Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
HUN SPIES IN FRANCE
SEEKING WAR SECRETS
Marcel Prevost's lies Anges Gar
dicns" Sets All France Talk
ing OF Bochc Methods.
TRAINED FROM TENDER AGE
Men and Women in Espionage Ser
vice Not Taken in Haphazard
Observation-Disclosures Show Care
OF Training.
ny DIR. ARTHUR LYNCH,
British VI. +.

lAliIS. December GIN Marcel Pre-
vos,'s Les AnGcs Gardens" ("Thc
Guardian Angels" otherwise COVER
orness who is fond OF drink: an 1tal-
ian beauty wins the affections of tho
son and heir, and a German, Meg by
name. a jolly and attractive young
woman. uncmbarrassed by moral scru-
pics, but capable and shrcwd.
! Meg is spy. and her spying is the
moro dangerous for the fact that she
is tho guardian angel of the daush-
ter OF the French War Minister.
I This story. written with a certain
grace OF style. set all France talking,
and many a bourgeois family scrutin-
izcd with horror their stockish. stupid
looking. but Woodworking. Wcstphal-
ian maid. who knew little outside the
little household, and who, moreover,
had conceived real affection for the
children.
Meg"
confess was inclined to laugh at
the spy scare. but some little time be-
fore the war | used to meet on tho
sta ircasc OF a modest and quiet little
private hotel tho dame who stood for
the original of Meg; she had an apart
mcnt adjoining mine.
There was nothing about her appear
ancc or her manners to attract attcn-
ton Meg had, in good German style,
grown imposing. though still attractive
in the German fashion. She was
dressed in the latest Partisan style /;
she spoke baby French and pigeon
English. though she knew both those
languages perfectly, and she was often
visited by distinguishes looking men,
who had the air Of officers in multi.
one evening. on returning to my
rooms. I saw Meg's lady companion.
dragon Hooking person. camped on
chair on the landing near McE's door.
and presently three middle-agcd gen.
tlemen left McE's rooms. Meg knew
that the war was coming. and no doubt
serious business was on hand that
night.
The Spy Dancer.
Parisians have become very suspi-
cious OF late. but the surprise was gen
oral. nevertheless. when they discov-
cred that their exotic favorite. Mata
IIari, the Hindu dancer, was Ger
man spy.
This lady with the dusky skin and
flexible wrists and dangerous sraces
OF Eastern dancing women turned out
to be a formidable parsonage.
At the age of seventeen she married
"A German, who had obtained Dutch
nationality in order to mask his spy
ing work. The marriage wae rather
in the nature OF formal business
transaction, but this did not prevent
the cx-German officer from brutally
ill-treating his young wife. whom he
wounded on one occasion by pistol
shot.
Nevertheless. she entered into the
SPY system with zest. became duly
res iStcrcd and paid, amused and de-
lighted Paris for some years with
her audacious performances, became
acquainted with various h-paid of1i-
cials and politicians and found means.
il is said, TO make known to the Ger
mans some of the most important
French plans in tho first months OF
the war, and subsequently informed
them accurately of the departure OF
transports.
a New Type of German Spy
Certainly II is absurd TO find spy
III every German kitchen maid or hall
porter or BARRIERS apprentice. but our
eyes have been opened To the extent
Of the organization. its studied and
elaborate character and the clcvcrncss
Of the German spy system.
Here in Paris is a type very differ
cnt from Meg. but one who employs
tho McSs as his agcnts--thc Count OF
W, "Old Adolph," as he was ia
miliarly called. half in affection and
half in contempt
Adolph was not so many years ago
Il dashing officer Of the guards. great
rider beau. a lady killer. Certain
histories in this latter direction cut off
his career as a Euardsman. and he came
to Paris.
old Adolph had then nothing OF the
beau cavalier OF DID, he seemed good
naturcd. but stupid; he did not look as
IL ne could mount n horse. for he
moved all In block. like "A piece OF
wood; he was fond OF pictures; he pro-
icsscd !; great affection for France,
ana he made extensive acquaintance
win members of the old nobility
poIitical men, noted writer's: in a
word old Adolph" was well-known
ana sympathetic Partisan figure.
Old Adoiph.
old Adolph had incidentally hired a
chateau which commanded roo,l
range of country. and which possessed
d real value for war purposes
To this chateau he made several adj
dltions and improvements, which were
thought TO be fad OF dear. stupid
old Adolph: they could be used as ex-
cellent gun emplacements. 1t is still
Il moot point in the circles that old
Adolph frcquented whether he really
was fool or only had that appearance.
But ii is not remote from this question
to remark that al one point the dis
astrous flight OF the Germans from the
Marine was brought 10 an end by the
fact that they arrived AT positions
which had been carefully noted and