The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-06-18
Notebook of Official in France DiscIoses Stories of Many
 Daring Feats.
SHORT sHRIFT WHEN CAUGHT
Take Most Desperate Chances and Usually Die With Back to WaIl-~ If Taken in Zone of Battle They
 Are Tried on the Spot.

by a 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 will lage 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. have slept two hours in a deserted farmhouse in company with three wounded British soldiers and whining dog, evidently left be- hind by his master in his flight.
 shuff1ing of feet in the roadway and shouted orders awaken me. A squad of French soldiers led by a 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 1 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 Things of their caps, were passes through the enemy's lines signed by one of General von Kluck's aide-de-camps.
 Their case is settled in advance. In- terrogated, they neither make denials tnor confessions. Simply refuse to speak. Caught at eight o'clock, they are tried at 8:30 broken table serv- ing as judges bench for colonel and three captains called hurriedly from staff headquarters.
 Six Shots End Their Lives.
 A few questions to which no an- swers are forthcoming, 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 paces away. The lieu tenants sword is raised, six shots mingle into one. The law of war is carried out. It is nine o'clock.
 Such incidents form part of every day conversations in the camps and trenches on the firing line. If a 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 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 a traitor and dies, is only sentenced to hard labor or i'm prisoned in a fortress.
 Serves for Country.
 A French counter-spying system with headquarters in Paris has done
  we hope, better world, several hun dred too well informed Germans. Un- like that of Germany's, the French or ganization is recruited among volun- teers, all civilians. None are paid ip any way and no other incentive but to serve France is offered them. In this way the government has secured from all walks of life good number of men, and even women, fond of excite ment, who are after neither gain nor honor, but who would not stoop to such work in time of peace.
 Up to date a dozen or so of these unarmed soldiers have disappeared, some prisoners, most have ended their | lives, eyes bandaged, against farm house wall, 12 German bullets in their bodies. When they started out it was with the understanding that the | French government could not recog- l nize them in case of trouble. Those | that have died took a chance and lost. The flyer" is worth while, for Q week | at counter-spying will often furnish more excitement than Q month in the | trenches.
 ' The stories of spy chasing are now innumerable in French and British army circles Here are few of the most daring attempts made by the Germans since the beginning of the war: S. is a large town, 56 miles northeast of Paris. The houses are low, the church steeple alone beanE visible at any distance The GeTm00 ar+iIIarv homharded S- fnR thENA