A BEAUTIFUL SPY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 153, 28 June 1919, Page 23

A BEAUTIFUL SPY.

"BELLE OP NOEWAT." -WOMAN'S BEMABKABLE CABEER. Fascinating stories have come to light concerning the exploits of the women spies ifiom the German Government dispatched to Great Britain during hostilities. Numerous female agents of enemy and neutral nationality were captured, but only half a Cozen or so were convicted of espionage it tha Central Criminal Court, London, and lantenced. to be shot or sent to penal servitude for life. The "Dally Express" Is able to give an account of the adventures of a young Norwegian who deceived the Ambassador ot a friendly Power and tried to smuggle military secretß through an official and uneen•ored dispatch hag to the head of the German Secret Service in Holland. She was petite and pretty looking, little ffiore than a schoolgirl, and friends admiringly described hex as "the belle of Norway." The woman came to London early la the war, and specialised in obtaining Information regarding arsenals, munition factories, aeroplane works, and the moveDents of troops. She was favoured with introductions to notabilities, and was welcomed ln Government and political circles. Her radiant features and fascinating manters proved irresistible to those whom she ■oet at social functions, and she enjoyed . measure of freedotn and hospitality experienced by few of the Kaiser's emissaries. "The Belle of Norway" made the acquaintance of young staff officers and employed tie charm of her personality to the fullest advantage in her treacherous mission. The . fair spy's ambition was to get behind the I "cenej at the War Office, and she all but | succeeded in her quest. She sought a post j *s Private secretary at a critical stage of 'Hostilities, but by a happy stroke of for- ! tune the appointment was given to an I anglish girl. She frequented fashionable j totals after she had been foiled ln this attempt, and became familiar with im- : Portant State officials and the secretaries °f various Legations. Beauty conquered the discretion of one routhfnl diplomat, and be went perilously Hear to betraying the neutrality of his co-retry and seriously compromising his Government. The affair latised a great stir *t the Wsr Office and Downing Street. ™c was taken into custody and summarily 'nterrogated by the Direi-tor of the British 'ntellipeuee Department. Her record was j minutely examined, and the Government f onnd tha: it had harboured and het'riended a most dangerous German agent, vrnose 'ctivities eclipsed even those of "Mat a R ari," the Indian rope dancer, who was •tot by the French. The woman was tried ot the Old Bailey, and when the judge Pronovneed the capital sentence she col- : apsed in the arms of a warder. T iis is how the Censor told the world of ** fate ot the belle of Norway: — Press Bureau Communique. —November. °15.— X woman who was tried at the Criminal Court recently on a Erav e chare" ot" espionage was found guilt? "■d sentenced to death by being shot. The was commuted to penal servitude 'or U&,