A ROMANCE OF THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 269, 13 August 1915, Page 3

A ROMANCE OF THE WAR.

GERMAN GOVERNESS AND BRITISH OFFICER. The story of a German woman's love for a British officer, and how she sacrificed her liberty in order to see hira, was revealed before a court-martial. Fraulein Susan Pommerieh, aged 36 a governess, born at Dresden, appeared to answer a charge of being in the possession of false papers. The judges found her guilty en one count only, and sentenced her to four months' imprisonment, the exact period she already been detained, but she must leave France and not return for 10 years.

Fraulein Pommerich, a frail, pretty litlte woman, entered the dock in charge of two municipal guards. She answered the President's preliminary questions in a low voice, speaking French with an English accent. When told to sit down she put her handkerchief to her eyes and wept softly. It appeared that she had been governess in a family at Mitchelstown, Ireland, in 1906 and that she then made the acquaintance of a captain in the British Army. The couple were very much in love with each other, \nd would have married but for the woman's nationality. They parted and Miss Pommerich came to Paris, became governess with a Gorman family, and then joined a French family.

After the outbreak of war; Miss Pommerich asked for a week's holiday, saying she was going to London, but instead of doing so she went to Havre, and then to Rouen, in search of her old sweetheart.

Unsuccessful in her quest she went to Switzerland, and in the meantime her employers received an ananymous telegram accusing her of espionage. The police were informed, and she was arrested.

The principal evidence against her was a letter to the prisoner from a German officer written since the war, asking her to go to Fribourg and give further information concerning "B of B"; all exepnses would be paid, said the German, who gave detailfe of how the reply was to be sent to disarm suspicion. There was a dramatic scene in court vvelm she told her story about the British officer.

"I loved him," she said, simply; "'L 'ove him now; I skal> always love him. ft is true that I have always passed nyself off as an Englishwoman. I look ipen England as my country. I hate Germany. " As the said this she struck the rail with her clenched fist. "I went to Rouen and Havre to try -\nd find Captain . I could not 'icnr the thought that he might be 'cilled at the war and I never see him ■>.gain. "I would rather be a spy for Franco n Germany than be a German spy in France.'' Maitre Phillips addressed the court for the defence. Taking the evidence is' one would take a bundle of sticks, he broke it piece b y piece. At the beginning of the trial the crowd in the court were swayed by the

report read by the prosecuting counsel, and their angry voices rose like the hissing of au angry sea. After Maitro Phillips hvA spoken and the court retired to. consider its verdict no one doubted what that j would be. Miss Pominerich will be removed* to a concentration camp, but there is mi more question of punishment for her.