Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-12-09
LIFE OF SPY IS
BRIEF AND FULL
Of EXCITEMENT
Notebook of Official in France
Discloses Stories of Many
Daring Feats.
SHORT SHRlFT WHEN CAUGHT
Take Most Desperate Chances and
Usually Die With Back to Wall
If Taken in Zone of Battle They
Are Tried on the Spot.

London.-These notes were written
by man engaged by the allies in an
official capacity, whose duties con-
tinually called him from Paris to the
firing lines of the Belgian, English
and French, and who thus has unusual
opportunities Of talking with the SOL
diers and frequently seeing the battle:
The general and his staff have es-
tablished their headquarters in vii
lage a few hundred yards from the
Belgian frontier. From the north
comes the roar of heavy German ar
tillery brought up during the night,
from the west the duller sound of the
big guns of British warships maneuver-
ing four miles from the coast and do
ing good work. I have slept two hours
in deserted farmhouse in company
with three wounded British soldiers
and a whining dog, evidently left be-
hind by his master in his fight.
A shutting Of feet in the roadway
and shouted orders awaken me. A
squad of French soldiers led by lieu
tenant is gathered at the door, around
two civilians, hands tied behind their
backs. Spies! Caught on top of a
haystack within hundred feet of the
generals headquarters. They had been
in the neighborhood for a week, it
seems, getting food no one knows
where. They refused to speak. They
had field glasses and note books, with
the numbers Of French and British
regiments. The Names of generals and
numbers of batteries were found
buried in the hay. On both men, sewn
in the Innings of their caps, were
passes through the enemy's lines
signed by one of General Won Klucks
aide-de-camps.
Their case is settled in advance In
terrogated, they neither make denials
nor confessions. Simply refuse to
speak. Caught at eight o'clock, they
are tried at $3.50, broken table serv-
ing as judges bench for a colonel and
three captains called hurriedly from
staff headquarters.
Six Shots End Their Lives.
A few questions to which no an
swers are forthcoming, a glance at the
notebooks and passes found on the
prisoners and it is over. Back of the
farmhouse are a poultry yard and de-
crepit stable. Against the stable wall,
eyes bandaged, hands tied, kneeling,
the two Germans are placed, the six
soldiers ten PAGES away. The lieu
tenants sword is raised, six shots
mingle into one. The law of war is
carried out. 1t is nine o'clock.
Such incidents form a part of every
day conversations in the camps and
trenches on the firing line. If spy
is caught within the zone of battle he
is tried on the spot, the trial consist
ing of an examination of the papers
and documents found on the suspect,
the hearing of witnesses and of the
prisoners defense If no papers or
documents are found and the wit
nesses are not sufficiently affirmative
the suspect is released or sent to Paris
for further examination, according to
the views of the commanding officer.
If a suspected spy is caught outside
the battle zone, say in Paris, 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 i'm
prisoned in fortress.
Serves for Country.
A French counter-spying system
with headquarters in Paris has done
good work in sending to quieter and,
we hope, better world, several hun