to his old quarters. AVitnoss. in further crossexamination, told of correspondence ho had had with someone at the Home Gmco relating . to Hie visits of Airs Lcyerton Harris. " This lady is tho wife of n member of Parliament," the Home Office wrote, "and she has applied for permission to visit Baton Leopold yon I’lcsson, but she wants special facilities to the effect that she is not to bo supervised. She wishes to see him alone, and she does not wish the time to be circumscribed." Witness replied that this was impossible, as no visits were allowed without supervision. Ho refused to grant tho privilege. , "If Willey; Did yon get similar orders with regard to two other prisoners, Count AleUernielr and Count Aotlonblad,, who. wore both visited by ladies under special facilities and without supervision P -No, not without supervision.

Did Airs Lcyerton Harris-sec vom Plessen the first lime without the presence of an officer I'--1 cannot remember.

Were Hie parcels which tin’s i a dy brought in censoredf- It was mv orders. that they should be. Witness explained that tho reason lie transferred von Plessen hack io the north ramp soon niter Mrs Harris’s visit was that tio thought he had expiated his. oifonee of attempting to escape. (hero was another reason. He teas a young lellow of twenty-four, and " itnoss was told that he gov among a lot of bad companions in the south camp.

UNAUTHORISED VISITS. The accused, in his defence, said t.uit when lip spoke about one needing to bo a baron to get special treatment he ml ended no offence to the colonel or a reflection upon anybody. It was a '•V,V. IC *U had been reported to - the yar Office, that von Plessen had been visited by Alls Lcverion Harris. Count -VUttennch and Count Nettenblad had also . had visits without being authorised. , He mentioned those ~thin<*<= ils matters which would not b c auproved, 1

Defendant was found not gnillv and honourably acquitted. AS,; Lovorton Harris. ALP., was the l arlinniciitm-y T nder-tsocretarv to ihc Ailßlfitvy or Hlookndo.