CONFESSIONS OF A SPY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 3

CONFESSIONS OF A SPY

BELGIAN'S STORY OF HIS WORK IN ..GERMANY HOW SECRETS WERE SENT-TO THE ALLIES As accounts become available of the working of the secret service, it is seen how much the intrepid men who carried on this dangerous work contributed, to the. winning oi the war. A member of tlMjßelgiai: Military Secret Service,' on' a short visit to London, told a "'Daily News" representative recently how ho managed to get important information.

Speaking tho Dutch language, and also Gcrmai;, as a Dutchman would speak it, he went into Germany as a Dutchman, obtaining hie passports under an assumed name. He adopted no disguise beyond shaving his moustache, which 'evidently so altered his appearance that he was never recognised in Germany, though he saw his photographs placarded at the. military headquarters of various towns, with the announcement that 25,000 marks (X' 1250) would be given to whoever effected his capture. . ■ ■ ■

".Uγ work , was concerned," lie snid, "with obtairjing .information of the movements of German troops from tho Eastern .'tii'tho Western fronts, .and from the West to the East, ami chiefly at tho railway stations I learned what I wanted to kuow. . But I could only.listen aud look —I never dared speak to a soldier, nor could 1 write any reports, for it was impossible to secrete any papers, as I was constantly subjected tu examination. Even in the middle of tho night at my hotel a thorough search would often be made amongst my belongings, and tho bed on which I was sleeping would not bo forgotten." Dutch General's Admiration, But in spite of his "extraordinary luck," this Belgian agent has greatly suffered iu health. Though he managed to elude capture in Germany, he was detained once in Holland at the instigation of u German officer and brought before a Dutih genoral, but after a> fewhours ho jviia allowed to go, tho general remarking:/"], adniire'you for what'you are doing for your country. I should he happy, to do tho same for mine."

"I found that visiting German restauwrite whs often very UFeful," continued the Beljrian agent, "because of n certain Gevioan habit. If, in a crowded restaurant, I went up to a table already oeeupiad and asked the German in possession if I might take a seat, he wouiji follow up-his acquiescence by .a self-intro-duction. As tho Allies knew the names of the officers belonging to different regi-m-.'iits. wi officer thus stating his nnmo would give sufficient indication of tho regiments or divisions in the town."

So cleverly wds this secret .service worked that news of 'the transport of troops was often transmitted sooner to' Pari? aud London than it'was known in Berlin. If an agent with a passport to a town in Eastern Germany happened on hie way to learn of an important movement of. troops he would'hasten back to within a few miles of the frontier, impart his news»to a. colleague, and then proceed'to his previous destination. Working , in Belgium and manoeuvring young men ' of' military age , out of the country was a particularly dangerous part of the secret service work, but, thus aided, about 15,000 young Belgians managed to make their escape during the war. Tho chief of the many difficulties in tho way was the live electric wire which the Germans erected 'at the Belgian frontier. ', Bribed Sentinels, Fortunately for tho fugitives,"German sentinels we're often easily bribed. They usually succumbed to tho offer of food."

.An engineer who had volunteered for this secret service work has been through tarriblo\sufferings in consequence. One night he was going to the outskirts of Brussels to meet one of the , young men whom he was assisting to get out of the country, when ho was heavily struck from behind. On recovering consciousness he found himself in a cell, with his arm and two ribs broken—ho had beon kicked when lying unconscious. Ho was condemned' to death but, -by the intervention of the Spanish Ambassador and the Pope this was commuted to penal servitude for life.

Now that he is free, he has asked the Belgian Government to allow him to go to Germany to Ming , his cruel gaoler to jnst,ice, and his request is likely to 'tie granted. A Belgian pilot was able to help a hundred or so of his countrymen to escape. He had been taken on board a fine steam yacht, commnndeered by a German admiral from some rich bankers of Antwerp, ■ and' had tactfully gained the confidence of those in command. One day, when the admiral was away, he hoisted the admiral's flag on the yacht, brought the Belgians, atoenlly prepared, on board, and sailed triumphantly down the Scheldt, saluted by all the German guards. Arrived' at the month of the river, the Dutch people did not impede tho passage of a boat carrying a German admiral's flag, and the Belgians, with their resourceful pilot, got safely to Flushing.