The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-06-19
SMUGGLING WINS
DUTCH SYMPATHY
Government Of Holland to Take
More Drastic Measures.


NO PUBLIC SUPPORT.
With Germany Grows-custom
Men Find Tobacco That Won't
Smoke Because It's Rubber and Sus-
peot Cargo of Oranges Contained Far
More Copper Than Juice.
Smuggling from Holland to Germany
has assumed such proportions that the
Dutch government is considering dras-
tic efforts to stop 1t, says a dispatch
The Hague. The administration
finds little support from the people.
Germany pays gold for everything
she can buy in Holland. The Dutch
business man does not see why he
should not exchange his wares for gold.
He always has sold TO Germany and he
continues to do SO as much as he can
his government.
The British government keeps close
tabs on the border situation. Every
shipment of forbidden goods that goes
into Germany is usually brought to the
attention OF the Dutch government by
England. This annoys Holland consid-
erably. The Dutch government re-
CARDS its land trade with Germany as
wholly an internal question and one
which must be left to its solution with
out outside suggestion.
Holland win continue to export to
Germany all home produced articles
which she can spare. Nearly 1000 tons
of meat go into Germany every day.
Great quantities OF cheese go directly
to the commissary of the German
army. Nearly two-thirds Of Hollands
vegetable crop continues TO be export
ed TO Germany.
Traders Are Warned.
The Dutch government has sounded
a warning TO Dutch users of the Meth
erlands oversee trust, which on behalf
IF the government promises that any
goods consigned to 1t will not be re-
exported. The administration has APP
pealed to the patriotism of the Dutch
shippers to help maintain this institu-
ton which enables the government to
maintain a low standard of prices for
all commodities. Several violations
have placed the government in an ex-
e~eedingIy embarrassing position.
Three plots to smuggle rubber into
Germany were discovered. 1t is sus-
pected that several consignments slip
ped through.
In one al a great consignment of
tobacco reached Amsterdam for trans
shipment to Germany. A custom in
spector found that the tobacco" was
90 per cent refined rubber. The rubber
was seized and the consignee fined $10,-
600.
To prevent border smuggling Holland
has established a Gordon of soldiers on
the German and Belgian frontiers.
There are armed guards at every road.
Every train that goes into Germany is
searched. But 1t has been quite i'm
possible for the Dutch TO patrol the
peat bog districts along the eastern
frontier, and wagonload after wagon
load Of contraband enters Germany
through there.
The sinking of the Dutch steamer
Medea by a German submarine has
caused Dutch sentiment nearly to
reach the fighting point. The captain
said that his papers, which had been
taken by the submarine commander,
showed the cargo to include nothing
but oranges. But now it is believed
that the oranges covered a cargo of
copper intended for Germany.
Traffic Is Heavy.
The Amsterdam Telegraf gives week
ly reports of Dutch trade with Germa-
ny. A recent report states that the
traffic was exceptionally heavy. The
imports from Germany consist largely
of goods bound for the United States
also coal, briquettes, coke, cement, pig
iron and toys. The exports to Germa-
ny include large consignments of pota-
toes, meat, butter, cheese, eggs, tropical
fruits, tapioca, arrowroot, bananas
tobacco, raw cotton, old iron and an
eastern root, the flour of which can be
utilized in the preparation of bread.
Many railroad cars ostensibly con
veying freight from Holland to Den.
mark and from Denmark to Holland
1t Is said, are mysteriously uncoupled
and disappear while passing over the
Intervening German territory. Dutch
fishing boats, too, are often seized by
German patrol boats and taken into
German ports, whence they are re.
leased after their cargoes have been
unloaded. to the evident satisfaction OF
the shippers.
The gains to be secured are so tempt
ing that the efforts Of the authorities
have been rendered futile. A reward
Of 10 per cent of the value of goods
seized in Illegal transit is now offered
to the soldiers, and this has had such
effect on their watchfulness that cap.
lures of smugglers are becoming more
frequent.