SPIES ON THE ENGLISH COAST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 213, 28 May 1918, Page 4

SPIES ON THE ENGLISH COAST

STORY TOLD IN POLICE COURT. Found guilty and recommended to mercy on account of his military record, Hugh John Williams, clerk at the Air Board,' was sentenced to six months' imprisonment 'at tho Central Criminal Court, London, for offering to recommend tenders at a higher figure if he got half the extra profits. The defendant, in evidence, said that when (lie war broke out ho was in the Southern States of America, and he at once came to England and joined the Army cm September 1, 1!)U, as a private. He obtained a commission for meritorious conduct. He was in camp on the South Coast, nnd it was rumoured that persons were signalling to German submarines off Bcach'y Head. He asked for special permission to go out, as he knew the Morse Code. On several nights (hey read tho i>iess;iges, and the messages were sent to the War Office. It was learnt that it was a German code, nnd that the messages were being received by a German submarine at tho time when transports were leaving Ncwliavon. Some, days afterwards ho captured ono of these people, who unfortunately was a British subject. The man signalling to a German submarine from the top story of a house at two o'clock in the morning with a lamp. He (the defendant) was recommented by his colonel for a commission, which he. received. AVhile serving in France ho was recommended for the Cross and the D.5.0., and he. came home to England badly wounded. Ho afterwards joined the Air Board staff.