GERMAN WOMAN SPY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2016, 16 August 1919, Page 4

GERMAN WOMAN SPY.

DRAMATIC DENUNCIATION. " BETRAYED 7,000 OFFICERS. A thrilling story of adventure with a fascinating lady who turned cut to be a German spy passing as a Russian refugee, was told at Liverpool by Captain Walter Henry Hatcher, R.N.R., in command of theCunard steamer Phrygia, s He went to Yalta, in the Crimea, for the purpose of bringing away refugees who were - being oppressed by Bolsheviks. One of the refugees was a good-looking lady who spoke English fluently, and said she could not come on board until late at night, as she was dining on a British ship. It happened that Captain Hatcher had an invitation to dine there, too, and he found the lady engaged in fascinating talk with English officers.

In the middle of the meal she was denounced by the “White Devil,” the head of a secret order, as a German spy for whom he had been looking for six mouths. She had, he declared, given away 7,000 officers, who had been shot at Yalta. “She appeared quite calm,” remarked Captain Hatcher, “and said; “I know the penalty —I will be shot/' Her prophecy was quite correct, I believe, but the British would not allow the *Whitc Devil’ to do it there and then, as he wished.” The refugees on the way to Constantinople were splendidly treated by British sailors, who gave them their own food and milk, and even in some cases, their own beds. There were a lot of children among the refugees. On leaving the ship at Constantinople they gave Captain Hatcher amumeronsly-signed letter expressing their gratitude. Many of the refugees had held high positions. One had started with two and a-half million roubles, but paid out all except three hundred to Bolsheviks.