SECRET SPY CENTRE DESTROYED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3120, 26 June 1917, Page 5

SECRET SPY CENTRE DESTROYED

END OF A SENSATIONAL TRIAL IN ITALY AN "OFFICIAL" SAFE BURGLARY Rome, June 24. A great treason trial, the principal figure of which, was Monsignor Gerlach, a prominent Vatican official, 'has resulted in Gerlach. and two others being sentenced to imprisonment for life, and others to terms of five and three yoare. Gerlach, and another, who was ordered to be shot, are fugitives from justice.— Reuter. HOW THE CONSPIRACY WAS NIPPED "SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF." London, Juno 24. Lloyd's. New 3 publishes the secret history of the exposure of Gerlach's espionage and conspiracy. The Italian Government became aware that most important documents concerning Austrian espionage were concealed in a safe in a house in Vienna adjoining the Gorman Consulate. The safe was protected by the most complete burglar traps, and also poison gas. to be released in the event of any tampering with the safe. The Italian.Government in January selected two expert burglars from the prisons, offering them their freedom and money if they secured the documents. It was duly announced that the burglars had escaped from prison. They reached Vienna by unknown means, equipped with the most complete burglary outfit, and also with gasmasks. The burglary met with the' fullest success early in April, and the Austrian Government meroly announced that a safe had been burgled and a large sum of money extracted. A secret cypher by wireless from Vienna was immediately' delivered to Gerlach, informing- him that the documents had beeii abstracted. Gerlach quitted Rome forthwith. The Italian Secret Service raided Gerlach's house next day, and found documents revealing a network of Austro-German tspionage and pro-enemy plots. Three hundred arrests were made, including many notable per-sons.—Aus.-N.Z. Assn. ANGRY SCENE IN COURT (Rec. June 25, 7.40 p.m.) Rome, Juno 21. The evidence showed that all the accused had transmitted military secrets to tlia Austrian espionage centre at Lucerne. The trial was held in camera, and occupied fifty-six sessions. The public was admitted during the reading of the sentence, and the crowded court broke into howls of vituperation. Pomarici was ordered to be shot through the back. —Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn.