Blair of the Mounties, the story of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police.
We present the 13th episode in the dramatic series Blair of the Mounties.
1915, the dominion of Canada at war since our last episode. Three more Canadian
divisions have left Canada for the battlefront. After the Battle of the
Marne and the drive for the Channel ports, the great armies have settled down
to the long war of attrition. The grim lines of trenches stretch from the
English Channel to Switzerland. Inspector Blair and his assistant Sergeant
Marshal are now on special service in France.
Where are you Marshal? Right here inspector. It's pretty dark. Yes, where's that guide?
Here I am sir, right ahead of you. Take care now and keep on the deckboards, the
much pretty deep here. How far is it to this 90th battalion headquarters? Just a little
piece now sir, we're getting closer to the line. There's the old ridge ahead of you,
you see them flags going up. Fine, go ahead. What kind of war inspector? Look at all
those fireworks. Them's the German trenches, they use an awful lot of
flares. Hey! Wait for the developer McGinty and it's me old friend Spike so it is.
Ah, get you with it. What do you want? I have a couple of gentlemen here to see the
commanding officer. All right runner, better wait here. You too Marshal. I'll go down
and talk to Colonel Smith. Now watch your heads, they're going down them stairs.
Hello, down there. I'm looking for Colonel Smith. Here you are, I'm Colonel Smith.
Oh, excuse me sir. Good evening sir, my name's Blair. Oh yes, Blair. I've heard about you from the
general. Sit down. Man that gas curtain. Thanks. Here's a general's letter sir. No, never
mind that, I know the contents. This is a bad business Blair. If you just give me an
outline of the things, perhaps I can help you. Well I hope so, but I don't see how. We've
had lots of spy scares but this is the real thing. Any proof that there's a
spy working? Proof? No, plenty of indications though. The enemy's on to
everything we do. Our reliefs get shot up and our raiding
parties are simply getting massacred. Any suspicions? Not a trace. What about your
officers? Blair, I'd stake my life on every one of them. I see. I sent for
Ralston. He's our scout officer, knows more about this than I do. He'll work
with you. Now who have you got with you? Just Sergeant Marshall and then the
general lent me his own run-in. He's alright I suppose. Who? Mickey Flanagan?
I should say so. Knows every foot of those trenches and he's the most expert
ration thief in the Canadian Army. Seem rather versatile chap. Yes, Mickey's
travelled a lot. No education but talks several languages. You should hear him
talk to our German prisoner. You mean he speaks German? Just like a native. That's
very interesting. Oh, come in Ralston. Blair, this is Lieutenant Ralston.
How are you Ralston? Ralston, this is the special service officer on that spy job.
Give him all the assistance he wants. Very well sir. Alright Blair, that's all now.
Let me know if you need anything. See you in the morning. Thanks. Good night sir.
Good night. Now what's the program Ralston? Well I thought we'd talk things over
first sir. Then we can look around the front line. It's bright moonlight and we
can see pretty well. Right, that suits me. Now here's a map of our trench positions
in the German lines opposite. You see we're on the slope of a ridge here and
the Germans are on the other slope. The top of the ridge is no man's land. What are
these circular things along the front line? Well those are the big mine craters.
There's one of them inside our line. Yes, it's funny you should mention that. What do you mean?
Well you see it's the only point from which we can see into the German lines.
The only thing we have got on the theory is the spy came in that somebody had
been signaling to the enemy from that crater. What do you think of the idea
yourself? I think it's a very likely story. All right we might as well start somewhere.
Suppose we take shifts tonight. You and Marshal and I. We watch that crater through the
hours of darkness. Two hour shifts eh? Oh well nothing like starting it at once I
suppose. Exactly. Never mind that trip around the trenches. We'll start in my way. Marshal you
take first shift. I'll take second. Ralston the third. Understand? Right on inspector.
Fine. I'm gonna turn in for a couple of hours. See you later. Breakfast ready sir.
Oh hello Mickey. What time is it? Six thirty sir and a fine morning. Hey wake up
Marshal. Breakfast. Oh good morning sir. Better turn out and get something to eat Marshal.
Ralston will be around pretty soon. Did you pick up on anything last night sir? No I didn't
expect to. What? Oh then you don't think much of this crater idea. I thought it
was pretty foolish myself. On the contrary I believe it's going to work out all
right. You do? It doesn't look reasonable to me. There's somebody coming. Oh hello
Ralston. Come in. Thanks. I have some news for you. That so? Oh come on down. Did you spot anything last
night when you're on duty? I certainly did. What was it? Well between 315 and 330 there was a
signal light working from Winnipeg credit toward the German line. Listen Ralston
surely a man couldn't use a light right out in the open with hundreds of men
around he'd be spotted in no time. Well I'll explain. You see nobody ever thinks
of looking back from the front line and another thing there's only one point in
our trenches from which you can see that crater. That's where we were watching
last night. I see. Yes that's reasonable. It's a clever stunt. Any other details
Ralston? Yes just about 315 there was a blue flare from the German lines just
behind Spanbrook readout. I believe it was a signal. Any of our men in that crater?
They weren't supposed to be. You think this fellow will try it on again tonight?
Well I don't know. Well we'll be on hand again tonight hey. Well then I'll see you
tonight sir. Yes. Goodbye Ralston. Goodbye sir.
Just a little further inspector. Look out mind that hole. Man needs eyes like a cat
in this darkness. Well it'll lighten up soon. Well here's our spot sir. This is where I
stood when I saw that light working. Yes and now what? Do you see the crater? Yes I can
just make it out. Well if that fellow starts signaling again Mars will be
within a few feet of him. We ought to get him. I hope so. Do you have any ideas of
your own on this case inspector? Oh just one or two but we'll see how this works out.
What time is it? It's past 315. Look inspector behind you. What is it? Over
that high point in the German lines. A flare. Don't you see it? I see. A brewish saw the
light. Yes that's it. Just like last night. Now watch the crater. There he goes. I
don't see a thing. Oh yes up near the top of the crater. Yes he's sending Morse
letters. That's it. But surely they can't see that from the enemy lines. It's just
a tiny light. Oh yes they will with high-powered glasses. That's quite a
message he's sending. Code of some sort. Sure you've got that crater
surrounded? Absolutely. Come on let's pick him up. All right. Look here inspector I
can't understand this. Aren't you going to question that man we got in the crater
last night before you talk to the Colonel Smith? Well no not just now
Martell. What's his name by the way? Hanson. He says he's a Swede. More likely a German.
I see. It seems to me that this fellow Ralston is stealing the show. Does it? Just hang
on for a little while. You'll see some fun. We've got to meet Ralston and Colonel
Smith in a few minutes. So the mystery is all cleared up. Yes apparently sir. I want to
congratulate Ralston here. It's a neat piece of work. That's very decent Blair. Of
course the credit for the man's capture really belongs to Ralston. As I told the
general it takes a man with frontline experience. Probably so. I've no wish to
rob Ralston of anything that's coming to him. No no of course not. Well Blair
there won't be any need for you to stay now that it's all cleared up. No sir but
there is a small matter that I have to attend to. Ralston put your hands up.
Don't move. All right Martell take him. Keep still Ralston. No use. What in
thunder does this mean? Blair leave that off the road. Just a moment sir. You've seen my
credentials. I have authority to arrest any person of any rank in this battalion.
I'm arresting this man who passes under the name of William Ralston. What on earth
are you talking about? I mean that this man is a German subject born in
Nuremberg, educated in Canada. He joined the officers training corps in Montreal in
1914. Let me introduce you to Erich von Sturm officer in the Imperial German
Army. Clip past us. I'll have you court martial for exceeding your authority.
German officer my eyes. Before you do anything foolish Colonel Smith you better
hear the rest of this story and I'd advise you to turn this man Hanson loose.
He's innocent. Innocent? Didn't we catch him sending signal? Where's the evidence
that he did that signaling? Well for that matter where's your evidence against
Ralston? Marshal. Yes sir. Take this officer's belt and tune it off. They suppose the next
thing you'll tell me that Ralston was sending those signals himself. Just what
he was doing. Hot? He was standing with you all the time 50 feet away from the
crater. Excuse me a moment. Find anything Marshal? Yes sir. Got a lot of fine rubber
core around his waist and there's a little electric lamp at the end of it.
Good that's what I want. Well bless my soul. Colonel Smith that's my reason for
arresting this officer. He's your spy. He was working that
signaling himself with the wire marshal found. He was always 50 or 60 feet away
when he sent those messages. It is pretty dark but I happen to spot the trick. Good
Lord. I, I Ralston or whatever your name is. This is monstrous. You masquerade in
the uniform of my battalion. You do this after all I've done for you. Why it's the
most terrible thing. General Smith. This gentleman's my prisoner. I must ask you not to
make accusations. Abominable. Colonel Lieutenant I'm going to send you back to
Corps headquarters on the close arrest. You'll get a fair trial. That's all I can
promise you. That's all I can ask sir. May I offer my congratulations. Sorry about
all this von Sturm. Don't apologize. We both serve our countries. I was afraid you
weren't as foolish as you pretended to be. All right marshal take him away. Oh hello
inspector. Is it all over. Yes it's over. For heaven's sake get me a drink. Sure. Sure.
What about that execution. Did they. Yes they shot him at 430 this morning. I
know I felt so utterly sick of my job as I do at this moment. Did he stand up to
it. Did he. God he was wonderful. If you'd seen the way that kid faced a firing
party. They read out the sentence and asked him if he had anything to say. And
did he. Oh he just smiled and said. Dutchman River Alice. Then they shot him.
Oh for heaven's sake give me that drink. There you are. Thanks. And so the boy could take it.
Of course. Ever see a German officer that couldn't. God I'll never forget the nerve
of that youngster. Say what you like about Germany but there must be something
fine about a nation that turns out men like that. You have heard the 13th
episode in Blair of the mountains. Tune in for the next episode in this series
entitled the naked truth.