Spying By Belgian Officer Alleged

Northern Advocate, 18 September 1939, Page 10

Spying By Belgian Officer Alleged

A young Belgian army officer, Lieutenant “X,” thought to be one of the most promising men of the General Staff and a military map service specialist, is to stand trial with seven others at the next Liege Assizes on espionage charges. Lieutenant “X,” it is alleged, was so useful to Berlin during the September crisis that his “hush-hush” salary was increased nine times. An executive of the German Intelligence Service will also be on trial. Points from the indictment which will be disclosed at the trial are:—ln 1935 Lieutenant “X” was divorced from his wife. Alimony Award. The court sentenced him to pay her a monthly alimony of 1200 francs, representing half of his army salary. Pressed for money, he saw a Brussels moneylender, alleged to be in business relations with the German espionage. The moneylender, after questioning Lieutenant “X” about his activities in the General Staff, told him that he “knew a friend in Holland” who might assist. “You will receive news in a few days,” the man told Lieutenant “X.” Three days later the lieutenant received a cablegram telling him to go to an Amsterdam restaurant, where he was to ask for “Herr Julius.” With a friend, Lieutenant “X” went to the rendezvous, but, although he waited for more than one hour, the mysterious Julius did not come forward. A Telegram. He motored back to Brussels, to find that a telegram was waiting for him. The telegram said: “I was in the dining room when you called. I did not answer the page’s call for me because you were not alone. Next time come quite alone.”

A new rendezvous was fixed in Amsterdam, where Lieutenant “X” met Julius, alleged to be one of the chiefs of the Berlin Intelligence Service.

For a salary of 1000 francs a month the lieutenant agreed to work for Germany, and it is alleged the damage he did to his own country was incalcuable.

During his association with Berlin, he received in all 170,000 francs.