GERMAN SPY ON UNER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1917, Page 15

GERMAN SPY ON UNER.

EXTRA. PitECATJTiaN THAT PROVED TATAL. An interesting story of the detection of a captain of the Imperial German Staff ■who spied in America and was captured on a wutral boat at Falmonth wtrile on his -way home via Holland, is told 1° the "I>aily Kxpress." Mis name is Boebm. Some months ago Boefrm travelled by a neutral boat from .Holland to New York. When lie arrived be adopted the guise of an Amrrk-an citizen and the name of Thrasher. As Mr Thrasher he made a prolonged tour in North and 6onth America, iind gleaned much military and political Information which he knew would 'be of gro.it value to his brother Huns. About a month ago he started on We return journey to Germany. First of all, •with the aid of two friends whom he employed to act as his guarantors, lie obtained a false passport In the name of Thrasher, wnlon described him as an American citizen. With this passport and a con.siiierahle quantity of American ami English money, and with a most pronounced American accent, he hoped to steer his way through all difficulties. .Matters went well for him until, by the power of the British .Vary, the neutral vessel in which be travelled pnt into Falmouth to discharge those passengers whose destination was England and to allow the examination of those procoitlitig to Holland. The man who called himself Thrasher intended to go on to Holland. HIS MISTAKE. lie prepared himself for I he ordeal of examination. His ac-cent was American of the tluerU brand. JHs clothes were also obviously American. His passport iras American. Apparently he thought these precautions were not all-sufficient, for he | developed short-slgutedness and wore spectacles. This *p roved to be hie; undoing, for a far-sighted officer noticed that the shortshrhted Thrasher did not appear altogether easy. Ills .spectacles seemed to worry him. lie -wore them as though they were strangers. A little thing like th.it excites snspickin In war time. Thrasher Tvari questioned and cross-questioned. lie was | tested for his English, his German, and \ his American, and the suspicion grew into a certainty. Thrasher was asked to go ashore, and there ho was put to such a severe cross-examination that he confessed his real name was Boehm. The police then took possession of him, conducted him to ilx>ndon, and, a"fter various formalities had been gone through, le | "Was removed to an intermnent camp.