GERMAN SPIES' EXPLOITS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1915, Page 10

GERMAN SPIES' EXPLOITS.

ATTEMPT TO .JOIN BELGIAN AKMV. The Dutch Press contains interesting particulars concerning two German spies who recently endeavored to enter the Belgian army. These young men, who spoke both Flemish and French, mixed with a number of others intending to proceed, bv way of England to Flanders. They liad no dillicnlty at Flushing, us they had military pocket-books and other things proviug their good faith. They left by the boat for Tilbury, whence they were forwarded with others to Folkestone, with a view to proceeding to France, where I hey were to lie incorporated with the Belgian infantry witii which, according to their papers, they had already served. At Folfcstone, however, there/ chanced to he attached to the passport examination stall' a Belgian soldier belonging to the same company as that to which the two young men stated that they Infouged. ' When,he saw that these two men belonged to his former company, lie asked them questions about somg of his former comrades. He received evasive replies, which awakened his suspicions and caused him to warn his chiefs. As the papers were in order, the men were allowed to proceed, but were kept under observation.

• It was growing dark when the arrived :it (Si hi is, and in the confusion of tin l liindiny the two suspected men slipped away, as iliey imagined, unolisevved. 'l'lioy were followed, however, and seen to enter an obscure inn near the harbor, whence they issued a little later in private clothes. They then parted, goiinj; different ways, tine was arrested without the knowledge of the other, who was kept under observation with n view to the discovery of his,confederates. The :»an who bad been arrested, \vh •!> he saw tliat the game was up, admitted, that the intention had been to enter (he lleljjiiui army with the object of servin;.' German interests. The papers which he and his companion had shown belonged to two prisoners of war, whose descriptions agreed with their own. lie would not reveal his. real name, llfit for (be suspicion aroused in Jie mind or the Hehiian soldier at Volkstone, it is believed lhe>e sj.i.-M would have presen'o,l thcm.elws a few days later for ■-.en ice with the troupa,