RE-ARRESTED

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14240, 15 December 1919, Page 2

RE-ARRESTED

STORY OF EX-GERMAN CONSUL. It is reported from Brisbane that Dr Hirschfeld, formerly the German Consul for Queensland, has been arrested at his pleasant suburban home in Brisbane, end recommitted to the intern-* ment camp. His liberation and rearrest make the story of war and postwar events worth re-telling. When wap broke out Hirschfeld was not arrested. He was permitted to live quietly at home under supervision. But good work by the intelligence section of the Defence Department showed that the good doctor was still endeavouring to serve the Fatherland. He was suddenly arrested, and among compromising papers seized were some that showed that a plan for the invasion of Australia was actually in existence. It depended for execution upon the development of giant submarines of the Deutschland type, and Dr Hirschfeld was deeply involved in it. The ex-Consul was now treated as' an ordinary war prisoner, and the papers were lodged in the Defence offices.

The papers were stolen by a clerk with a foreign name, who was trusted because lie had formerly done notable work as a secret agent, and they came into the possession of a Brisbane sol-icitor—-a gentleman with a very German name. He approached Mr* Hirschfeld, an Australian, who is very anxious that tier husband shall not ie deported. He represented to her that for a certain sum lie would destroy these compromising papers. The la ly had sufficient sense to stall him off, while she took a hurried trip to Melbourne and laid the whole matter before the acting Minister of Defence. The clerk and the solicitor were forthwith arrested and sentenced.

About a fortnight ago Dr Hirschfeld appeared in Brisbane, apparently at liberty. Public indignation soared quickly to a high point. More or less harmless Germans, it was pointed out, were being deported, but this Gorman, who had been engaged in plots against Australia, was allowed to remain. Furious telegrams were sent to Mr Hughes. It is known that Mr Hughes was taken by surprise, and that iie knew nothing about Hirsebfeld and Ids liberation. He saw the effect the incident was likely to have bn the elections, however, and acted quickly. He demanded to know on whose authority the man was liberated, and why. Just what happened inter-de-partmcntally is not known. Bui Dr Hirschfeld is back in durance vile, and Brisbane lias ceased to simmer.