TERROR TO SPIES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13178, 10 February 1936, Page 3

TERROR TO SPIES.

ADMIRAL SIR R. HALL ARRIVES.

SERVICES IN WAR TIME. Electric Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAN D , Eebruary 5. Wearing a yachting cap and easy attire, a man who during the war was a terror to spies, Admiral Sir Reginald Hall, R.N., K.C.M.G., arrived at Auckland by the tourist ship Otranto [from Brisbane. Now retired, his chief hobby is gardening at his home near New Forest. No one walking the deck of the Otranto would have picked the man with silvery hair and cheery demeanour, who, according to passengers making the round trip, will be greatly missed for his companionship, as the former Director of the Intelligence Division of the Admiralty war staff. This is man. however, who during the war was probably tho repository of more German secrets than any other Briton. Admiral Hall's emissaries were active in every corner of the world. He was a terror to German agents and spies who came within his well-spread net. Nearly every notorious spy came under his spell sooner or later, among them the man who landed in Ireland in a collapsible boat from a submarine, Sir Roger Casement, who attempted to organise an Irish brigade among the prisoners of war in Germany, and Captain Franz von Rintelen, who used millions of dollars plotting against America and was captured in a British port on his way to Germany. Captain von Rintelen was present last year at the wedding of Admiral Hall's daughter, and the Admiral and his fcormer adversary exchanged reminiscences. The Admiral tracked down submarine commanders, who were tho greatest menace at sea, and could account for a great percentage of the sunken U-boats which harrassed British shipping. Asked what his present activities were, Admiral Hall said gardening at his home was his main hobby, but he evaded the question whether he was still working in any official capacity. The new forest of 9000 acres, he said,. provided him with ail the recreation he wanted. Admiral Hall is now 63 years of age, and for 36 years he served in the Navy. He was the first captain of the battle-cruiser Queen Mary, and commanded that vessel- in action in Heligoland Bight on August 28, 1914. While he was captain of the Natal he was presented by the E-ord Mayor of Liverpool in 1911, on behalf of the underwriters and owners, with a silver centrepiece, in recognition of his gallantry and resource on the occasion when the Celtic Race was nearly lost off Pembrokeshire. M ter his retirement from the naval, service in 1918, Admiral Hall was a member of the House of Commons for 10 years, representing first Liverpool seat and then Eastport. “Your coast has a most hospitable look about it," said Admiral Hall, the Otranto having arrived on a perfect a fterm>on. Admiral Hall dined at Government House to-night, and he will leave by the Monterey for Los Angeles on. Saturday, proceeding Home via the West Indies.