Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-03
ARMOREDCARB BEARS
FOOD TO GERMANY
New Tricks on Dutch Frontier
to Get Contraband to
Teutons.
BY w. J. L. KIEHL.
Especial C0ffespondenee of The Sunday
Star and the Chicago Daily News.)

BY w. De l.. AlEhL.
Especial Correspondence of The Sunday
Star and the Chicago Daily News.)
THE HAGUE. Holland. February g.
The latest development in smuggling
between Holland and Germany is to
carry it on by armored motor cars, like
the motors used on the firing line. This
was found out by a party Of revenue
men and soldiers of the frontier guard
near the German border. Earthworks
have been thrown UP along the border
here and the roads are closed OF be-
tween Holland and Germany by a bar
rier of wood. Near these barriers there
are always sentinels or a small de-
tachment of soldiers with loaded rifles.
few days ago the guard noticed
big car coming down the road to the
frontier at full speed. They signaled it
to stop, but 1t only put on more speed
and darted past them. They fred. but
the bullets glanced aside on the cars
plate armor. 1t ran on and crashed
through the barrier. When some five
or six miles on German soil it stopped
and the occupants descended. no doubt
on purpose to tantalize the guard. They
began unloading the car, which con-
tanned wares. mostly leather and rub
-
forms ($1.50o).
1t is believed this must have been a
German car which very likely crossed
into Holland ut some other place.
German Countess as Smuggler.
A smuggling case Of more than ordi-
nary interest was brought before the
courts here recently. The extraor-
binary interest lay in the high rank
Sva he III nd
lection that had been awarded her by
the foreign Office and by the German
legation at The Hague. The accused
was a woman, Dutch by birth. but
married to a German. 1t had been no
ticed how often she came to Holland.
weeks. then returned to Germany with
quantities Of luggage. Every time she
was due to arrive at the frontier sta
] ton on her way to Germany the rail-
way officials received kilograms from
the German legation as well as from
the Dutch foreign ONCE at The Hague
requesting them to treat the countess
with special regard and to give her
every facility. So every one always
Wed with one another in smoothing the
way for the traveller and her ever
growing amount OF luggage.
Guard Opens All Boxes.
1t seems, however, that suspicion had
been excited at the customhouse and
| few months ago. she again arrived at
| the station with her little daughter. her
| governess and a multitude Of boxes and
| suit cases. a revenue ofhcer came up to
her and. very politely. requested her to
open her trunks.
what" she cried, did you not get
the telegram from The Hague"
The station master was appealed to.
Yes, he received the telegram that al
ways preceded her arrival, and he re-
monstrated with the revenue officer.
But that Official was obdurate.
you may have your orders, but 1
have mine and mean to execute them"
he said.
So the protesting countess had to give
the keys of her boxes and they were all
| opened on the platform.
They were beautifully packed and a
| murmur of admiration went round as
| lingerie was revealed. which all looked
| innocent enough. But the customs Off
! Gals were not content with this. They
delved deeper into the boxes. and their
haul OF contraband Of all kinds. which
| was stored away under the neat layer
| of dresses and lingerie. They unearthed
| thousands of dollars worth of articles
countess appealed and threatened. She
4 had to depart for home without her
! boxes.
Herr Won stumin Goes Home.
When later on the case was tried she
| did not appear personally, and 1t Is not
| likely she will soon come to Holland
again. Herr Won Stumm Of the German
| legation has been recalled by his gov
eminent. whether in connection with
this affair or not does not appear. and
at the foreign ONCE at The Hague in
vestigations that are kept secret have
been going on in order to hnd out
whether the telegram that was said to
emanate from him really did.
4 This countess was very we'll known
among the big German colony at Noord-
wyk. near Leiden. Noordwyk Is a very
fashionable seaside resort. and since
/ the war has been largely patronised by
| Germans. who nit in and out Of Holland
for little changes of air or Of diet. The
countess used often to go shopping In
Leiden. where 1t was remarked what
| wanting, especially Of soap. She never
seemed to be able to get enough. but.
then. no doubt she was . very cleanly
person, and. moreover, Dutch woman
which explained her love Of soap.