MUNITIONS FROM NEW GUINEA SENT TO STERN GANG IN PALESTINE

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1949, Page 5

MUNITIONS FROM NEW GUINEA SENT TO STERN GANG IN PALESTINE

MELBOURNE, Oct. 2 (Recd. 7pm) —A transaction connected with Ihi shipment of munitions from Nev Guinea to the Stern Gang in Pales tine is believed to have been a majoi factor behind the kidnapping las week of Solomon Ravdcll. Invest!' gators believe that Ravdell had con nections with the men who were in volved in more than one such deal i) arms intended for Jewish terrorists I One deal led to a dispute of 115,00( worth of war equipment. | The story involves a trail of in I trigue reaching from the abandonee I battlefields of New Guinea to Mel bourne, London and Tel Aviv. It i i believed the dispute started in 1948 i when a syndicate purchased a large I consignment of radio eqquipmeiH am ■ explosives in New Guinea. A portior of these goods was resold in Australia and consigned as commercial goods through London to the Middle East When they reached their destinatior they were alleged to have beer spoiled by tropic conditions, and the consignees refused payment. The Australian buyer then askec the syndicate for refund, which wa: refused on the ground that the goods

had been bought and sold in good ' faith. When the buyer accepted delivery of a further consignment he deducted £l5OO from the purchase ‘price. The dispute continued, in- • volving threatening letters, shots iii the dark and sabotage. ■ So far. there has been no ransom i note or clue to Ravdell’s whereabouts. I This is first kidnapping case in Vici torian history and the law provides Ino specific penalty for it, though j perpetrators could be charged with demanding money by menaces.