GERMAN SPY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 3

GERMAN SPY.

VON LUCKNEIt’S MISSION. Official confirmation has been obtained in Canberra that Count Felix von Luckner, in his sea-roving visits to New Zealand and Australia a couple of years ago, was on a spying mission. The information was given after a- speech in Melbourne by Senator Major-General C. H. Brand. “Count von Luckner; though a courageous seaman and a fine gentleman at times, was really a Nazi spy,” said Senator Brand. “His dinner parties at Darlinglnirst and King’s Cross were very interesting, so interesting that intelligence officers got the names and addresses of all who attended. Most of those people are now in concentration camps.” Senator; Brand said that the Intelligence Service, acting on the advice of Britain, kept a strict watch' on von, Luekner’s movements while he was in Australia, and on all who visited him privately or attended gatherings 'other than of a public character. The check showed that the only people in Australia closely associated with von Luckner during his stay here were German nationals, each of whom was known to possess strong Nazi sympathies. Many prominent Australians attended social'functions given in von Luckner’s honour, but no Australian was found to he connected with any of his secret activities. Captain James Patrick, a Sydney shipowner, and his wife, entertained Count and Countess von Luckner in Sydney. They were surprised by the official disclosures. “Von Luckner and the Countess—she is a Norwegian, not a German, and a,sweet little woman — stayed at our home for several da vs. We found them very nice people,” Mrs Patrick said. “We 1 have always laughed at the story of his being a spy. He told us he lived on a ship to got away from politics. Captain Patrick had his eyes and ears open, hut- the von Luckners never asked any question to make us suspicious.” ■ •