SCRAPS OF PAPER

Evening Star, Issue 21220, 29 September 1932, Page 12

SCRAPS OF PAPER

LEADS TO SPY DETECTION NICE, September 14. The picking up of a scrap of paper has led to an accusation of espionage in which are involved a soldier of the Chasseurs Alpins, a foreign consular agent in Nice, and an Italian workman.

Some days ago a sergeant of the Chasseurs Alpins stationed with his battalion on the heights of Piora-Cava found lying near the camp a slip of paper on which had been scribbled notfi concerning the strength and movements of French troops on that

part of the frontier. The sergeant at once handed the slip to an officer. A brief inquiry led to the belief that tho handwriting was that of a soldier of the battalion named Jacques Semeria. When arrested Semena begged to be given, a rifle or a pistol and left in solitude for a moment. As he obviously wished to commit suicide his request was refused. He is then alleged to have made a full confession. Ho stated, it is said, that he had been collecting information concerning military affairs for transmission to a consular agent in Nice through the intermediary of an Italian named Antonio Bcrro, who had been employed for some time as a workman on the construction of frontier fortifications. Berro has also been arrested and is reported to have revealed the name of the foreigner for whom they had been working. But this has not been disclosed. Semeria was born in Monte Carlo of Italian parents, and for some time was a teacher in a religious school there. On reaching his najority lie had to decide whether he would adopt French or Italian nationality, and elected to become a Frenchman.