SPY STORY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 October 1926, Page 5

SPY STORY.

ROMANTIC PLAN DEFEATED. Hy Cable—Pres. Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 8. There is a romantic story of how Herr Lcicbrnnd's plans were defeated at the last minute by Mr Woodmancy, a Councillor of the Felixstowe municipality, who, with friends, watched Herr .Leiebrand for years. The municipality was about to hand over to Herr Leiebrand control of the electric light and power, nnd also authorise him to build a light railway, when Mr Woodmancy denounced Herr Leiebrand ns a spy. and produced proofs. He himself and his friends had gathered around Herr Leiebrand previously and questioned him regarding finance. He said: “I am independent of moneybags." He suggested that a prominent Fast Anglian should accompany him to Germany for proof of this statement.

Herr Leiebrand was always flush with money, especially after several weeks absence. He repeatedly lavishly entertained naval officers at Felixstowe. He had two telephones in his house, and always placed a guard over one when using tho other.

He transformed his library into a secret room to which his wife and servants were Hot admitted. He ran his own secret service.

The “Evening News” says: “Herr Leiebrand was possiblv Germany’s cleverest op.v.” That is the official opinion. He claimed to bo the soil of a Bavarian Prince, but was brought up by a jeweller residing at Speyer. Ho was presumably sent to Britain before the war to develop East Anglia for a German landing base. Herr Leiebrnnd's seized correspondence emphasised that East Any was tho best scope for raiders, because (lie canals, estuaries and agricultural hinterland invited attack, owing to the distance from Aldershot and Salisburv Plain, and having only one lino of railway necessitated weeks before serious resistance was possible. Meanwhile the Germans would be able to make Harwich and Felixstowe into a second Hamburg, with an advanced base at Colchester. Felixstowe was especially favourable owing to the depth of water enabling a close approach of transports, nnd tho covering fleet.