WAR ESPIONAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20282, 17 April 1934, Page 5

WAR ESPIONAGE.

How “Big Bertha” Was Found and Destroyed. BELGIAN'S BRAVERY. Astounding facts concerning the espionage work carried out in Belgium during the German occupation have been revealed by M. Le Pape, a distinguished Secret Service officer, who did great work for the Allies. M. Le Pape says that under the name of La Dame Blanche 'the White Lady) 60C Belgians. forming six companies, worked for the Allied Intelligence Service. Their headquarters were Charleroi. One of the most dramatic incidents happened on August 28, 1918. The report of the Fourth Company concerning German movements was being conveyed from Chimay to Charleroi by a spv clad as a peasant, who carried the report in a bunch of leeks. At Charleroi he discovered he was shadowed by a German officer. The situation was terrible, for the report contained Information which would have sent to the firing squad many Belgian spies. The spy, whose name is not disclosed, walked at night along the bank of the solitary river Sambre. lie concealed himself behind an elm, and when the German passed him he stunned him with a stick and threw the body in the river. M. Le Pape also tells how Big Bertha was located. A German soldier sick with dysentery was brought to Chimay Hospital, which was managed by French nuns. During delirium he kept on saying, “ Bang, bang, Bertha, Paris.” The White Lady was warned at once, and, after some days, was informed by the delirious soldier tha the big gun bombarding Paris was carefully concealed near Coucy. The information was conveyed to the Intelligence Service. and eight days afterwards 80 Allied aeroplanes exploring the environs of Coucy located the skilfully camouflaged gun and silenced it.