SKELETONS IN A CAVE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 107, 9 November 1938, Page 3

SKELETONS IN A CAVE

LEGION SPY’S PATE OFFICER AJND GIRL JMIARRAKE'IiISH, Maroeco, Sept. 5. —A crime committed in the Hogger Mountain Desert in 1918 has been discovered after 20 years by -Uol. G. Mere-, ier of tlie Foreign Legion. Jikijioring the subterranean caves ot tlie Hogger Mountain near Marrakeesli, iUercier came upon a skeleton cl.othed in rags that had once been a uniform. Examining the fragments of clothing, Merrier discovered that it was a Foreign Legion lieutenant’s uniform. Jt was not difficult to ascertain that the skeleton was that of Lieutenant Lacombe who was sent to the Hogger district in 1918 to work in the counter-espionage service established by the French to put down the revolution of the Tuaregs. Laeombo had been sent to the Hogger district to find out who were the leaders who organised the Tuareg rebellion. He started his work by transforming himself into a veritable Tuareg. Not even the most discerning natives could tell him from a. native. Mixing freely among the natives, Lacombe succeeded in discovering the centre .where the revolution was organised, and identified the most dangerous of the leaders as a certain Tuareg tribal chief. He gave the chief up to the authorities. Ho was arrested and executed. Officer Disappears.

A few days later Lacombe disappeared and was never seen since. i\u one knew what had happened to him. Lt was suspected that the Tuaregs, discovering that Lacojnbe was a French spy and responsible for their chief’s death, had done away with him. The circumstances of Lacombe s disappearance and death had neon shrouded in mystery until now, when Mercier found his corpse and reconstructed the details of the young lieutenant’s tragic death.

Not far away from the place where his skeleton was discovered, was another skeleton, that of a Tuareg woman. Certain objects lying around indicated that she had been the daughter of the chief whose death was brought about by Lacombe. Investigation revealed that- the Tuareg girl had been in love with Lacombe, and although she know that he had oeeu responsible for her father’s death, she did not give him up to her people. .1 he only person to uhonn she confided the stranger’s real identity was a woman friend". This woman, however, spread the story.