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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (March 14, 1920)
J THE CKF.GOX STATESMAN: fSlXIAY. MARCH II. 1020. The Secret Battle Two American Of fleers Join the German "Council of Fire in Spain, En ter German j by Submarine from San Sebastian to Kiel and Secure the Plna of the Last Drive on Parte, after the British and French Had De clared It Impossible to Obtain Them. Ton Hlndenburg and the German High Command Cleverly Deceived by the Pretended Deserters 4- Thrilling Adventure that Leads to the De feat of the Bocbe and the Signing of the Armistice The Story of the Two Mysterious Prisoners Sent from France to the Military Intelligence Staff la Washington In July Last. !! By Major C E. Rossell Provost Marshal, 2nd United States Army American Expeditionary Forces in France Copyright. 1919, by Federal News Service. Inc. (Canadian and Great Britain Rights Reserved) (All Rights Reserved) PART I. my FOREWORD UNITED STATES ARMY CABLEGRAM Brest, July 10, 191. Secretary of War, Washington: . 'Two German prisoners on transport sailing too.y tslllgeoce Staff, ' Washington." BASIL consigned to In- Ths above Quotation Is Just a line from an army cablegram announc ing the sailing of a transport and list of those on board. Many newspa pers carried this dispatch and. on arrival of the ship, there was printed many speculative references to these mysterious prisoners and why they were sent to America. Behind this Incident lay one of the most thrilling stories of the en tire war. which is here related to put an end to all speculation In references to these German officers who were prisoners only for their own pro tectipn and to give the American people some Interesting Information in reference to the part played by the secret service of their army in the final defeat of the Central Powers snd In bringing about the quite gen erally unexpected termination of the world war by the signing of the armistice In November, HIS. While Germany was defeated, there is no doubt but that her espionage service is still In full vigor. For fear that, even now, they may be plot ting vengeance .for the coup which contributed so much to their defeat names are purposely .omitted from this narrative. In all military Intelligence work, the only reward for those who conceive desperate plans pf action in great emergencies and carry them out at Imminent risk to themselves is the consciousness of tasks well done and cf the many lives saved by their personal disregard of the dangers in volved. 4teyJ Here, then, Is the true story of the two German prisoners and of the two American officers who fought the secret battle that enabled Marshal Foch to save Paris from capture and end the war: CHAPTER VI. (Continued from last Sunday.) i ' Appealing to the proper authority the chief tried to have the carrying out of the sentence delayed until the escape of the prisoner could be ef fected. Forjtwo days he argued with this stubborn official before he could be made to see that saving the life of one German under death sentence was small price to pa for the val uable information that could be ob tained from him,' or by using him. . When It seemed as If all the plant and dangersous work would go for naught, the Chief threatened to ap peal to General Pershing. " This of fi clal then saw light And agreed to tay carrying put the sentence until the chief had an opportunity to try out a plan to effect the German's es cape. , - - Returning to Paris, the chief call ed a consultation. Arrangements were made to go to the town where this prisoner was confined and study the situation. It was decided at this conference that the major should also go there. Accordingly, he presented hlmselJ at the French bureau to have his passports vised. At this point, an over-xealous French intelligence officer came near upsetting the entire works. He re fused to allow the major to proceed to the town where the prisoner was confined. "This town Is in the Zone of Sup ply and foreigners are not permitted to travel in that tone. he said. Since the major was posing as a Spaniard, he, of course, bad to have his passports in proper order; con sequently it was now necessary t j resort to some ruse to secure the vise of the passport. One of the American officers en gaged in the "rescue" of the German prisoner, a personal friend of the French chief of the intelligence staff, was detailed to secure the proper stamps. If the American chief had realized that the French would not pass the major, he could have presented tho passport himself; but. inasmuch as the major had already made the at tempt, it was considered too danger ous to permit him to try again, so the other oficer was sent to secure the authority. Telephoning to his French friend for an appointment, this officer pre sented himself at the bureau. "Chief. I have a hobby for collect ing all the stamps used by the vari our bureaus and armies in this war. 1 would greatly appreciate it if you would give me an imprint with your signature on it." The French chief, laughing at the peculiarities of the Americans, sent for his official stamp and handed it over to the officer. Stating as an excuse that it was too dark at the desk, the officer took the stamp to the window. Here, with his back to the chief, be quickly stamped first the passport and then a blank plc-e of paper. Handing the stamp back to the Frenchman, he said: "Now, chief, if you will please sign this imprint. I will appreciate it and keep it as my best souvenir." "Under ordinary conditions." said the chief, "the clerks sign all pass ports; for you my friend. I will my self sign it" and he wrote his name- rank, and the word "Approv ed" across the face of the stamp on the blank paper. It is to be regretted that it was necessary to deceive an officer in this manner. However, it was believed the danger was too great to confide in anyone and that the end justified the means. As soon ss possible, without ex citing suspicion, the officer took his departure and hastened back to the hotel with the passport properly stamped. The next move was to find some one clever enough to forge the sig nature of the Frenchman. It was said that no matter what kind of a man was demanded, the A. E. F. could supply him. In this case there was no exception, for a man was soon found who was able, after a lit tle practice, to forge the name of the French officer so well that it was necessary to carefuly compare the "duplication" with the original be fore the fraud could be discovered. Escape of the German Prince. Equipped with the forged papers. She was Fat ad felt. Br taklnc m .Mi. mnA Mkatllf IM dlraruona af Kama tf . M aha n44 IS SM. InthraaSMntha. fcowrt to Mito. UiaaUaa. , tally atari ami ia fcfW Mttfc. aUa)a aatt-ftt W-trWKBl. Hag ajca hlfl rwtaraa. aaally. 1 . tft tm Aft 1H Konia ca MXttl. SuUaa P. iwW X CIO. the major now had no difficulty in passing through the French barrier and was soon established In a hotel in the town where the prison was located which he was planning to raid to effect the escape of the Ger man. He found, however, that the prisoner was so closely .guarded that he could not get in communication with him. So the major was arrested again andconflned In the same pri son. He then had no difficulty In reaching the man and soon had plans perfected to assist Mm to escape- whenever the opportunity presented Itself. The major said to the Ger man: "I am here by orders from the 'Group of Five' to assist you to es cape. I will soon be out of here and you must watch your chance when they take you out for your evening stroll. When you see me before the gate you make a run for It. and we will get away." The major's next move was to demand that he see the command ing general or the district to ask that he be released. Before depart ing for his interview with the gen eral, the major told the prisoner that he was leaving some of bis per sonal property In the prison. If successful in forcing the authorities to release him. he would return Tor it and the prisoner would then cei talnly know that he bad a friend who was working for bis escspe. The next morning the major was brought before the commaadlng of ficer. With a great show of injured dignity he demanded to know why be had been arrested and stated that if he was not at once released he would appeal to the Spanish ambas sador. The general called the chief Into bis office and asked on what charges this man was being held, saying: "If you are holding him on suspicion. I shall at once release him." The chief confessed he could not prove anything against the major, and so the general, with apologies, ordered his release, alter giving the officer a reprimand for such careless work. The poor old general so plac ed right into the plans to release the uerman. The major had a difficult time to keep from laughing and tell ing him all about it. but believed it better not to do so. Unless the gen eral should happen to read this story he will always feel that the Ameri can intelligence staff committed a grave blunder when they arrested that Spaniard. Returning to the prison with the major, the chief sent him into the buildlnr to rmt hla nrnnurl, Wt.lt tooing this, the major bade the pri soner good-Dye and once more can tioned him to be on the watch for him when he was ready to effect his escape. The next move was to arrange for a high-powered motor car. with plenty of gasoline and oil. to be near the entrance to the prison at the time the German prisoner was taken out for his evening exercise. A few evening alter the major had been released, one of the other of ficers who .was working with him. drove to the entrance of the prison just as the (German left the guard bouse for his walk. The oficer ran the car up to the curb, left it stand ing with the engine running, and passed through the gate. As there 1 Sf m W W S . rim mm V A mm LaV?T tYgTi l-mmi . V-1 Hi l ; l f aaanS ' - Jw- jtm assej Certain-teed Week March 15-20 week devoted by dealers every where to the display of Certain-teed Products which contribute to the pro per construction of sew buildings and the improvement of old ones. Certain-teed Products Improve New and Old Buildings. CERTAIN-TEED Roofing will provide you with a weather-proof, spark-proof roof at a moderate cost. 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Salem Automobile Co. F. G. Delano SALEM- DALLAS V WSIRIBUTORS Chevrolet and Scripps-Booth Automobiles and Republic Tirej A. I. Eoff was a msn on guard at the gate this officer sent him away on an -errand. While the guard was gone, the major stepped Into the car and seat ed himself behind the wheel and awaited the next move. As the pri soner strolled by the gate, the major signaled him to mske a quick dash for the car. Catching the slgnsl. the prisoner made a rush through the gate and Jumped In betide the major. Defore those on watch could recover from their surprise, the car was speeding away down the road. The officer who hsd left the car Jumped In front of the gate so thst no one Inside could shoot without hitting blm. and. drawing his auto matic, commenced to fire. ostenslSly at the speeding car. but In reality op In the air. By the time the ex citement hsd quieted down, the csr with the major and the prisoner hsd disappeared. The prison was over a mile from the motor psrk. I?y the time the commanding officer of the park hsd been cslled on the telephone and another car reached the prison, the msjor's car was a lone way towsrd the Spinlsh frontier. When the pur suing csr. loaded with guards and with the other officer driving, came to a fork In the road, the officer purposely took the wrong turn and was soon hopelessly lost. The msjor snd the prisoner easily made their escspe. Taking a cir cuits route to avoid the towns where there were American troops quartered- they soon arrived at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains. Then, hiding the car. they passed over the mountains and entered Spain. At the headqusrters of the '"Croip of Five." the prisoner wss greet-d with shouts of Joy. After the story of the escaf hsd bn related, the major founa himself the Idol of the Germans snd learned that the man whom he hsd saved was In truth a member of the roysl fsmlly. (Continued next Sundaj.) David Wariield Hurt in Truck Collision IOS ANOELES. March IS. David Warfield. the actor, wss struck by an automobile truck-hers 1st" todav and sustained a broken left leg snd tasccrstlon of the nose and lips 1 U. lSvf' DROMrT, eflUeaO a. eeerieeas Mfif her, hs y bs Ury da attsttoa. At the receiving hospital where Ir. Warfield was taken It was said It had not "Wen determined whether there were internal Injuries. N. Y. Banker Guest of Honor at Portland Dinner PORTLAND. March 12. Frank A. Vanderlip. former president of the Nstloaal City bsnk of New York, has accep-ed an Invitation of the chamber of commerce to speak at a dinner in his honor on the evening of April 7. according to a message received by the chamber tvy. Mr. Vanderlip t comlcg to the FV.r coast ea route to Japan aad vU lite ia rortlnd April 7. eBHBSSSBSWiBSBBSgMBBSSBBBBBBWSBaaB 'You're la a tad way, ny frtest" announced the doctor to the yet: I Irish lad la the hospital. -t4 yoa like to see the priest r Dtd ye say I have scarlet ttngT asked the boy. Yo have, and a aerlcrms esse. 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