STORY OF A SPY

Evening Post, Issue 59, 10 March 1924, Page 7

STORY OF A SPY

HOW MATAHARI MET DEATH.

(UJIITEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPIRIGHI.)

(AUSTIULIAN-NEW ZiIALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) , , PARIS, 7th March. A sale of jewels and other relics of Matahan led the Chief of Police to reveal the story of the dancer-spy's arrest and execution at Vincennes in 1918. She was constantly under surveillance in 1915 and 1916. Eventually the head of the Jrench counter-espionage service called her to his office and told her that ehe would be deported to Holland. Matahan immediately offered to proceed as a spy to the German Crown Prince's headquarters at Stenay, saying that she was madly m love with a Russian and wanted a million francs to marry him. The French official promised money but added that she would be shot if she failed in her mission. ■ Matahari retorted : "In six months I shall marry my lover."'." "

_ bhe left Paris, going by way of Madrid, where she offered to sell to the German Attache inforniatkm which she had gathered in Paris. The Attache wirelessed to Germany, but the French intercepted the message. They thereupon telegraphed to the French Attache in Madrid that Matahari should be sent to Paris to receive money at the Parisian Bank. . ( Matahari went, and was promptly arrested outside the bank. She offered to reveal secrete of the German spy organisation to France if her life was spared. The offer was rejected. "Very well," stated the dancer, "then I shall say nothing."

Her dying words were: "I love Ger many. I hate France."