SECRET SERVICE.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16072, 5 April 1924, Page 6

SECRET SERVICE.

KAISER’S SON CAPTURED. How Prince Joachim, one of the sons of the ex-Kaiser, was captured by tlie French during the war, while trying to fire the docks at La Rochelle, forms an exciting chapter, headed “The greatest Secret Service ever told," in "True Adventures of the Secret Service,” by Major C. E. Russell. The author, a member of the Intelligence Service of the American Army in France, took part in most of the adventures he describes. If all are true, as he claims, the book must rank as one of the most fascinating chapters in the secret history of the war. When the Prince was captured,

Mdjoi Russell says, he maintained silence as to ins identity, but was lecognised and condemned to death.

Thereupon great efforts began to be made by the German Secret Service, operating from San Sebastian. in Spain, to save him. J lie last great German offensive was then in full swing, and it was vital to tlie Ailed High Command to discover more of the enemy plans than they already knew. In order to worm himself into tlie confidence of the German espionage chiefs in Spain, an American officer, who is called Major Anderson, rescued the Prince from hts prison at Fort Medoc in the teeth of his French guards, and took him safeiv over the frontier into Spain. | In view of this feat (and another iin which he pretended to steal I some valuable aeroplane plans), j Major Anderson was regarded by the Germans as trustworthy, and was sent with Prince Joachim and another “renegade” American officer to Kiel by submarine. In Germany he had the honour ol being ‘‘pumped”' by Hindenburg himself, and finally, after extraordinary adventures, escaped t- 1 1 lance with his colleague through tlie help of two German women spies who had been set to watch the Americans, but had eventually, it is hinted, fallen in love With them.

V/ith them on the return journev they took two German eolonel.s who carried plans which were i°i the utmost use to Foch m his victorious counter-offensive. Prince Joacliim, it will be remembered. committed suicide >oon after the war. According to Majoi Russell, it was remorse ? r tiie Part he had unwittinglv played Germany’s downfall winch prompted him.