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Fage 6
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1958.
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CAT and MOUSE: Part 2 of the under-cover war in Cairo... Hitler's agents set up their radio near British G.H.Q.
'GET ME THE BRITISH BATTLE-PLAN'
...and Rommel's spies begin a fantastic 2,500-mile trip across the desert
Along the road to the British Army camp-in the Western Dosort marched two weary mon carrying suitcasos. A British officer accepted without question their story about a car mishap. Ho arranged transport to take them into Cairo. Hours fater Rommel's master-spy, John Eppler, sot up his radio post... near the British G.H.Q.
IELD-MARSHAL ROMMEL took the hand of the young, handsome, bronzed German officer and shook it warmly. "I wish you success on your mission, Eppler," he said. "It is in your hands to help us. bring victory for the Fuehrer here in Africa." And John Eppler replied: "When you ride into Cairo at the head of the German Army, Herr Feldmarschall, you will find me waiting for you.”
It was May 11, 1942, at the height of the battle in the Western
Desert, und Commander-in-Chief of the German forces, Field- Marshal Rommel, had done an unusual thing.
He had left his operational headquarters and gone south 10 the remote oasis of Glalo. There, beneath a clump of scruffy palm trees, he said a personal good- bye to eight men under his com- mand who were about to trave on a special mission.
NONDESCRIPT
THEY
MEDITERRANEIN SEA
TRIPOLI
TRIPOLITANIA
LIBYA
Alomalu
Kufra
EGY
SABARA DEN KRT
The dewr! runte that led Eppler to the Nile.
THEY made
on
by LEONARD MOSLEY
Dan- Brigade and the
And almost at once they ran Info the British Army. On the of Asslut, standing outskirts a between them and the town, was Toad British camp, and the
led straight With her wore taking
cach
through it. Should they try to work around it?
"Asslut 10 kilometres.
Intellgence their Incredible safari: but not without in- rerous ill," They had reached Corps, and one copy of Daphne HEY did not, from outward cidents and adventures. One of civilisation-enemy elvilization. du Maurier's novel, Rebecca, appearances, look as if they their number collapsed from a And soon now the great gamble That novel was to prove of more merited this distinguished heart attack and their medical would begin.
value, and did more to affect the envio. They were a nondescript orderly went down with heat
course of the war, than anything lot both in looks and dress, and prostration.
John Eppler and Monkaster else that the two men carried.
and only their peaked desert cam-
They marched down the road palan caps identifext
Four days out from Glalo they climbed from their truck them na German soldiers. The cars, be hid their German caps and put oked down on enemy territory, towards Assiut.
on British furage caps instead, A sergeant brought three sult fore which they stood at utlen- tion, with army raised in the and it was as well for them that cases to them, and they began Nazi salute, were all British they did so. That evening they to take off their shorts. From
patrol of Britain's e suitcase they each look utilities, pick-ups, and
small ran into a
pair of flannels, a blager, and n Long Range Desert Group, vans.
its way to raft behind the Ger- shirt, and put them on. man lines, and they exchanged great cure they checked
other's clothes, particularly the signals.
labels on them. Eppler's showed that he had bought his at fashionable shop on the Kasy El they in Cairo, 'anet Monkaster's from a store in Dar Es Salaam,
go through," said in Tanganyiko, for part of the
Eppler. "Leave it to me, time he plannet to pose as an American who had been visiting and don't panic." East Africa.
They made a curious chief spy, John Eppler, and his He was equally lucky with They tested off their docus walking, down the road in the When supplies were run ments of the sergeant. handed hot sun, lugging their suitcases, radio operator: Peter Munigaster, fuel into Egypt, for the River Nile ning desperately low the ex-
An for Eppler was 2,500 miles away across pedition discovered the southern- identification pass designating Well, well, well," salda
attached of the Long him an officer some of the bitterest desert in nost petrol dump
to British officer standing by the world.
Range Desert Group and fled Middle Forces, miscel- gate as they approached, "and up afterwards destroying the laneous letters and bills, odd where on earth have you two dump. But he planned skilfully, coins and ear leeys, club mem- come from?** 100, and every few hundred bership cards, torn cinema
a loaded lorry milles test
The men of the Abwehr Com mando Unit climbed into their British transport, and the file of cars moved slowly across the bands, custwards towards Egypt. Operation Condor had started. Germany's most important spy was on his way,
For three days, as the expedi- tion made further south to avoid much contacts in future, were out of water, unill Almaszy, with uncanny instinct, ordered It was a curious method which his men to start digging; the Nazl Intelligence Service they found a hidden well. had chosen 10 intrate their
And the two men were going not by parachute from a plane
but on wheels,
Rommel desperately needed
المنتج
them to them:
East
#
of tickets (all of which had been
LUGGING CASES
WELL
palr
ASSIUT TO K DANGEROUS
Polat of no return.... Near the end of their epic desort journey, Rommel's sples change into civilian clothes,
the
Epple: jerked his thumb over
his agent in Cairo, now that the supplies for his return journey, token from captured Brish his shoulder. "The desert," he
ultimais battle for Egypt
WRS
beginning, and he was taking no THIN, TIRED...
chances. A few weeks ngo, ዜሮ had sent two trusted sples by
offers); for Monkaster an sald. "We went on a trip and American passport
and other our ear broke down. Bloody hot that documents. Then Eppler paced it was loo, walking all.
out a spot from the notice board way. Could you possibly give us and called a soldier aver to dig a lift to the station in Asalut? a hole. Into it he dropped a We have to be bacic in Cairo."
"Who are you?" asked the heavy bag and covered it over, after "Just in case we have to como bilicer.
back this way," he sold.
plane, and the plane hod 10 wonder Eppler 'cafts it crashed into the sta. One spy, N "The longest trek a spy has a bearded agent named Kicin, ever had to make under his own who had Ilved in Palestine, stram." And no wonder, was crushed to death and the many hot, bitter, thirsty days in other, Muhlenbruch, was 1- the wilderness, he wished that, jured.
after all, he had taken the more "If you can give まぐ
the risky but les arduous journey to Inforhatlon I want," Rommel his target by parachute. told Eppler, "I can be in Calro
The caravan pushed on before the end of the summer the tensloh was visible on But I must have the British their faces now. Every mile of battle-plon. I must know where desert from this point en took
they will make their standard them further into British terrt what forces they will use. And tory. I must know whether the Egyptian Army is ready to help If they
us once the battle starts."
A Hungarian Almaszy, who
were caught Now,
the task of leading the desert soners of war. expedition which would take
Eppler and Monkaster to Egypt.
ing, like the late
men
Eppler pulled out hla pasy and
to face westwards. Then, after It was ns easy as that. Two a last Nazi salute and a last hours later, the two spies, with "Hell Hitler,” Almuszy gave the
FRIGHTENING
of
自
had
The dancing girl becomes a German agent
"Condor calling, Condor call ing," he signalled in code, "Am ready to start operation,"
These two men-though,
the
of
DRAWING
rubbed out a pencil mark with
an eraser, on the insidd cover.
Instead of going home Hobby went to .H.Q, and walked into a photographie unit. He pointed to the marking and said—
"Could you take a photograph of that and tell me what it .snys?"
The sergeant lepked at it and grinned. "Child's play," he sala. "Come back In half an hour."
"I'll wait," he replied. And in less than half an hour, he had his answer an enlarged, cleat print of a penell mark saying! 50 cecudos.
Robby went on to his affec and began to write out a code message to be sent to Lisbon vin London: "Can you chreit identity of anyone connected with Abwehr bought copy of dụ Mourler's Rebecca in Lisbon I so when?"
It was several days before the reply came, but it was worth waiting for "German nustatant military attache bought Rebecca from-bookstore April 3. Ho must be mad about book. Ha bought six coples."
Robby plcked up the telo phone "I want. Abelo and Weber made available to me for further and sirictly unaffilctol interrogation," he said.
assistant, "Oh," replied his "what do you want them for?" " want to have a talk to them about the modern English Then he novel," Robby rald. took out the copy of Rebecca
GREETING ...
to take it over.
A few thinutes
he had two men ovou furthöf abéná... in Cairo, Rommel with his forward troops ...
in handed over. "F'atl Hälsing The bag contained £500
radio
Rommel whlic Eppler Fleid Marshal
had of the speciel und was wiped who two sources of up. And among those gold sovereigns, and according with the Free French," he said. secret
"My friend here is American, thumbed through the pages of relied upon to Eppler Uiey are sill there.
Rebecca and scribbled on a information for his news about were captured were two Nazi and began to study it again....
experts, Abels and and The preparations were over
"Glad to know you," said the sheet of paper. Presently, he the condition of the British signal
Army in Egypt. (Eppler had Weber. now. They solemnly shook omeer. "Come on into the shode began to tap the keys. hands with Almaszy
been sent in to supplement and and his and I'll fix up a car to take you men, and the cars backed round in."
strengthen them.)
One was the American Mill- course, the British did not know MEANWHILE, at the Kl! Kat
It had been assigned to tha
night, club in the centre pl tary Mission in Cairo, for special task of listening tu for Calio, John Eppier wee watch It was not until an hour later, fotched though this may seem, Eppler's calls. (There were two ing a beautiful half-naked girl "As wearing British uniforms, algnal and the cars began their movement orders providet, by
an their long return journey lack across the R.T.. at the nation, were while the two men hunched over In 1941, a brilliant coup by the otherst one in Athens and an doing a danse du venire,
Secret Service had other in Bmyrhs.)
che swayed her amoatli, plump for Cairo. the set that the reply come Italiah count named flaunting British sign
body into the final frenetic the desert not had volunteered captured Britishe transport,
Glo and Tripoll, aboard the express
received: resulted in the code used by the
Abele and Weber were flown scribbled a hote, wrapped it in.
gyrations of the dance, he Eppler and Monkaster watch But the two Invaluable suitcases through: "Message to fight for the Nazis, was call- one of them could claim the
hands. (And one day someone back to Catro
with all their ed out of the air force and given normal rights of ordinary pel- td them disappear. "From now were no longer with them. With You know your Instructions. Americans falling into enemy
on." said Eppier, we speak stute daring, Eppler had taken Speed essential."
yet another big riskt. Ic
is going to tell the truth about belongings and equipment, and a £1 nole and asked a waller English. Come on, let's go."
himself hired
that, too!), servant,
taken to
interrogation.. They werd very thin, tired,
NIGHT LIFE Mohammed, from the south
Jafet the centre, There they steadfastly Each night the Americans sent refused to talk about the nature danger had joined him at the who, He was well stod for the job, and sun-blistered
(market place) and offered m weeks out from Gislo
back dopious report on the He had spent the pre-war years thres
the job of servant at a salary long explorations Oasis, one morning caller n halt
CAREFULLY, they packed the milles situation from Egypt to of their task, and were taken, table. of 25-a-month. worlding on
nway. But after they were gone radio away again and lock- Washington, and eich night
"Welcome home Hussein," Into the Western Desert, senrent a signal from their leader, In
IT was a solemn und frighten-
the Germans a British counter espionage General, the Itnding car, Almaszy turned
for both
Furthen up the train, in the ed the sulfense. Then leaving was decoded by
Fathy. The i moment
civilian agent, who, I shall call vald Helath John and Italians. to guard it,
dancer in the John Eppler, who Wingate had once done before to
wan them. From now on they knew third class carriage, Mohammed Monkaster
Robby, was going through their most famous
Middle East leaned over toolt wooden bench with Eppler went out to sample the long slumped back in his seat, ner they were on their own. They sat on him, for the tabled buf
As a check upon the informa- papers. vously licking his lips, and
his hand, ahd-pressed it agalmát secret radio, and night life of Cairo, and collect 1ost Oasis of Azzura,
were sples on enemy territory. £80.000, As his henchmen he picked Bald;--
If they were caught they would Daphne du Maurier's Reberce his Brat Information. He was on obtained in this way (and
Among the letters and passes her breast in a warm gesture of "Look I think this is Ave tough Certdan soldiers all
the end their lives before a firing at his feet. He was walding with happy and self-candent, con- the Americans were expressing
them, outside the tickett turn vinced that the stupid British the deepest pessimism over the and odd newspapers, all in greeting. members of Intelligence units, place we want"
sqund, Eppler looked through the The thought of It sobert up sile, on who know Egypt and the desert
Cairo station next would never discover his real foto of Egypt at this time) Germat, he suddenly noticed and all spoke English. Ho hot-sebured windscreen as the evth Eppler, a man of cbuillent morning,
identity, cager to get to work, Rommel had also sent special copy of Daphne du Maurier's driver quickened the pace chosen a route over unmapped the car. Ahead, a few hundred morose type looked grim and
of nature. Monkaster, a
full of zest at the prospect of Istening posts" into the desert novel Rebecca, in English, He "Baida, Ja
pocket, been
bey" se sad, sampling the delights of Caire to Intercept British mullary slipped it into wastes which hoch novor
then intending to take it back to his grinning,
Epplor
These were through the yards away, was a algn-post. unhappy." explored bédarë,
camo again, and sure he could provide messages.
teams of quarter to read; on the towards him "British corporal the vital What was it? The sign vast aand sea of the Enbars, another British dumpor come
that They picked up the remaining came in the night on the train. Rommel needed. He had beatha experts, and much vital news suddenly, the incongruity of the the room, he cald but he was certain he could get thing
and Tried to open sultensés. I 6oki and resourcë, anță. he had, con of British Intentions reached the other English books emang tak wie mure i nave.to do with more concerned with two nditoners, one spleen, through.
civilisation, with roads and started down the path towards you British offleer and very tacts too.
He Was so conhdent Germans in this way. sultcase Assiut. In ond routes and towns?
was angry type. He went way of the success of his tagit
that They strained their : kod oyda £80,000 in Belilah sterling notes. Whore we go now, ja bey?"
Du go the time that Eppler already, he was plamide to. the sign came newest, trying
"Shepherd's Hotel. We need make a tour of the city, to pick out thrously lus est mon to read it.
In the other were two light a drink!" And then witin n
but the villa most cutable logo. New Zealand troops of the about of triumph. Eppler cried weight Britt uniforms, with
"We need several drinks" Remmel to occupy onbestre, Eighth Army made an unexpect The toute strojókoch 2,500 milica aut "It's in Englisht We've lieutenants' stars Bown to them, såld Monkaster. He was look came the conqueror of Cairo ed sault on the forward poste He took the book out again with one of them I child woll" across the struk of Affien, that doko It We're here-masa the the cop, badges of the Rife ing less grim now, and the
b of the Clerin Atty. Rommel and begin to study to, diis eye" Good," said : Kyplerį? Pin equivalent of a journey from Nile at LABE!!!
excitement of their klíuation had . But oven on that dret, hight, himself whs, niños Cumpared, Chught the doing impress of that case I have work for train Land's End to America. And Almanzy drew his car to R
tun to infect Tim
though Eppler dầễ trót know it, and bad to sietoe with shaving handwilling, sa if someone had to do," " from "That night, In the bedrooms of the ilde Was wirrtily 45 (fun hoàp mill on his Les Aggi
NEXT WEEK: The Role of Yvette
It was probably one of the most remarkable deseri föurneys
of all time-even bý pescolimo standards.
of
Almmary bad not only to do halt beside the sign. "It we'¤...@ This series te adapted liver hid aplog into Egypt but to dramatia mament for all of The Chis and the Mice, gai hiamali kuok, too."
te them. The sign read in English; publiaḥvéd.shia. year.
moro
10
information
broken down
by
to be Apimaton ju for Xitan. British nasihat hints Back 15 NE KONDY THIG Bột Away, but Bi biletana
G.12.Q.- Monkaaler for uni- ADS Idiat-Headquarine#lash 241901, Angponta, ato notis. That whom -
hia
Eppler smiled with ledsurg
remembered his Egyptian namo not only because she had and spolce 16 hét in Afable. with a gesture at some British omers loudly drinking acros And strüel him. There were, no
Do thi THUC A to thang: belongings of the captured inen.. Why were the reading this them; the more 1-toate them," parifcular book! And where ahe old have to be nice, it ind they obtained 147
'fad'l sise" to show "pose this 2. tebinga, unit érbeis I havo figent