“ON SECRET SERVICE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11248, 28 June 1922, Page 5

“ON SECRET SERVICE”

A PRISONER IN GERMANY TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES OF INTELLIGENCE OFFICERDARING DASH FOR LIBERTY. Th© secret service, whether in peace or in war, is a sphere of activity which arouses in the majority of people more than ordinary curiosity. 'Hie secret service officer, who is of course bound to secrecy concerning the ©vents and details of his professional duties, is for that very reason regarded by other civilians with a good deal of mystery. A “Time® reporter therefore: considered himself fortunate to come in contact 3‘csterday with an exofficer of the French intelligence service who saw lengthy service and had many unique experiences while engaged with the French forces in the late war. But it was not upon his actual experiences in tho course of his official duties that lie Was inclined to talk. In fact, he was extremely reticent to ■speak about himself at all, but his friend, who accompanied him, so far overcame his modesty as to prevail upon him to allow certain of his experiences to he retailed. Mr J. Le Roi, a Canadian, served throughout the war, and for his service® was awarded the Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre Belgique, and the Croix de Guerre Francois. A PRISONER OF WAR. His experiences while a prisoner of war in Franc© are of exceptional interest. Mr Le Roi was incarcerated both, at Ruihleben and at Wortemberg, and during his fourteen months’ in captivity twice tried to escape from confinement. After enduring many thrills, privations, and hardship®, he eventually made good -his escape, but only reached safety by a very thin thread. The first attempt to escape wae unsuccessful, and Mr Lc Roi was subjected to closer investigation and to harsher treatment for some months. Any attempt to break through the immense barriers of the internment camps was met by the Germans with ruthless severity. He was sentenced to be flogged and to pay the death: penalty. Two or three days h©fore he was to face the German rifles he determined to hazard another break for liberty. A scheme was laid with, a couple of English officers, and the trio at the appointed hour killed their guards, and by using every strategy succeeded in getting out of the camp. Their bid for freedom was successful so far as Mr Lc Roi was concerned, but his comrades might have fared more mercifully had they remained under the care of the guards. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES'. Of his experiences during the long tramp for the frontier Mr Le Roi was not to be induced to speak. He said lie was grateful to have escaped with his life, and was glad to fhr-get the terrible privations of those long four months. The small party had to be continuously on the alert, living by their wits, and suffered both mentally and physically. One of his companions died of starvation when only a few days from their goal; the other was killed by the German sentries on the Belgian border, and Mr Le Roi 6afely got through by running the gauntlet of liia pursuers. Arriving in Holland, he regained his liberty after fourteen of the hardest months of his life.