Nanking Aug. 2
A large quantity of contraband, consisting of 2950 cases of dynamite, 406 cases.of percussion caps, and 50) cases of fuses was discovered aboard German merchantman, the str. Bextram Rickmers by the Chinese Navy on July 20, was removed from the boat, and is'now being kept in custody ut Pootung by an order of the Nationalist Government in Nan. Kings. Almost at, the same time a pailway- locomotive together with a Ynrge- quantity of iron and copper was algo discovered aboard another German boat, the str, Munsterland, 'Duo tp the suspicions character of the, importation, in the circumstances, an order has also been issued by the Military Headquarters in Nanking to detain this German monchantman, 'The first report of this attempted importation' of contraband was! necoived by General Chiang Kaishek from Captain Li Tsing-hsi, Ghiet of Staff of the Chinese Navy en duly 21, in which described how, approaching Woosung, ign order of the Forts ands river; and how she was stopped and boarded by officers from. the Forts who discovered the Tooomotive and other war materials.
The case of Bertram Rickmers which was stopped on the previous. day: by the Navy, was reported by Captain Li in another despatch to General Chiang.
The order for the removal of the contraband from the merchant. men was given by the Superintend wstoms who subsequently' wined to Nanking for instructions as to, the proper way to dispose of the prohibited importation. Besides! confiscating of the war materials, which was removed, the Bert ram Rickmers is now detained by an order of the National ist Government, while the Munster-land, having Deen relieved of the contraband, was allowed to leave the port.—Kuo' Min, PACTS OF THE CASE, Shanghai, Aug. 5.
In our issue of August 3 wel published an account sent to as 4zom Nanking by the Kuo Min Official News Agency, which _deseribed tthe alleged discovery of contraband on board the German str. Bertram Rickmers and the vessel's sub-
Hongkong, Shanghai, Japan, Korea, Dairen. She had general cargo on board and, in addition, for Kobe dynamite and sporting powder; for 'Chemulpo dynamite, detonators and sporting powder; for Chinampo dynamite, detonators and fuses, all of which were duly manifested. The shippers of all the explosives were the famous Nobel concern which' /would be the very last to allow its products to be illegally disposed of or to be smuggled. The explosive wre for industrial undertakings and] the consignees are well-known British and German firms in Japan and Karen, which import them under licences issued to them by the requisite authorities. Similar consignments have been shipped to them before vid Shanghai and. were not interfered with in the slightest Preeence of Explosives Declared The Bertram Rickmers called at Manila and Hongkong with the above explosives on board. In both ports their presence was duly declared to the local authorities who! did not for a moment question their bona fides as all details and cixcumstances pertaining to them were beyond doubt and to the entire satisfaction of the officials at the ports. The steamer was therefore at both ports allowed: to enter and clear without the slightest hitch.
From Hongkong. the steamer pro-coeded to Shanghai. On July.1f the day prior to her arrival here, the Commissioner of Customs in Shanghai was duly notified by the agents of the vessel that the abovementioned explosives would pass permission to scosequently proceeding to Japan, was applied for and granted, Chinese Navy Takes a Mand We now come to July 20 when the Chinese Navy came into action. Arriving in the morning of that day fat Woosung the Bertram Rickmers twas greeted by the old German] naval fag ying from the naval fRagstaft. Closer inspection vealed in addition the signal F.P.B. walt outside for inspection. At 7.00 1m, steamer was boarded by a commission consisting of military a well as civil persons. They asked all Kinds of possible and impossible questions, called for the manifest Which thes inspected and copied and] then left saying that flag, "B" would be hoisted if all was in order. But no flag Which the explosives were to be discharged temporarily, allowed: to} alongside the steam Having waited in vain on hoaxd the lighters for two hours the' Gostoms officer reported the matter to his superior on the Woosung hulk, The latter then called on the officer in charge of the vessel! guarding the steamer and asked why the discharge of the explosives could not be proceeded with. Tie! was: told that the guard vessels [could give no such permission, which! had to emanate from the oticer in Jeharge of the fort. The Customs officer thereupon proceeded there, explained that a Customs permit for tke discharge of the explosives had been duly issued and was at hand, that the lighters were ready and jes the discharge would furthermore be done under Customs supervision, it was not apparent why the Customs permit should suddenly be declared null and void. The office yeply was that he could not say cither why such should be the case but he could not help it, His instructions were to detain. the steamer, and these he would obey until they were altered or cancelled.'
Explosives at Length Discharged Ship snd lighters were thus forced to wait in idleness the whole lent detention. the following facts of the case have now reached us from a well informed source.
The German str, Bertram Rickmers sailed from Continental ports for the Far East where hor sailing} programme provided for the fol-Towing ports of call: Manila, of July 20. On July 24 the same commission which had called the previous day came on board once note, this time accompanied by Customs officers. The latter search-the steamer but nothing was found. All thereupon departed: the explosives was given. On Jaly
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.