GERMAN INTRIGUES IN SPAIN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 28 September 1917, Page 3

GERMAN INTRIGUES IN SPAIN.

NETWORK OF SPIES AND SECRET AGENTS. (By H. Greenwell, Daily Express Correspondent.) PARIS, July 2S. The Kaiser, who, as the Ambassador of one of the Allies at Madrid, told me, is "all things to all men," has persuaded the church party in Spain that he will restore the authority of the Pope. It was not difficult to influence the Clerics and cause them to take sides with Germany. They have no particular affection for the Germans, but since the trouble between the Church and State in France, there has been a considerable antipathy to the French. The higher officers of the Spanish army are pro-Geramn for two reasons—first, they admire the muchadvertised efficiency of the German army; second, German propaganda in Spain has intensified the ill-feeling between Spain and France on account of North Africa.

The Spanish navy is frankly proGerman. Since America entered the war the Germans, who were already spending immense sums on propaganda work in Spain, have increased the amount in order to stir up feeling against the Untied States.

The Germans have also been busy buying up the Spanish Press. Apart from the newspapers and periodicals which are owned by the Germans and controlled from the German Embassy at Madrid, newspaper copy and photographs are supplied gratis to every newspaper in Spain. Twice daily the German wireless stations sent out long accounts of the operations on all fronts.

I found those accounts posted up in the vestibules, of all the leading hotels of Madrid, and even in the lobby of-the Chamber of Deputies At all the frontier stations there are German agents, and from the time I entered Spain until I left I was never free from their observation.

At Miranda a courtly old gentleman entered my compartment and began to talk to me in Spanish. I replied in French that I did not speak the language. He then spoke French, and afterwards English. My companion said he was a Eussian. and displayed quite a deep interest in my affairs. "Was I sure my passport was "in order?" He said I Vcould show it to him' if I liked, and he would be able to tell me at a glance if it was correct." I declined. At Burgos the Eussian offered to share his sleeping carriage with me. Within an hour of the Spanish capital my companion threw all reserve to the wind and asked me point blank. 'Why have you come t.o Spain?' I assured him that I had only come on a holiday. He left me at the Northern Station, saying he was going to Barcelona. Five days later he was in my hotel. The Germans and Ausirians in Spain rarely speak German even among themselves.- They prefer to speak French, or English". On the racecourse I heard the German and Austrian Ambassadors, speaking French together, A favourite pastime of the Germans is to pose as Belgians and tell the Spaniards how badly they were treated in England. There is not a single section of Spanish life into which the GermansTtalTTiot instilled his poison. The mark of the beast is everywhere King Alfonso and the present Government are honestly trying their hardest to solve the crisis in iSpain, and make the country the Land of Tomorrnorrow, but the Germans may prevent "To-morrow" ever dawning. ft