SAVING HIS DISPATCHES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 5

SAVING HIS DISPATCHES

SPANISH COURTESi' TO BRITISH ~ \. OFFICER. ■• ..'■•,-. Senor Ibanez de Ibero, the well-known Spanish journalist, writing in the "Echo de Paris," describes how, on : his return ■roin his journey to 'Tjirkey and Greece hi December last, he was on board the . . Greek steamer "Spetzai," and was actually in the company or Colonel Napier at the moment, when the German sub- ; marine stopped the vessel./ Tho Germans examined the list of passengers, he said, and demanded that Colonel Napier, Captain Wilson, and Dr. Find- ■ lay, of; the British Red Cross, should be handed oyer to them. All three ." were perfectly ralm, and went on board the submarine's boat without a word. . ■ While, the boat was on its way back to the submarine, Senor Ibero spied a diplomatio pouch floating in the water, which Colonel Napier had thrown into the sea, after taking out all] the most important papers. A few minutes'later the British officers returned on board the Spetzai, but only to leave again immediately. /.They were loudly cheered by all on board. Colonel Napier'had just, time to eay to Senor Ibero that Captain Wilson and he were prisoners, but that Dr. Findlay had been released. Colonel Napier said his impression was that the submarine was German, as her officers did not . speak German like. Austcians.Senor Ibero asked Colonel Napier if he had any important papers to entrust to him. The Colonel replied, ""Yes; take these documents,'and do not givo them' to anyone except our Ambassador." ._ i Then, with feverish haste, he handed the Spanish journalist a number of large envelopes, which the latter hurriedly hid on his'person, v "Then I went up on deck," said Senor Ibero. "The submarine's men -bad noted the diplomatic pouch, which Was clearly visible on the water,, owing to its light colour, and were just '-.fishing it up. ' ~-.'•' ■ •' "All the passengers collected in silent . groups on deck to watch the British ',' officers leave. That night nobody slept a wink on board the "Spetzai,'"—: Keuter.