GOLDEN DAYS FOR SMUGGLERS

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13489, 21 May 1917, Page 3

GOLDEN DAYS FOR SMUGGLERS

SECRET SUBTERRANEAN ROAD THROUGH MOUNTAIN. (E -glisli Paper.) Snuggling or lood into Germany from neutral countries is apparently becoming one of the most prolific sources of war profits, and the Customs officials on the Swiss and Dutch frontiers are having ; n exceptionally busy time. All the romance and enterprise of the free tracers of a hundred years ago are bein ; revive 1 , and, ce-.pite heavy penalties and lisk of life and limb, the large profits are attracting an ever-increasing number of aspirants. In Holland where a shortage of food lor its own population is one of the serious difficult.es facing the Government, the need for a strict rationing system is urged on the ground that not only do the well-to-do at the present time obtain excessive supplies at the expense of the poorer classes, but that smuggling is a menace to the food supply. Dark Night's Work. It is declared that there is a certain class of people who travel up and down the country buying up small quantities of food. In the capital there is an "exchange" where these people deal in their purchases. Pounds and litres grow into bales and barrels, and on some dark night they are rolled across the frontier. In the Coevorden district smuggling has become so profitable that workmen are leaving the factories to engage in the new business. A fortnight ago an empty Rhine boat which was drifting j quietly in the direction of Germany was searched by the Customs auhtorities at. Dor Jrecht, on the river Merwede, and two hundredweights of bacon was seized in the cabin. During the same week over five tons of soap and fat was taken from the would-be smugglers at Didam, Bcek, Bergh, Wehl, and Zenenaar, and over 200 people were arrested, including some at Amsterdam, whence the operations of the gang were organised.

Tn the Golederlarid frontier a guide to a band of smugglers wa s shot dead by a sentry. Near Aalten 170 persons were charged within eleven days, and 23001b of goods was confiscated. At another point a band of 40 professional were a!I arrested, including their leader, who was serving as a soldier on the frontier, and knew the best paths to take.

W hat a spirit of adventure breathes in,Jhe, record of the discovery reported from Maastricht by the military authorities of a subterranean corridor in the mountain of Lanaye, on Belgian territory ! Through these corridors large quantities of food have been smuggled from Holland to Belgium, while a considerable amount was found hidden and ready for transport. Although the smugglers themselves escaped, an end was put to their operations by the blowing up of the connecting corridor.

Lucrative Business. Only small quantiti s of goods aie taken ac os- the frontier by the smugglers at one tin e, but the prices which the Germans pay ae so high that the profits made are enormous. Thus a tablet of soap costing 2d in Holland can be sold for Is 9d or 2s, two pints oi oil are worth 15s in Germany, vhilo a pound of butter can be sold for from 10s to £l, and a box of matches for 3d or 4i.

Ihe Dutch authorities are doing their utmost to prevent this i'ligal traffic, and martial law has been proclaimed at practically every town within easy distance of the frontier. An indication of the activity of the officials is given in the fact that at Almedo in 1916 the total prosecutions dealt with by the local court numbered 5859, as compared with 600 in 1915, while three days ago it was announced from The Hague that in the last three months of the year the total number of arrests was 11,000 'and of convictions 8200.

In Switzerland, where the authorities are equally alive to the efforts made to cany on illicit trade, the smuggling is done on an almost grander scale. Quite recently a Government official at Mulhous« was arrested on a charge of issuing illegal export permits, and it was discovered that ho had made at least £BOOO out of the business. In another case a large quantity of Spanish wine was discovered at Schauffhauson, and when inquiries was made it was found that p'aus had already been laid for smugging it into Germany.