CORPS OP TRAITORS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 8

CORPS OP TRAITORS

I SITING ON.PRISONERS FOR THE HUNS.

A spying affair, which is under investigation at Grenoble, throws a fresh light on the' thoroughness of the~Hun organisation for buying traitors (states the Paris correspondent of tho London ."Daily Mail"). It concerns two prisoners' camps atijarmstadt and Diessen. ■which existed for tho express purpose of tricking "French prisoners into betraying their country. Finding that no information could bo obtained in the ordinary way from French prisoners either by bullying-or cajolery, the Germans conceived the idea of organising a'traitors' corps, consisting of blaok 6heep selected from prisoners already in their hands. These men they placed in charge of tho two camps in,.question, to one or other of which all freshly captured prisoners were sent" for a few days. Here they were well treated, given wine and cigarettes and jam. When they found themselves in a sym.pathetic atmosphere among compatriot* their '.tongues 'were loosened, and they talked.freely.of military matters in sectors from which they had come. Their statements- wero carefully noted by the traitor corps, trained for tho work •by Hun experts. Before the prisoners were passed ,orrto-ordinary camps, where their treatment ohanged, the Hun agents , .picked .out for .'further study, any likely recruits;,for.'; their own Judas organisar tion. ."■',-■ These were'divided into two cats-, eories,, the "intelligent" and the ''scamps."-;. If they proved tractable the intelligents were drafted to officers' camps for the purpose of reporting infor•mation gleaned.there. If, as frequently vjmjjpened, the proposal to betray their .country was indignantly rejected, steps wero taken to see that these recalcitrants should never be in a position to reveal the plot to the French authorities. . The scamps wore given Red Cross armlets and papers, and, well provided with money,'sent hack, to France with the next batch of repatriated prisoners. Hero they were expected to collect information and then, haying rejoined their depot, eeize the first opportunity of volunteering for the front, whence they speedily deserted to the enemy. Since: tho armistice the Frenoh military authorities havo been able to. un- -. earth tho. entire plot. Seven ' scamps and intelligents are being tried by courtmartial, and warrants havo been issued for the arrest of a number of others. One , intelligent, who acted as officer's servant, '-. was formerly a professor in. Paris.