ESPIONAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 3, 5 January 1926, Page 9

ESPIONAGE

SPY DENOUNCED BY RIVAL

SAID TO BE IN BRITAIN'S PAY APPARENT "STORM IN A TEACUP." Early during the present mo- :ii Paris was in a tuimoil in regard to alleged cases of espiohage in which it was said Britain was'the paymaster. Only a few vague cablegrams were received in New Zealand on the subject, but the Sydney "Sun" received details from its London correspondent'in far greater length. Marthe Moreuil, alias Monsiel, the auburn-haired 24-year-old girl, who was arrested under dramatic circumstances on a train between Nice and Paris on a charge of espionage, and who managed to jettison documents which she admitted she was carrying, is known.in the Latin quarter of Paris as "Mademoiselle Foxtrot," owing to her jaunty walk, Btates the correspondent. When her mother heard of her arrest she tearfully said she always know Murthc would fiuish badly. Sho could not do anything with her, and three years ago her father forbade her* to enter the house. She was placed in a religious home in an unsuccessful attempt to reform her. Marthe spent her money on cheap jewellery and excursions to night, life haunts. Recently she wrote to her parents, saying she was marrying an English peer's nephew. "Petit Parisien" demands that all Governments cease the miserable bus- ' incss of espionage and counter-espion-age. : ■ . "Echo de Paris" protests against the excessive facilities which France I gives to foreigners to observe the progress of aviation. "Ikj Matin," which marvels that espionage is being carried out after the Locarno Agreement, asserts that it is believed that the espionage in this case was conducted on behalf of Britain. The authorities believe that Lionel Wiet, the bogus naval, officer, who was arrested in Paris at the week-end, is merely a swath buckling Frenchman posing as a spy to impress Lueie Rene. Thus far Wiet has only been charged with unlawfully wearing a uniform. He boasted of his association with Moreuil, the former artist's model whose name a detective recognised as frequently appearing in hotel registers in «aerodr.ome towns. Rene, when interrogated, denounced Moreuil, alleging that she had been invited to share lucrative espionage employment. . OVER-ZEALOUS POLICE! The "Eveni|g News" asserts that inquiries in London suggest that the French police were over-zealous, and made a mistake in charging Englishmen with espionage. The Burndept Wireless Company;', in London, points out that •' the arrested men control the company's Paris -agency, and their work naturally entails inquiries at aeroplane works, as the company is booming a short-wave receiver for aeroplane use. It is believed, that they probably were.merely indiscreet. Ernest Phillips, the business man-, ager of Bnrndept-Blcriot, which is tha Paris agency for the Burndept Company of London, is a fluent German* scKolar, haying been educated at Tuebingen University. He was engaged in the British Army Intelligence Corps in France, and twice dropped from*n aeroplane behind the German lines, jonce. staying for three weeks in a village occupied by the Germans. He spent six years in London hospitals as the result of wounds r'eceivt ed on the Somme.

John Leather, a half-time wireleOT London expert in Burndept's, employ, exploits a number of British machinery agenciei. The Paris police declare that Leather and Phillips admit that they belang to the British Intelligence Service, and that the British Embassy may intervene on their behalf.

Moreuil continues to maintain a cynical attitude. She defends her action in turning spy, saying, "A girl is obliged to live somehow. I'm ready to pay the penalty. I know the dangers, but I prefer to sell my country's secrets for 1000 francs (approximately £8) to starving as a model. I mot Fischer (one of the three arrested Englishmen) in a cafe,., and he bscame my lover. Later he introduced' me to Phillipß, who offered me 1200 francs (approximately £10) a month to operate under his direction. I resigned my position as a nurse in a clinic and became a model, but later I consecrated myself entirely to spying. I visited the principal air ports, winning the affections of youthful officers, and obtaining information sis to tho number and quality of the aeroplanes, and also technical rfiatters, especially relating to a secret flvc-cngined aeroplane which is under construction."

It is expected that Wiet will turn Stale's evidence, and secure a pardon. Moreuil's cynicism'probably is due to the cqniparatively light penalties for peace time espionage ia France. They vnry from one to five years' imprisonment and fines of from 1000 to" 5000 francs (approximately £40). OFFICES SEABCHED. The Paris correspondent of tin; "Daily News" states that the charge against three Englishmen of espionage on behalf of Britain has cauaad a mo3t painful impression. The examining Magistrate and police escorted the prisoners "to the Burndept-Blcriot offices, which were scrupulously searched, even to the storeroom and cellar. Several boxes filled with documents were removed for closer perusal. The examining officers listened- on a number of wireless sets, hoping to intercept secrfct information, but they heard only tho i Eiffel Tower and other musical programmes. The Magistrate informal journalists' that Fischer appeared tr» bo the ringleader.

The correspondent comments that suspicions must.be entertained of Moreuil's readiness to confess with copious detailed allegations, when her previous character is remembered. She left home when fifteen, and thereafter blossomed out as an adventuress, drifting from the protection of one man to that of another.

The French Prime Minister, ftf. Briand, and Marshal Foch attended :i military conference held to extimiu'! the delicate Anglo-French situation caused, by the espionage disclosures, but the British Foreign Oflice denies all knowledge of the Englishmen arrested in Paric