BRITISH SPIES ON TRIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 951, 7 February 1911, Page 4

BRITISH SPIES ON TRIAL.

SECRETS OF THE GERMAN COAST. London, Dec. 23. Not only are Captain Trench, R.M.E.1., and Lieutenant Brandon acknowledged spies seeking information for the British Admiralty, but they did their work so well that, according to an expert of the German Admiralty staff, the British fleet could have effected a landing on the basis of their data. This officer is full of admiration of the work the two intrepid Englishmen did, and time after time he complimented them on the accuracy of their information and plans. This expert said the information regarding the fortifications at Brunsbuttel was ot small value, as any vessel passing could see them. But the notes he found as to the length and width of the landing stages and depth ot water at Sylt, Amrum, and other islands were, he said, undoubtedly military information, intended to facilitate a landing. This view he based on the British Admiralty landing regulations. English warships had never been there in time of peace, and there could be no object in compiling notes of this kind. Therefore the notes could only be intended for use in time of war. Captain Taegert proceeded by means of a chart to explain his views at length. In landing operations Sylt, he said, was of prime importance as a “ point d’appui,” and the landing stages on the island had been measured and photographed in great detail by the accused, who had also procured picture postcards. They had, moreover, noted the shallows which they found while bathing. The measurements were not merely estimated, but were actually taken. The position of the searchlights at Kiel was asked for in the notes. This, it was explained by Captain Taegert, was an important point, as a raiding fleet would know from the position ot the searchlights whence to expect the first shots from the land. In addition to the searchlights, the position of the howitzer battery was also marked on the map, and there were also sketches of Friedrichsort and Cuxhaven. There were photographs of the fortifications at the latter place, and sketches of particular batteries with their strength. A certain howitzer battery had been explored with particular accuracy, and there were also estimates of the arcs of fire and distances. There were close descriptions of the searchlight position and construction of shelter works. From a dyke the angles were taken with two churches on the mainland, and the positions of the fortifications entered on the map in accordance with these observations. Captain Taegert stated that he had examined the measurements and found them extraordinarily accurate.

On the sketches dealing with Heligoland, the quick-firing battery was marked with measurements ot the distances of some of the gun positions from one another. The distances from extremities of the batteries to the lighthouse were also measured. Captain Taegert complimented the accused officers on the skill with which they used the sextant in determining the position of a battery with reference to the permanent land-marks, such as church towers.

The prisoners wore sentenced to four years in a fortress. The Chief Justice announced that the tribunal agreed unanimously with the view of the Attorney-General, who had recommended the Court not to enforce the paragraph of the criminal code providing for penal servitude. The Court upheld the defence’s contention that none of those secrets had been actually communicated to England.

The Englishmen received the verdict without a tremor. Scores of people looked in their direction with the idea that some trace of emotion might be discerned. The selt-contrcl and manly bearing which have distinguished the prisoners from the moment they entered the dock did not desert them. Their faces remained absolutely immobile as the terms of the sentence fell solemnly from the lips of the patriarchial Chief Justice, amid a solemn silence. The judge who had presided over the preliminary inquiry stepped forward and bade them good-bye, and they spent some time in smiling conversation with their counsel before being led away by their warders.

In Germany, detention in a fortress is regarded as an altogether nominal form of punishment. It is imposed upon political offenders and military officers convicted of duelling. It involves no disgrace, and affords considerable personal liberty. The British officers will be allowed to roam at will within the fortress walls, to furnish their own rooms, and supply their own food, aud to continue the pursuit of such studies as they choose. They are even at liberty, by special permission of the Commandant, to leave the fortress and visit, unaccompanied, the town in which the fortress is located, on giving their parole, as gentlemen and officers, not to attempt to escape, and on promising to return to their quarters within a specified time.