THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1958..
CAT AND MOUSE, Part Three: The net begins to close in... Rommel's master-spy in a desperate race against time
THE DANCING GIRL
GETS A MAJOR'S
BAG OF SECRETS
THE corporal from G.H.Q.
Middle East hammered the
last nails into the side of the Nile houseboat. "There you are, sir," he said. "With that aerial you can not only listen in to the whole world. You could broad- cast to Hitler himself if you wanted to."
"Thanks, corporal," said John Eppler, the German spy. "And now excuse me while I go and call Berlin."
From the moment of his arrival in Cairo, Eppler had
struck it lucky.
He had found one of the most dangerously anti-Bellish agents of all to old him in his mission. Her name was Hekmat. Fathmy. She was a dancer who per formed in Calro night clubs and met many British officers hi her spare time.
It was she who was to put into Eppler's hands a despatch case full of secrets taken from
British a major en the
sta. But that episode was still weeks away....
FIRST TASK
HERO
TER first task for Eppler was
to and him and his radio operator Monkster a safe bare from which they could transmit Information to the Nazi listening posts in the Western Desert, Athens, and Smyrna,
She rented them a luxu riously furnished houseboat the moored to the banks of Nile in the fashionable Cairo suburb of Zamalek,
The rent was £100 a month. Eppler could afford to pay. He elif had the bulk of the £80,000 the Abwehr (the German spy organisation) had given him. for his mission,
THIS MAN is John Eppler. Mo was Rommel's master-spy in Cairo,
For him, two night club girls played docisive rolos. Ono brought him his biggost haul of Allied socrats; the other was the first of his onomios to identify him as a Gorman agonti
by LEONARD MOSLEY
information to the Germans for worked the gramophone played a long time, through an offletal dance music. I would mood in the neutral Swedish Embassy, clever investigator to guess that She attended meetings of the inside this commonplace article fanatical Moslem Brotherhood, of fumiture was a secret trans- errand-girl mitter capable of sending between its leaders and ami- messages to the Wehrmacht." British officers in the Egyptian Army.
and acted
Our agents who had the task of shadowing her found them selves in some curious places.
Sometimes, within the space of an hour, she would move from a cabaret dance floor to a vilal political meeting in on Old City mosque, or from a British officer's room to the parlour of a young Egyptian who had sworn to drive the British into the sea,
As I watched her dance in the Kit Kat cabaret in Caro, 1 couldn't help wondering about Hekmat Fahmy.
Hekmat herself lived in a houseboat next door but one to CHE
CHARMING
was me
most at the Eppler'a. In between lived exciting dancers I have over
the Intelligence seen. She from major
would go through Corps attached to GJLQ the accelerations of her dance, Middle East. Is a perfeet all undulant hips, Blicking euver." said Eppler. "No one anger, and oestatle face, and I
think of looking for us wond WALI
ask myself; What next door to a British agent.' happened to this girl that slic
"
hates me so much?
Though she is still alive, free once more, I still haven't found
31 was the major's corporal who helped Eppler bulld his radio p-not knowing, of course, that it was intended to out. Broadcast to the Germans.
For John Eppler, she was just And several times the major the kind of intermart he need- was invited over to take drinks ed. She was shrewd, charming,
or to play a round of golf. He lovely
dia discover,
nover
until the
Sadant checked the set and confirmed that it was in work- ing order. Eppier was plunged into profound gloon.
"What is the use of risking our lives It they won't even reply to us when we call them?" he asked.
Brigade Heutenant who never Jets the other chap buy him a drink?
But when Milliary Security arrived Eppier had gone. Tho money he had paid over tje bar was confreated and turz- ed to Intelligence.
:
Eppler left no stone unturned in his effort to track down the nows he needed; and there were quite a few stones in Calro in those, hysterical days, and some most peculiar people to be found He bribed underneath them. He was well aware now that dancers and waiters at all the Imo was growing short. Every big cabarets and hotels. news bulletin, end even the censored stories in the Egyptian newspapers, indicated that the sima for the big battle for kho Niko Delta was coming very close.
In the streets students openly lecred at British troops as they passed. Shops were shuttered and cafes were emply.
From the chimneys of Q.11.Q., Middle East, moke burned poured and wisps of paper flattered down to the guiler of Garden Citý as top- des- secret documenta. wero troyed. (The day upon which most documents were burned came to be known among
G.II.Q. troops a "Ash Wed- nesday."
If Eppler was to fall mission, he had to have secret information quickly.
FACTS...
IN
BRIBES
TN all these peregrinations,
Eppler spent money. He spent knock it on bribes, on food and drink, door. and on women.
Monkaster opened the radiogram. Inside there was a transmitter, and a space big enough to lako an operator.
An hour inter two tipsy spies companion waa on Egyptian they crept past the Intelligence major's boat to Hekmat's own. were drinking at the bar of the Copi named Amr Bey. But be
and feeling very wasn't. There Hekmat carefully opened night club
HIB real name was Major the door. of her bedroom a few inches and gestured to Eppier to look inside.
át her dressing-room Major Emith mice. He trade would like to see you," saka the
mistrable. In a like mine you may as well voice of on attendant, enjoy yourself while you can,”
"When you are
said afterwards, "You know you will never grow up to enjoy your old are. So you play while you work, and try not think
the firing squad.”
about
It only Eppler had played a little more wisely the fale that 'awalted him might have been very different Indeed. For one his night, in the Dug Out Bar of top the
Hotel,
2 Metropolitan favourite haunt of British officers and war correspondents, he picked up a girl named Yvelic. She told him she was French girl from Beirut and that she worked as a dateer.
He took her back to the
Hekmat Fatámy know Smith
On the bed lay Major Smith, well. For several months he had
over a chair, been besieging her with his choring stentorously. Hls uni attentions, pending her flowers form was flung and presents and money, and But, as Hekmat Fathmy closed at the even going so far as to propose the door, she pointed marriage as soon as I can get table, and it was there that his
divorce from my wife in despatch case lay.
"It's all right," she said to Eppler. "I gave him some- thing in bla whisky. Ilo won't wake up for a long time yet, and then I will be back with him. But look at these.
a
Britain."
So far, almost from instinet, she had not given in to him, but had merely allowed him to take her to dances and suppers. She know he was on the general staff and was privy to secret information, sad it she was to find out anything he knew she must make the price of ker vistus sieup. She asked the attendant to lot
Her voice rose, "I have been through them. It is everything everything we want to know!" And it was. Almost every- Lop It was u thing, anyway. to look at. She had pOMMEL wanted much more plenty of friends, even among I explicit information than
secret list of the units, the Now end came, that the charming her
enemies. And she was the bar gossip, Eppler had so far house-boat with him, and when him in, lie was in battle dress Zealanders, the South Africans, yehung Exyplan and the taci- willing to risk her life to help gathered. He wanted facts re- she left he gave her £20 and and he had a canvas despatch and the Australians, who would Juma American lying next dour
be coming out to form the last hlm get the information that levant to the fate of Egypt, and asked her to come again. They
for two case over his shoulder. to him were Nazi spies.
line of defence before Alexandria would bring the German Army perhaps the course of the whole Every night Eppier and
nights later.
"I've come to say goodbye." and the Nile. into Egypt. Monkaster got down to
Smith told her. "I'm leaving But Yvette was no ordinary for the front, in tako these"-- Transmitter and tried to
That night she brought to the
dancer. She was an agent contact with Abele and Weber, houseboat Д young Egyptian their two comrader who were Army lieutenant named Anwar supposed to be manning the
al Sadaat. Sadaat, who la new listening post in the deserta Minister in President Nassor's But except for the acknowledg- Government, WAS then one ment of their first message, of the leaders of the anti-British
their make
they could get no reply. Nor Young Officers' Group. (Nasser was there anything but, silence himself was stationed in the when they changed frequencies Sudan.) It was hu who would and signalled Athens and give the signal for revolt in the Smyrna. They could not know Egyptian Army should Rommel that Abele and Weber had been break through. captured by the British, and
war
Where will the British make their stand when .I begin my last attack?
What forces; in men, tanks, and guns, will be af their disposal?
Who will lead them?
rendezvous
new which was
of a It gave detalls working for the Jewish Agency he slapped the despatch cast Armoured Brigade
"to General Richie. I don't being sent into the battle. It In Egypt, and when she left know when, or even if 131 be gave the number of new mines sho went straight to the back."
Ageney to report.
The
men i was with last LAST DRINK
night," she said.
"He says he
were now under interrogation In Sadent was at first not very more than upon his Egyptian he has too much money!"
the Nazi sples oflicer contacts, to get it for impressed with with whom he was supposed to him. work.
Calro; and that, because of this, Abwehr, for the moment, Mive was keeping adib, silence.
NO REPLY
Meanwhile, he
.
€330.
saw him.
---250,000 in all-which were on
the way to strengthen the line.
Not only that. It gave news that would be all-important to
at one that the main British line of defence would be Alamein, and not several miles further west, a Rommel be- leved. The only nows it dit not give wag whether or there would Do a new British commander in the field.
WONDERING
not
is an Egyptian, but Iem sure te is German.
beard him HEKMAT eyed the despatch companion, and
"Is it Important? the information talking to his This was
with Saarland Must you go tonight?" Eppler needed, and he was rely. he spoke ing upon Hekmal Falhmy, for accent. He is very nervous and
"Yes" he said. "Then just give me a minute," She was told to keep in con- said Hekmat, going behind a dact with her new friend and himself report back to the agency. But, screen, "and I'll cancel my next "I rang the bell of the house haunted clubs and cabarets, for the moment, no one told the performance and go with you." "Back to my shoke his head. cald, "and Hekmat hoping to pick up snatches of British about Yvette's suspicions, And then when she opened the door. The two conversation that would give him Nor had the two captured houseboat-just for one
HASTILY, Eppler copled down Abcle and drink, darling," she said. signalmen, THEY prosumed that their Germans were there. I glanced a lead.
the details, gave the Egyptian British radio had gone wrong, and round the room in which I
He went into the Turf Club, Weber, responded to
Of all that happened after the dancer a grateful hug, "vaiched Arrival of
and the her go back into the bedroom to
hurried Egyption dancer on the house her major, and then
night in back to his houseboat. There he boat at Zamalek that July, we have only the account was met by an equally excited of Hokmat Fathmy and Eppler Monkaster.
for Smith himself is dead and cannot give his version.
boat," he
Nazl
all day Monkaster tinkered with found myself, and I was quickly it. But when the Abwehr still enlightened about the sort of which allowed Briilsh officers to pressure to make them tak. did not reply, Hekmat Fathmy life which these "young Nazia join as temporary members, In nald: "I will bring you someone were loading. who knows all about radios. He
will see what is wrong."
the
Blut from the start part played in the plot. by Hekmat Fathmy was always the great enigma,
The Brkish ugent, Hobbic. The guise of Rifle Brizado fod questlaned them repeatedly lieutenant and bought drinks all about the copy of Daphne du furnished round.
Maurier's novel Rebecca, which had been found in their posses slon, and tried to bluff them into admitting that it contained a codo..
"The place · Was like something out of tha Arabian Nights. In these sots and voluptuous surrounds it. was clear that Eppler
and
Sandy (ble name for. Mank asfer) might rapidly forget the mission for which they had been sent to Erypt;
TE
SUSPICIOUS
They resolutely refused to heard plenty of derogatory talis and repeatedly claimed remarks about the Eighth their rights as prisoners of war. Army's present leaders, "but And although Robble row was nothing about who would almost certain their job had
What deeply ingrained and tritter hatred was it that con- sumed this beautiful dancer, and made her so eager to hurt,
"I looked around for the replace them; and he left been to keep coniect with D humble, and humiliate the transmiter. The OONI
seemed burriedly when he noticed a German spy in Egypt, where did British during that critical to be full of bottles of perfume other officer set the telephone that got him? summer of the war in Cairo in and whisity. Eppler 100ks me after egoing him suspiciously.
79427
out into the hall and
showed
Why did she prove to be such me a radiogen, with a lid of It was as well he did.
German carved wood. a willing aide to the spy in our midet?
Smith
itst
He killed himself by driving his truck on to a minefleld just
and the Germans recovered his before the battle of Alom Haifa, body.
EXCITED
of Ho honded film a sheet paper with a trembling hand
ho Tve made contact, John,” sold.
On the paper were the words: CALLING CONDOR. CALLING CONDOR ABELL WEBER IN BRITISH HANDS. YOU ARE BEING MONITORED. SEND ONLY VITALLEST INFORMA- BY FOR For where in all Egust, was UT the version he is no TION. STANDING
longer alive to deny is this: YOU 2400 HOURS TONIGHT. this spur? And who was lie?
Ha alerted all the security Just before midnight there was
a knock on the door of Eppler's Eppler wald: "We've got to other officer Was telephoning and counter-espionage agencies Military Security. "I'm sure the in the Middle East in the hope housebout, and Hekmat Fathmy get them back now. Now, d'you It was, admittedly, a moment Under the lid there was the fellow isn't genuine, the pmficer that like Eppler yould came in. She wore only a silk hear? Try to recall them."
And her hair 3 turntable cald. "He always gays in UK. pick up the crap of informa ng gown in the war when more than usual pick-up and
hung down to her shoulders. But though they worked at
ihe few Egyptians were playing for but by pressing a catch the pound notes. Where did he get on that would give
sef for hours' there She was very excited. mately when our fair-weather whole top of the radiogram fem, ok? Smugned, "em in frem bryale lis needed.
no reply, At oight o'clock Eppler friends were running for cover, opened up to revost a pecs big Blighty, Th bat And anyway. But for Eppler the break
"Came with mo," the whis- and Monkaster, stubbled, weary when the trafors were begin enough to contain a transmitter have you ever beard of a Rile came first.
pered, and bockoned blic to and fearful, sipped glasses of ring to come up into the light, and operator, A ́ small
One night in mid-July follow, her. In the darkness Whisky for their bronk fast and But it waan't the Immediate illuminated the space, and the
Hekant Fathmy had "thfáhed
wondered. "Let's give it à rest tactical situation, however, that operator, onco Inside, could be This series la adoptod from dance at the Kit Kat content and
until tomorroW,” "Inida - Epping This is not his rack name, for well to over to te Kit Kat #made #clarat Fathony anli- hidden from view by closing the "The Cat and the, Mice,” to be cabonet and was putting on ressons which will become obvious Bettiah. She lind been passing lid on top of him, While he published this year?
some clothes when there was a later.
and get drunk,”
him the
was
They had all the information Alfred William Sanson. And he they needed now. But by mid- was one of the cleverest British night, would they still be free to counter-espionage agents in the
} sit and wait, sond 17 All they could do was Middle East.
DID IN AS THEY OFTEN
GERMAN And while they waited the THE WAR, THE
SERVICE HAD closing more tightly SEGRET not wan around thm. For a third man had LAUNCHED, A MOST DARING
IN ESPIONAGE Jomed them at the Kit Kat bar, EXPLOIT and they talked
I AND THEN together
MADE A MOST Arabic. Eppler thought their ELEMENTARY MISTAKE.
NEXT WEEK
The British trap is prepared...
WEEKEND Friell
LIBERAL HQ
"He's got another winner of an idea-how about trying to get Robin Douglas-Homs to stand as a
candidate 2"
FOLL
“We're against missilo bases, but we're for, Artezkun
Kroons!
: