GERMAN WAR SCARE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10957, 23 December 1911, Page 2

GERMAN WAR SCARE.

The new training hand books issued for the German army and navy contain a special paragraph relating to the spy question which has been to the fore in Germany and England during the last year. The passage reads as follows: "The idea that spies appear only when war is definitely threatened or declared is a mistaken one. Spies attached to foreign Powers are at work during times of peace and are to be found especially in the neighborhood of fortifications. They are usually disguised and do everything possible to get acquainted with our own soldiers. "Often they pretend to be' veterans, with a fine display of medals, often journalists anxious to write articles for the papers, and in this latter guise it is not unusual to find them trying to obtain photographs ostensibly of groups of soldiers,' but really of the fortifications or Vther matters of importance, which are carefully made -to' form the' background of the pictures. "Troops should be_ on their guard against the offer of drinks by suspiciouslooking persons, who take such opportunities of worming information of a valuable nature from them, and then threaten to inform against the men unless they swear to keep the interview secret. Soldiers must report to the authorities any such interviews they mav be induced to allow."