The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-04-28
Sir Roger Taken Off German
Gun Runner
OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND
England Had Made Many
Attempts to Capture
Ex-Consul.

land and was sunk.
The official announcement Is as
follows:
During the period between the
afternoon of April 20 and the after
noon of April u an attempt to land
arms and ammunition I'm ireland was
made by a vessel under the guise OF
neutral merchant ship, but which
in reality was "A German auxiliary In
conjunction with German sub
marine.
"The auxiliary was sunk and a
number OF prisoners were made,
amongst whom was Sir Roger Case
ment"
The news OF the capture OF SIR
Roger was received with satisfac-
tion, mingled with regret, at the ter
minaton of what previous to his al
legged activities with the Germans
had been brilliant career useful
both to humanity and his own coun-
try That he should have engaged
in such "A madcap enterprise as the
British official communication gives
as the reason for his seizure is CON
sldered as lending color to the view
held by his old friends here that he
IS mentally unbalanced.
Little had been heard of Sir Ro-
ger i'm this country for many months.
Last October a returned Irish pris-
oner reported that Sir Roger had
visited the prison camp at Limburg
and vainly tried to induce Irish pris-
oners to join an Irish brigade he was
said TO be raising in Germany to
fight against England. 1t was report
ed a short time ago that Sir Roger
had applied for citizenship in Bavar-
ia. Later came report from a neu-
tral country that he had been arrest
ed in Germany on an unspecihed
charge
The latest and perhaps final ad-
venture of Sir Roger Easement is an
amazing climax of the persistent ef-
forts Of this Irishman since the war
began against the country which he
had served as consul and consul
general for Is years and which had
honored him with knighthood.
Previous to the opening OF the
great conflict in Europe, Sir Roger
was known TO the world at large only
through a report which he made in
1912. while consul general at Rio
Janeiro, on the atrocities committed
on natives by employees OF British
company operating In the Putumayo
rubber fields. As "A result of this re-
port. British royal commission,
headed by him investigated the situ-
alton and brought about reforms In
the treatment of men employed in
the industry.
His exposure of the Putumayo abuses
were still a vivid memory, when like
n thunder clap came news to London
in November, 1914, that Sir Roger had
become traitor TO his country, hav-
ing gone to Berlin and conferred with
the imperial authorities with view,
IT was said, to opening negotiations be-
tween the German government and
the anti English party in ireland.
His friends with one accord de-
clared that the reports were eXagger-
ated, or that Sir Roger was not re-
sponsible for his actions They re-
called his long career in the consular
service. principally near the equator
(consul at Lorenzo Marques In 1895;
at Gaboon and Congo Free State.
1S9S-1905; at Hayti and San Domingo.
1907, and consul general at Rio dc
Janeiro, 1903-13), and were sure that
the tropical sun had destroyed his
moral conception. Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle took this view.
Germans Used Him.
But while his friends sought to ex-
cuse his actions and the Irish Ma
tionalist party repudiated him and his
works, the German authorities availed
themselves of his services. They en-
couraged him TO write and speak
against his country and fully approv-
ed his plan for raising an Irish legion
by the Germans in the retreat from
Mons.
Sir Roger addressed an extraordl-
nary letter TO Sir Edward Grey. saying
that he had renounced his consular
pension OF his own freewill. and, cit
ing the assertion made by the Earl
OF Crewe in the House of Lords late
in January that "Sir Roger Case
ment's course OF action ought to be
severely punished" remarked that
the time had come for him TO make n
statement He spoke Of his services
TO the British government and re-
nounced all honors given him for that
service. His own idea, he said. had
been 10 save Ireland from the terror
OF German invasion, and he was
surprised that his friends in England
had so mlsjudged his motives.
In August. 1915. according TO ad-
vices received in Amsterdam. Sir
Roger made another attempt to have
Irish prisoners I'm German hands turn
traitors. He then raved In such a
manner that government agent who
was present saw the futillty OF HE
mission and advised him to withdraw
from the camp