New-York tribune., 1916-02-07
Believed ImpliCatedin
Burning of Hespeler
Factory.
BRIDGE GUARD
FIRES AT BOAT
Calling Out of Home
Troops Throws Ontario
Towns Into Panic.

Hespeler. Ont. Feb. 6 An explosion
was responsible FOR the fire which dc
stroyed the shell department OF the A.
V. Jardine foundry yesterday, accord
ing to statements made tonight by
Chief Of Police Thomas Wilson.
A man, believed to be an Austrian<
who gave the name Of John Schmidt j.,
under arrest on suspicion of having
been implicated in starting the fire.
The police say they have learned that
he has been employed recently in muni-
tion plants in Gait. Berlin and Hamil-
ton. Al each Of these places he is re-
ported to have given different name.
Wngham. Ontario. Feb. s. BY or
der Of Colonel Sherwood. head of the
Dominion police, Adolphe Schatte,
age twenty-nine. member OF the
Wingham Band, was arrested tonight.
II is reported he is suspected OF
espionage. Drawings Of buildings and
bridges in different parts of Western
Ontario are said 20 have been found
among his personal effects.
An investigation has been ordered
in connection with the finding of
box Of cordite in car of goods which
arrived here yesterday over the Grand
Trunk Railway.
Bridgeburg, Ont. Feb. 6.-The Home
Guards were called out here early to-
day. II is said that two shots were
fired at rowboat near the abutments
Of The international bridge at 80
q. m, but the militia officers refused 70
confirm or deny the report.
Extra guards were placed on the
grain elevators at Port Colborne to-
right. The canal is guarded day and
night.
Guelph. Ont, Feb. Following the
fire at the Jardne munitions plant at
Hespeler yesterday warnings were re-
ccived by the chief Of police that an
attempt was 20 be made TO destroy the
winter fair buildings in this city, now
occupied by the military. and the ar
mories, where two batteries are housed.
Special guards were assigned to these
points. "a we'll as TO several OF the fac
tories in the city. Il was impossible 10
determine who was responsible for the
supposed warnings. or whether they
were we'll founded. but Chief of Police
Randall and the military authorities de-
cided to take no chances. Guards will
remain on duty indefinitely.
Niagara Falls, Ont, Feb. Several
towns in Western Ontario were thrown
into a panic late last night BY hur-
ried calling 10 arms Of the home
guards Unfounded rumors that one Of
the bridges here had been blown up
added TO the excitement.
At st. Catharine's Theatre audiences
were dismissed when the men began 20
leave in response to the bugle calls.
Guards were doubled at a munltion
plant there.
No orders were received to strengthen
the guard on the bridges along the
Niagara frontier, which have been un-
der heavy guard since September,
1914. Telephone messages from points
along the Welland Canal reported that
nothing unusual happened during the
day and that no precautionary orders
had been received.
Ottawa. Feb. g. General Sir Sam
Hughes, Minister of Militia, declared
tonight that he would not be
"stampeded" by those who feared Ger
man aggression In Canada.
Since the destruction of the Par
lament Building and munitions fac
tory in Ottawa and she'll factory IN
Hespeler. there has been n flood OF
applications from all parts of the
country for military guards for fac
tories engaged in the production OF
munitions. military clothing and sad
dlery, as well as from municipalities
for guards for waterworks and rail F
wav terminals. To all such applica-
tions General Hughes has replied that /
policing is the duty Of the local au
thorities and Of the manufacturers
themselves
As for the fires which have recent.
lv caused so much excitement said
General Hughes. 81 am sure we would /.
have fewer fires in munitions facto- /
ries. Parliament buildings and public .
and private places generally, If people ,
would be more careful 10 see that ,
their cigar and cigarette stumps are +
before they throw them
away"