New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-15
LIFE OF THE SPY BRIEF
AND FULL OF EXCITEMENT
Notebook of Official in France Dscloses Many Stories
of Daring Feats-Take Most Desperate Chances
and Usually Die with Back to Wall.

inquest. according to the views of the
commanding officer.
II a suspected spy is caught outside
the battle zone, say in Paris, a lawyer
IS designated TO defend him, and in
nine cases out of ten the spy is found
guilty, and, unless he is French, in
which case he is traitor and dies, is
only sentenced to hard labor or impris-
oned in fortress. During the long
campaign in the northwestern part OF
France the region has been infested
by information seekers of all de-
scriptions and the services which they
have rendered 70 General Won Kluck's
army are not small.
No Detectives Are Spies.
A French counter-spying system
with headquarters in Paris has done
good work in sending to a quieter and,
we hope, better world, several hundred
too well informed Germans. Unlike
that of Germanys, the French organi-
Zatlon IS recruited among volun-
teers, all civilians. None are paid IN
any way and no other incentive but
10 serve France is offered them. In
this way the government has secured
from all walks of life a good number
of men, and even women, fond of eX
element. who are after neither gain
nor honor, but who would not stoop
TO such work in time of peace. There
are, among these men and women,
mostly Parisians, engineers, account
ants, two or three lawyers, half a
dozen newspapermen. laborers. stu
dents, but. oddly enough, not one sin
gle professional detective.
Up to date a dozen or so of these
unarmed soldiers have disappeared,
some prisoners. most have ended their
lives. eyes bandaged. against a farm
house wall. twelve German bullets in
their bodies. When they started out
it was with the understanding that
the French government could not rec
ogniZe them in case of trouble. Those
that have died took a chance and lost.
The flyer" is worth while. for a week
at cOunter-spying will often furnish
more excitement than a month in the
trenches.
The stories of spy chasing are now
innumerable in French and British
army circles. Here are a few of the
most daring attempts made by the
Germans since the beginning of the
war: $ is a large town, fifty-five
miles northeast of Paris. The houses
are low. the church steeple alone be-
ing visible at any distance. The Ger
man artillery bombarded s. for
three days, the church and its steeple
alone. much 10 the surprise of the
inhabitants, remaining untouched
The third night of the bombardment
a French sentry saw light from one
Of the small windows high up in the
steeple. The guard was called, and
three men sent into the tower, which
had seemed 70 bear a charmed life
There a man was found. For three
days his lantern had served the Ger
mans, who trained their guns a few
points to the right and left of the
light, certain their shells would strike
the town. The spy was janitor Of
the courthouse; had been for four
years, and confessed he was a Ger
man. having been sent to S to
report regularly to the military au-
thorities in Berlin.
Spy Poses as Priest.
Two sentries guard railway bridge
rear A.. Il is 10 o'clock at
night. The village is mile away.
All day trains loaded with British and
/ French troops have passed over the
bridge. A priest approaches the SEN
tries, going TO the next village, he
says. 10 give the communion TO dying
farmer. Disregarding orders the SEN
/ tries, good Catholics. allow the priest
TO pass. lie disappears on the other