GESTAPO SPIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1939, Page 10

GESTAPO SPIES

ON EVERY U-BOAT

LONDON, October 7

It was disclosed this week that a German sailor had been "beaten up” by fellow prisoners at an English interment camp because they had discovered he was in the pay of the Gestapo, the dreaded German secret police. A Gestapo spy is placed on every U-boat,, it was discovered, and every effort is made to keep his identity a secret from bis shipmates. Tho prisoners who arc interned in a disused mill in Northern England say their submarines were posted at strategic points along Britain’s main trade routes a week before the war, but all declare that they never thought they would be called on to light Britain. They were shocked by the efficiency of our Navy’s detection devices. They either did not know or did not. believe that the Navy would be able to locate a submerged submarine.

All the prisoners say the experience of being attacked by depth charges is terrifying.

Under-water explosions wrecked vital mechanism in the U-boats and they had no alternative but to bring the ship to the surface and jump into the water.

Many had only their naval trousers and boots when they were rescued. All have now been issued with sports jackets and flannel trousers, and they constantly feel the cloth in appreciation of the good quality.