GERMAN SPY'S WORK DRAMATISED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 107, 22 May 1937, Page 10

GERMAN SPY'S WORK DRAMATISED

Quaint touches about the British Secret. Service are in the play "Lody," depicting the etory oi Carl Hans Lody, the German who was shot in the Towex of London in November, 1914, which is now being presented in Berlin. Lody as depicted in this play, is an upright, idealistic secret agent, but his methods of work appears singularly clumsy. He postw in Lonuon aud Edimmrgh as an Ainerican lawyer, Charles Inglis, but he wears clothes marked "Made iu Germany",- writes seerets of the British Navy on an old bus ticket and leaves the ticket to ba pickcd up by a Bcolland Yard man; comes siuartiy to attention when the orche«itru of a Bloomsbury hotcl plays the German naval anthem; arouse$ the suspiciona of hia Scottish laudlady by speuding whole nights writing volumiuuus reports — and calling ioudiy'for a bottle of Rhine wine; leaves incriminating letters in the pockets of suits which he sends to be pressed. With such clues to go upon, it ia smali wonder that Scotlaud Vaid, aa the play shows. finally get their man. As the chiel of the British Secret Service explaiLj in the play to a Brilish. naval officer, "Scotland Yard tracks down slowly- before it springs — but it tracks- with f earful sharpness. The traila which are sfarled in Scotland Y'ard cnd only in the tombs of death." A's his trial at Westininster before Lord Cheylesmore, President of the Military Court, there are speeches by "Mr. Bodkin," the prosecuting counsel, and Lody proudly declaims: "I am a soldicr, and no spy! I do not serve for money — but for honour. I have carried out au order of my Fatherland. "I acknowledge my acts as an oflicer, but I deny that I was guilty as a spy You can shoot me — but you must not deprive me of my honour." At this point a young Englishman among the spectators is so overcome that he rushes forward to Lody, exclaiming, "Excuse me, but I must shake you by the hand. You are a gentleman. ' ' The Englishman is expelled from the Court, and order is rostored. Lody's counsel, Elliot, makes an appeal to the Court on the same lines. He declares: "The heart of every decent man must speak to him on this inatter. This man is no spy, but an officer and a gentleman. Even a Briton could not have been more brave, more honourable, more knight-like. Germany has every right to be proud of such men. ' ' Lody is sentenced to death, and the Iast scene of the play is in his cell in the Tower of London. He is offered a chanco to escape, but refuses it. His counsel telis him tliat all England xis talking of him and pleading for .his pardon. A British newspaper is made to write: "If only England had some Hans Lodys.

A few minutes before his execution a British ofiieer, Captain Lloyd, reports to him; "Tho Royal Sussex Regiment would like to give you a. sign of the csteem in which they hold you. They requcst the pleasure of your compauy for a few minutes." Wine is brought, Lody gives the toast: "May Britain and Germany, when. this war is over, stand together in f riendship ! " Captain Lloyd: "I am a soldier, -like you, Lieutenant Lody. It is not for us to ask what is good or bad. We have to obey and do our duty. But thc enmity between Germany and Britain cs a misfortune. I should not be doing my duty as a soldier if I did not' say this. " Lody: "The blood which is now being shcd shall unito our nations again. ..." His last words are, "I shall see Germany again — from the stars."