The Mena weekly star., 1920-12-30

From the Kansas City Star.
I'm sorry that was unable to full
Ni.iers of his career as German spy,
with my regiment into the trenches
and then to see that it was slaugh-
tered. From the confession of John
Willers, German spy and former cap
tain in the 4sth United States infan-
try.
The drab curtain of forgetfulness
by which some seek to hide the war
and its memories, disabled veterans
and all, occasionally is rent by vivid
flashes.
Such was the revelation in a New
York police station recently by John
Willers of his career as German suy,
during service in the American army.
Recognized by a former lieutenant OF
his regiment and arrested as a desert
en- and absconder of funds of his COM
pany--for which he now is on trial
before an army court while his other
a tivities are being investigated
unsupported espionage admissions by
Willers followed with succession OF
shocks which came to a climax in his
confession of his sinister purposes.
But the fires which light up grim
scenes in the past is Willer's state
ment that he was one Of the three
hundred imperial cadets sent as spies
by Germany to this country. mat
they all shared the purpose of Willers,
or similar ones, is a foregone conclu-
sion. That not all of them were as
signed, like Willers' to organizations
which did not go overseas-and thus
failed of their purposes-4is Just as
much a certainly.
Wars Enigmas.
Every war has its involved nlys-
teries, its inexplicable tragedies. His
torians pass over them and merely
note them as swelling the total Of
killed and wounded 1t is as when the
light brigade charged at Balaklava-
someone had Numbered" But that 1t
is not always a mistake IN orders IS
made more evident than ever by Will
ers' story of his fellow spies, especial
w trained at a German military
school and with rare provision sent to
the United States to worm their way
into positions and ranks of high trust.
The methods by which the spies
were to attain their ends were left to
their own discretion, according to
Willers. Probably many of them en-
took the same route he did. Willers
enlisted in the coast artillery. One
can imagine the delight of the officer5
at the acquisition of such rookie"
Intelligent and with all the snap OF
born soldier This German training had
L.. f1,.ot felo CO
gunner, then was honorably dis
charged He re-enlisted in the field
artillery and won laurels as an excel
lent drillmaster. Then came the Of
ficers training camps at the begin
ming of the war Willers was recon-
mended, won the rank of captain and
was assigned to the 4Sth infantry.
Meanwhile, it may be assumed, the
other hun spies were also making pro-
gress-may still be, in fact. Willers
admitted as much when he remarked
to the police they would be surprised
if they knew hos many officers and
officials in Washington during the war
were in reality in the employ of The
German government When one re-
collect some events, it is not difficult
To believe Willers' assertion.
Held Out of Action {.
But Willers was not ordered over
seas. With the rest Of his command
he remained on duty on this side, and
with them cursed the luck that held
the 4Sth out of action, altho for a diff
ferent reason. The armistice dis
PEELED hope. Then it seems Willers
determined on one crack at the
Yanksees, anyway. He stole $4,000,
sd 900 Of it from the fund of the COM
pany he commanded, and deserted.
Now Willers' company had been
fond of him He was a real soldier
and knew his job. Gan old-timer-
up from the ranks" was the tribute
Of his 'noncoms." "A splendid officer,
good fellow and he plays wicked
game of poker" was the verdict of
his lieutenants and the other officers
IF the regiment
And then he "monkeyed with" the
company fund. Officers and men
Of his regiment swore they would
land him in jail, and it was lieutenants
of his regiment who were responsible