AustLit

'Armand Von Splitzen is the Australian born son of a German father and a French mother. As a young man, he promised to disappoint his parents by entering the Church, but his mother's pleading effectively turns him to the study of law. In this ability of hers to shape his destiny is shown the boy's natural regard for the French, while the assiduity with which he pursues his studies is typically German. Early in 1914 they visit Germany, where Armand meets his cousin, Carl Von Splitzen, a youth of his own age and physically his twin. When war breaks out, Armand, on the eve of being called to the Bar, joins the A.I.F. Here he rises quickly from the ranks, and the fact that he can talk both French and German as a native attracts the attention of his superior officers as a possible candidate for the British Secret Service. His first job is in France on the road that leads from Meteren to Bailleul, where, as Sergeant-Major Forbes, he boards with a French family in an endeavour to discover the identity of a mysterious despatch rider who nightly carries information to the Germans at Bailleul. His efforts are rewarded with success, but the discovery that in serving his country he has shot a French- girl for whom he cherishes a strong affection, sends him off in the pursuit of other duties by which he can effect reprisals on the nation that made such a tragedy possible. Dressed as a captain of the Prussian Guards, in which regiment Carl is serving as a captain, Armand enters the German lines. Here, owing to his remarkable resemblance to his cousin, he is welcomed as Captain Von Splitzen, for Carl has been missing for some days, and his follow officers are overjoyed at his return. However, before he can further familiarise himself with the conditions of the German Army, Armaud is severely wounded, and, after a long period of unconsciousness, awakens to find himself in Berlin with his cousin's fiancee by his bedside, completely deceived as to his identity. His uncle and aunt welcome him as their son, and he spends his convalescence at their palatial home. Gradually the truth leaks out, and, with German thoroughness, they do the only thing possible under the circumstances, hand him over to the authorities; but the influence of the elder Von Splitzen, who is a Judge, saves the boy from the death penalty. He is placed in the prison camp at Sturrumgrattz, which, in addition to its cruelty, boasts that no prisoner has ever escaped with his life from its confines. However, Armand proves that every rule has its exception by successfully escaping, and, while at large, makes contact with a branch of the British Secret Service very actively engaged in the heart of Germany.' Review in The West Australian 27 September 1930