“ On Secret Service.”

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1922, Page 4

“ On Secret Service.”

A PIiJSONKI! IN OKI?.MANY, AYELLINGTON, June !?!). The secret service, whether peace or in war, is a * sphere of activity which arouses in the majority of people more than ordinary curiosity. Tho secret, serviu officer, who is of course hound to secrecy concerning tile events and details of his professional duties, is for that very reason regarded by other civilians with a good deal of mystery. • .

A “Times” reporter therefore considered himself fortunate to come in contact yesterday, with an ex-officer of th French intelligence service who saw lengthy service and had many uniijiie expediences while engaged with the French forces in the late war. But it was not upon Ins actual experiences in the course of his official duties that he was inclined to talk. In fact, he was extremely reticent to speak about hiinsclf at all, hut his friend, who accompanied him, so far overcame his modestly as to prevail upon him to allow certain of his experiences to he related. Air .1. I.e Hoi, a Canadian, served throughout the war, and for his services was awarded the Legion of Honour, the Croix do Cuerre Belgique, and the (.’roix do Guerre. Fraimais. A PI! ISON MI! OF AVAR.

Jfis experonees while a prisoner of war in France are of exceptional interest., Mr Le Roi was incarcerated both at Rtihlebon and AA’iirtemherg. and during his fourteen months’ in raptivty tried twice to escape from confinement. After enduring many tin-ills and hardships he eventually made good his escape, hut only reached safety by a very thin thread. The first attempt to escape was unsuccessful, and Afr Le Roi was subjected to closer investigation and harsher treatment for some months. Any attempt to break through the immense harriers of the internment camps was met hy the Germans with ruthless severity. He was sentenced to be flogged and to pay tho .death penalty. Two or three days before he was to fa,re the German rifles lie determined to hazard another break for liberty. A scheme was laid with a couple of English officers, and tho trio at the appointed hour killed the guards, and hy using every strategy succeeded in getting out of the camp, Their, bid for freedom was successful as far ns Mr Le Hoi was concerned, but his eomitades might have fared more mercifully had they remained under the care of the; guards. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. Of his experiences during the long tramp to the frontier, Air Le Roi was not to b» induced to speak. He said j he was grateful to have escaped with

his life, and was glad to forget the terrible privations of those long four months. The small party had to ho continuously on the alert, living by their wits, and suffered both inetuaoy and physically. One of his companions died of starvation .when only a. few days from tho goal; the other was killed hy tip; -German sentries on the Belgian frontier, and Air Le Roi safely got through hy running- the gauntlet of liis'pursuers. Arriving in Holland, lie regained his liberty after fourteen of the hardest months of Lis life.