“BORN IN TROUBLE"

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12905, 4 July 1936, Page 9

“BORN IN TROUBLE"

A WOMAN’S ADVENTURES. IN A SOVIET PRISON. J HYING- dangerously is not the rxf]ii.sivo prerogative of men. hi tin's remarkable autobiography .Mrs Harrison, who is an American journalist, has a. tale to tell which may be set beside “I Was a Spy,” by another great woman adventurer. “■Born lor. 'Trouble.” is an appropriate, title lor her story,'lor on everv page she shows evidence of an indomitable spirit which not only invites danger, but bears its consequences Avith unimpeachable fortitude. She docs not need to indulge in heroics ; the lacts of her career speak eiocpiently for themselves. At the close of the war .Mrs Harrison resigned a sale position on an American newspaper to investigate, ar first hand, conditions in Germany. I ravelling as a. journalist, and secretly as an agent of the United Slates .Military Intelligence Department, .All's Harrison reached Boerlin when the Socialist, and Sparticist riots were at 'their height. .Disregarding occasional fusillades of mach-ine-gun bullets, she probed into life in every come/' of Merlin, and found the causes of that anomalous blend n L ' poverty and extravagance which lotlowed the dislocation of the eeotmomic system in Germany. She also obtained interviews with Prince von Ihdotv, Walt her Ratlienan. the Socialist, and several other political leaders ol the period. Her next journey was more haxardous. Travelling through Poland, where she had a long interview with Pilsudski, she reached Russia, succeeded in crossing the frontier, and Avas taken to Moscow. Here her audacity and journalistic ability wore rewarded. She soav tlm building of the new State in its earliest stages, interviewed Renin and Trot-ky. and sent much valuable material to the Rritish and American newspapers ti counteract the effect ol the unreliable rumors emanating from Riga. Ihit the Soviet political police knew her record. Alter a lew mouths she was arrested lor espionage, liberated under humilinl ing conditions, and anally rear rested and thrown into the dreaded l.nhiauka prison. For many months Airs 'Harrison was known only as Prisoner. 29(j]. and it seemed unlikely that she won id ever regain her liberty or In r name. Her description of these months :s one ol the most revealing and moving sections of the hook. Offset hv the appalling squalor and constant terror of.the hie, she gives several finely drawn .character studies of her fellow prison, rs—aristocrats, balletdancers, peasants, foreigners- most o‘ them fanatical Communists, and many innocent witnesses who were being held indefinitely for reasons of policy. Diplomatic negoi in t ions wen* fina!lv made, and Airs Harrison was released and deported. Even this did not satisfy her thirst for adventure, and she was soon off to Japan and China on a. similar mission. On her return sho umvittiugly re-entered Soviet terrirorv in the Far East, amt was rearresfed and returned to a Russian prison. This time she noar>y died, hut <>:i being released she sel off again to make a film of the lives e.r primitive migratory tribes in Persia. Turkey and Syria. Adventures such as these cn mint continue for ever, and Airs Harrison finally called a halt and set- herself the difficult task of carving out new domestic life.