CONFESSIONS OF A SPY.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 April 1919, Page 4

CONFESSIONS OF A SPY.

A BELGIAN’S STORY

- As accounts become available of the working of the secret service, it is seen how muc h the intrepid men who carried on this dangerous work contributed to the winning of the war. A member of the Belgian Military Secret Service, on a short visit to London, told a “ Daily News ” representative how he managed to get important information. Speaking the Dutch language, and also German, as a Dutchman would speak it, he went into Germany as a Dutchman, obtaining his 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 (£1250) would be given to whoever effected his capture. “My work was concerned,” he said, “ with obtaining information of the movements of German troops from the Eastern to the Western fronts and from the west to the; east, and chiefly at the railway stations I learned what I wanted to know. But I could only listen and look—l never dared speak to a soldier, nor could I write any reports, for it was impossible to secrete any papers, as I was constantly subjected to examination. Even in tthe middle of the night at my hotel a thorough search would often be made amougst my belongings, and the bed on which 1 was sleeping wnnlrl nnf, lift fnvrrnf.fpu

DUTCH GENERAL’S ADMIRATION

Butin spite of his “extraordinary luck,” this Belgian agent has greatly suffered in health.

Though he managed to elude capture in Germany, he Was detained once in Holland at the instigation of a German officer and brought before a Dutch general, but after a few hours he was allowed to go, the general remarking : “ I admire you for what you are doing for your country. 1 should be happy to do the same for mine.”

“ I found that visiting German restaurants were often very useful.” continued the Belgian agent, “ becauso of a certain German habit. If, in a crowded restaurant, I went up to a table already occupied and asked the German in possession if I might fake a seat, he would follow up his acquiescence by a self-introduction. As the Allies knew the names of the officers belonging to different regiments, an officer thus stating his name would give sufficient indication of the regiments or divisions in the town.”

So cleverly was this secret service worked that news of the transport of troops was often transmitted sooner to Paris and London than it was known in Berlin. If an agent with a passport to a town in Eastern Germany happened on his way to learn of an important movement of troops he would hasten back to within a few miles of the frontier, impart his qews to a colleague, and then pioceed 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. The chief of the many difficulties in the way was the live electric wire which the Germans erected at the Belgian frontier. IiitIUED SENTINELS. Fortunately for the fugitives, German sentinels -were often easily bribed. They usually succumbed to the offer of food.

Au engineer who had. volunteered for this secret service work has been through terrible sufferings in consequence. One night he was going to the outskirts of Brussels to meet oue of the young men whom he was assisting to get out of tlie country, when he was heavily struck from behind. On recovering couseiousness he found himself in a cell, with his arm and two ribs broken—lie had been kicked when tying unconscious. He was condemned to death, but hv 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 bring his cruel jailer to justice, aud his request is likely to be 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, commandeered 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, already prepared, on board, aud sailed triumphantly down the Scheldt, saluted by all the German pfuards. Arrived at the mouth of the river, the Dutch people did not impede the passage of a boat carrying a German admiral’s flag, aud the Belgians, with their resourceful pilot, got I safety to Flushing.