Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-05
ENGLISH SUSPICIOUS
OF GERMAN PLANTS
Indications That One Immense
German Mandatory Near
London Was Located and
Built for Use of Heavy Siege
Guns
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
London, Oct. 24.-London has been
greatly excited by the report that a
German-owned music printing plant
in Willesden, prominent manufac-
turing suburb of London. has an i'm
mense building whose heavy concrete
foundations, floors and roof are well
adapted to the use of siege guns.
Twenty of the German employees of
the firm were taken into custody aud
military experts are studying the
building carefully. Meantime the ex-
cited public Is fully convinced that
the plant was designed to act as a
German base for attack upon London
proper The building unquestionably
occupies a strategic position. 1t stands
high with a clear range to Crystal
Palace. Willesden Junction where
two main lines entering London center,
is but a short distance from the plant.
However, the English architects who
designed the building and supervised
its construction eight years ago say it
is similar to many other printing
plants and has no heavier foundations
and floors than are required where
heavy machinery is to be installed.
The building is about two hundred
feet square on the outside and is con-
structed about a court sixty feet
square. 1t is but one story and the
foundations are of concrete and six
feet thick. The English manager of
the concern says this unusually thick
foundation was laid as the firm ex-
pected to add additional stories to the
plant when business expanded. A
concrete roof covers most of the build
ing.
Discovery by the allies that German
has prepared concrete bases for its
hewitzers surreptitiously in manv
places in Belgium and France has
made all Englishmen suspicious of
possible German preparations in Eng
land.
In discussing the Willesden factory
the Sunday Times says: I'm a situa-
ton which commands an almost unin
terrupted view of that great tract of
LONDON which lies between Willesdeo
and the crystal Palace is discovered a
building whose roof, floor and founda-
lions are constructed of exceptionally
thick concrete and might apparently
be employed as the emplacement OF
heavy gun, in fact. one of those "
inch howitzers. for which such careful
arrangements were found to have been
made around Antwerp and Namur.
We are very far from suggesting that
the premises at Willesden were de-
liberately arranged. Considering the
German workmen, it is at least proc
able that in the event of an attack
upon London the attention of the
Germans commanders would have
been called to that convenient concrete
floor, even if they had not known of K
before their arrival
1T is highly probable that there do
exist such places around London and
in the neighborhood of our great
fortress positions which have been
carefully prepared for siege guns. and
the chief value, to our mind, of the
WilIesden discovery is that 1t may be
expected to stimulate authorities to
search for them.
THE suspicion that many wireless
equipments are operating in London
was justified by the discovery of such
a plant in the home of a German pro-
fessor AS wireless apparatus can be
operated for so short distance as
from London to the European coast
without an outside tower the discov-
cry of illicit wireless stations is very
difficult The Times advocates thai
the War Office issue statement stipu-
lating that persons found shelterins
such apparatus will be treated as
spies and handed over to military
power"