diff options
Diffstat (limited to '41435-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 41435-0.txt | 11714 |
1 files changed, 11714 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/41435-0.txt b/41435-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f854bb --- /dev/null +++ b/41435-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11714 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41435 *** + +BRITISH SECRET SERVICE DURING THE GREAT WAR + +BY +NICHOLAS EVERITT + +AUTHOR OF +"ROUND THE WORLD IN STRANGE COMPANY," ETC., ETC. + + + Not Heaven itself upon the past has power; + But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour. + DRYDEN. + + +_THIRD EDITION_ + + +_LONDON: HUTCHINSON & CO. +PATERNOSTER ROW_ + + + THIS BOOK + IS DEDICATED TO + VISCOUNT NORTHCLIFFE + WHO + DURING THE THROES OF OUR NATIONAL + CRISIS PROVED HIMSELF THE GREATEST + OF ALL LIVING ENGLISHMEN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I + +WAR AND THE INTRODUCING OF JIM + PAGE +THE PROSPERITY OF 1914--AN OMINOUS CALM--MULTITUDE OF GERMAN +SPIES--HOW ENGLAND WAS UNDERMINED--SHORTSIGHTEDNESS +OF OUR LIBERAL GOVERNMENT--SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF PROMINENT +MEN--SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN'S HISTORICAL DESPATCH--RUSH +TO THE COLOURS--OUR UNPREPAREDNESS--INTRODUCING +JIM--PATRIOTS FROM AFAR--F. C. SELOUS' ROUGHRIDERS--INITIATION +INTO THE FOREIGN SECRET SERVICE--ADVISORY +TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS 27 + +CHAPTER II + +SECRET SERVICE ORGANISATIONS, COMPARISONS +AND INCIDENTALS + +ESPIONAGE IN PAST AGES--MODERN BRITISH SECRET SERVICE FOUNDED, +1910--POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS--COMPARISONS--JEALOUSIES OF +BIG DEPARTMENTS--EXAMPLES OF RECKLESS EXTRAVAGANCE--BUSINESS +MEN WANTED--ECONOMIES IN THE SECRET SERVICE--BUNGLING +INCOMPETENCE--IMPASSIVENESS OF THE FOREIGN +OFFICE--GERMAN WAR METHODS--FRENCH AND DUTCH SECRET +SERVICE--MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, B.C.--RISE AND DEVELOPMENT +OF GERMAN SECRET SERVICE--THE EFFICIENCY OF SCOTLAND +YARD--DETAILS OF GERMAN FOREIGN PROPAGANDA AND +EXPENDITURE--BRITISH SECRET SERVICE: ITS COST AND +FRUGALITIES--MAJOR HENRI LE CARON--NATHAN HALE--SIMILITUDE +OF THE LIFE OF A SECRET SERVICE AGENT 44 + +CHAPTER III + +INITIATION TO ACTIVE WORK + +CROSSING THE NORTH SEA--A MEMORABLE MEETING--INSTRUCTIONS--ON +A CARGO BOAT--SNOW-STORMS--FALSE ALARM--DANISH +PROFITEERS--ENGLISH CONSUL PROFITEERING IN FOOD TO +GERMANY--HORSE-SMUGGLING--MEETING MY C.O.--BLOODED 74 + +CHAPTER IV + +INTER-COMMUNICATING WITH TEMPORARY CODES +AND INCIDENTS + +GRAMMATICAL CODE--A TÊTE-À-TÊTE--CONFIDENCES--MISCONSTRUED +MESSAGE LEADS TO DOMESTIC TRAGEDY--LOCAL CODES--AN +ALTERED MESSAGE--AN IMPORTANT MISSION--SHADOWED--ATTEMPTED +THEFTS OF PAPERS--A CONTRETEMPS--LEAKAGE OF +NEWS FROM ENGLAND--WATCHING A SUSPECT--FALSE MESSAGE +DISCLOSES AN OPEN CODE--GEOMETRICAL CODES--THE KNOT +CODE--A FASCINATING ACTRESS, A CONFIDING ATTACHÉ, AND A +MYSTERIOUS CHESS PROBLEM--CLEVERNESS OF FRENCH SECRET SERVICE 82 + +CHAPTER V + +LOCATING GERMAN MINE-LAYERS + +COAST-HUNTING--A FIND--SPIES OF MANY NATIONS--OBLITERATING +TRAILS--TRACKING DOWN THE "BERLIN"--MARVELLOUS NAVIGATION +BY GERMANS--INTERNED--GERMAN ARSON--AN IMPUDENT +INVITATION--A RUSSIAN SUGAR-QUEEN'S YACHT--QUEER COMPANY--SAPPING +HUN INTELLIGENCE--PLAYING ON WEAKNESSES--SUCCESS--LOSS +OF H.M.S. "AUDACIOUS"--SOLILOQUISING 97 + +CHAPTER VI + +DEPOSING A RIVAL + +RETREAT AND WOULD-BE REST--WINTRY WEATHER IN THE NORTH +SEA--THE SECRET MESSAGE--RIVAL'S REMOVAL COMMANDED +FORTHWITH--SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSITION--SEEKING ONE'S +COLLEAGUES--SOLVING THE RIDDLE--PREPARING THE TRAP--THE +LONELY SENTRY AND THE MYSTERIOUS BOATMAN--CAPTURE, +ARREST, SEARCH AND FIND--THE INCRIMINATING DOCUMENT--INSTANT +DEPORTATION--EXULTATION--NEXT, PLEASE 107 + +CHAPTER VII + +FIGHTING GERMAN AGENTS WITH FAKED WEAPONS + +DANGER WARNING--DISGUISED TEUTONS--HAIR-TESTS--OBSERVATION +FROM WITHOUT--CLEVER FEMALE GUARD--DEPORTED HUN AGENTS--TOO +MANY WRECKS--BOOT CHANGE TRICK--FLIGHT--PATIENCE +UNREWARDED--NIGHT WORK AT THE DOCKS--A SUDDEN ATTACK--ODDS +OF THREE TO ONE--PIPE-FAKING FOR MAKE-BELIEVE REVOLVER--A +STERN CHASE--AMERICAN RUSE BAFFLES PURSUERS--THE +SANCTUARY OF CONVIVIALITY 118 + +CHAPTER VIII + +ESCAPING FROM THE CLUTCHES OF A VERY +CLEVER LADY + +DISGUISES--IMPORTANCE OF HANDS--SERVICE ON A BALTIC +TRADER--"IDLE, DIRTY, GOOD-FOR-NOTHING SCAMP"--A TENDER-HEARTED +LADY--A FASHIONABLE GATHERING--THE ENGLISH DUDE--THEIR SECOND +MEETING--SUSPECTED--CLEVER FENCING--WHALES WITH IRON +SKINS--ALLIANCE OFFERED--A WOMAN SCORNED--MEDITATION--FLIGHT 128 + +CHAPTER IX + +WILD-FOWLING EXTRAORDINARY AND TRAWLING +FOR SUBMARINES IN NEUTRAL WATERS + +GERMANY'S WESTERN COAST--SHOOTING WILD-FOWL AND BEING SHOT +AT--AN INTREPID SPORTSMAN--COLLAPSED ZEPPELIN--ESCAPING +WAR PRISONERS--CARELESS LANDSTURMERS--A SUPPOSED-TO-BE +NORWEGIAN SKIPPER--NATIVE CURIOSITY--DARE-DEVIL CHRISTIAN--A +MYSTERIOUS SHIP--GOOSE-STALKING OVER A LAND MINE--TOO +NEAR DEATH TO BE PLEASANT--THE NOCTURNAL SUBMARINE +RAIDER--NIGHT TRAWLING FOR STRANGE FISH--ENEMY'S +SECRET RECONNOITRING EXPOSED AND THWARTED 137 + +CHAPTER X + +THE MYSTERIOUS HARBOUR + +FRONTIER PROWLING--STARTLING RUMOURS--TERRIBLE WEATHER--EVADING +SENTRIES--MAPPING THE WORKS--REFUGE WITH +SMUGGLER--CONFIDENCES ON SUPER-SUBMARINES AND ZEPPELINS--A +COUNTRY INN--PREPARING DESPATCHES--FORCIBLE INTRUSION--ARRESTED +FOR A GERMAN SPY--SEARCH AND INTERROGATION--SUMMARY +TRIAL--TRICKING THE SEARCHERS--COMMITTED FOR TRIAL--ESCAPE 148 + +CHAPTER XI + +MAD GAMBLING AND A BIG BRIBE + +KALEIDOSCOPE CHANGES IN SECRET SERVICE AGENT'S LIFE--CALLED +TO NORWEGIAN CAPITAL FOR ORDERS--ENFORCED IDLENESS--A +WAR GAMBLER--HUGE CREDITS--TWISTING THE TAIL OF THE +BRITISH LION--AVERTING POSSIBLE WAR--FRENZIED FINANCE--A +COLOSSAL BRIBE--TOP-HEAVY ARGUMENT--NEWSPAPER INFLUENCE--A +GOOD BARGAIN FOR ENGLAND--MILLIONAIRE IN THREE DAYS 161 + +CHAPTER XII + +SHADOWED BY POLICE + +POSING AS A JOURNALIST--CREDENTIALS--SUBTLE +SUGGESTIONS--SUSPICIONS--A FALLEN STAR--SOLD TO THE +POLICE--INSTINCTIVE WARNINGS--TEMPTATION--INTERCEPTED +ADULATIONS--A SERIOUS BLOW--TESTS--DANGER +SIGNALS--FLIGHT--HERR SCHMIDT--DOUBLE TRACKING--ARREST +WARRANT POSTPONED 170 + +CHAPTER XIII + +DODGING FRONTIER GUARDS AND SEARCHING FOR +ONE'S SELF + +FRONTIER GUARDS--SMUGGLERS--RIGOROUS SEARCHES--UNEARTHING +VALUABLE GERMAN SECRETS REGARDING SUPER-ZEPPELINS, +SUBMARINES AND THE PARIS BIG CANNON--A LOQUACIOUS +WAITER--HEAD-MONEY FOR MY CAPTURE--25,000 MARKS, DEAD OR +ALIVE--LOOKING FOR ONESELF--A CAPTURE--CROSSING THE SCHLESWIG +FRONTIER--A FRIEND IN NEED--DANGEROUS ENTERPRISE--KIEL +HARBOUR--SAFE RETURN 180 + +CHAPTER XIV + +AVOIDING COLD MURDER + +SWARMS OF BAGMEN--JESUITICAL METHODS--MYSTERIOUS +DISAPPEARANCES--UNACCOUNTABLE ACCIDENTS--AVOIDING A +DUEL--FASCINATED BY A HUNGARIAN--A LUDICROUS TRAVELLER--FRACAS +AT A THEATRE--INSULT, ASSAULT AND CHALLENGE--CHOOSING +WEAPONS--DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME--FIXING DETAILS--EARLY +TRAVELLING--DÉNOUEMENT--"AM TAG" 190 + +CHAPTER XV + +ESCAPING FROM A SUBMARINE + +A SHIP OF ILL-OMEN--ATTACKED--HELL LET LOOSE--PANIC--FIGHT +FOR THE BOATS--COWARDLY CONDUCT--POWERLESS TO ACT--SHRAPNEL +AT SEA--SURRENDER--TAKING CHARGE OF SHIP AND CARRYING +ON--VALUE OF SMOKE BOXES--TERRIBLE ANTICIPATIONS--LAND +AT LAST--REMINISCENCES UNTOLD 200 + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CASEMENT AFFAIR + +GRAVE IMPUTATIONS--NORWEGIAN CHARACTERISTICS--CASEMENT'S +LETTER TO SIR EDWARD GREY--IRISH INTERESTS--SURREPTITIOUS +VISITS TO THE EMBASSY--ENVOYÉ EXTRAORDINAIRE--£10,000 +FOR CASEMENT'S SERVANT--CASEMENT'S EXPLANATIONS, COMMENTS, +KIDNAPPING AND MURDER ALLEGATIONS--SIR F. E. +SMITH ON CASEMENT'S LIFE AND ACTIONS--A BAD MISTAKE 211 + +CHAPTER XVII + +PERTAINING TO MYSTERY SHIPS + +"YOU BRITISH WILL ALWAYS BE FOOLS AND WE GERMANS SHALL NEVER +BE GENTLEMEN"--SILHOUETTE LIFEBOAT FOR GUN-COVERING--A SECRET +OF THE WAR EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED--MORE IDEASFOR MYSTERY +SHIPS DESCRIBED--SECRET THANKS--SUCCESSFUL RESULTS FROM +CAMOUFLAGE AT SEA--THE GRATITUDE OF THE ADMIRALTY 225 + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SINKING OF THE "LUSITANIA" BY GERMAN +TREACHERY + +HOW THE DASTARDLY DEED WAS PLANNED--COMMEMORATION MEDAL +PREMATURELY DATED--SINKING ANNOUNCED IN BERLIN BEFORE +THE VESSEL WAS ATTACKED--GERMAN JOY AT THE OUTRAGE--BRITISH +SECRET CODE STOLEN--VIOLATIONS OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY--FALSE +MESSAGES--AUTHORITY FOR THE FACTS 235 + +CHAPTER XIX + +MINISTERIAL, DIPLOMATIC, AND CONSULAR +FAILINGS + +MINISTERS SELECTED BY INFLUENCE, NOT MERIT--GERMAN EMBASSIES +HEADQUARTERS OF ESPIONAGE--HOW ENGLISH EMBASSIES HAMPERED +SECRET SERVICE WORK--BERNHARDI ON THE BLOCKADE--ENGLAND'S +OPEN DOORS--A MINISTER'S FAILINGS--BRITISH +VICE-CONSUL'S SCANDALOUS REMUNERATION--ALIEN CONSULS--HOW +ITALY WAS BROUGHT INTO THE WAR--HOW THE SYMPATHIES +OF TURKEY AND GREECE WERE LOST--THE FAILURE OF SIR +EDWARD GREY--ASQUITH'S PROCRASTINATION 239 + +CHAPTER XX + +THE SHAM BLOCKADE + +SECRET SERVICE PROTEST AGAINST THE OPEN DOOR TO +GERMANY--ACTIVITY OF OUR NAVAL ARM NULLIFIED--LORD +NORTHCLIFFE'S PATRIOTISM--BLOCKADE BUNKUM--POSITION OF +DENMARK--HUGE CONSIGNMENTS FOR GERMANY--THE DECLARATION +FIASCO--BRITISH MINISTER'S GULLIBILITY IN COPENHAGEN--GERMAN +BANK GUARANTEEING THE BRITISH AGAINST GOODS GOING TO +GERMANY--BRITISH NAVY PARALYSED BY DIPLOMATIC AND +POLITICAL FOLLY--STATISTICS EXTRAORDINARY--FLOUTING THE +DECLARATION OF LONDON--SIR EDWARD GREY'S DILATORINESS +AND PUERILE APOLOGIA--LORD HALDANE PUSHED OUT--LORD +FISHER'S EFFICIENCY UNRECOGNISED--LORD DEVONPORT'S AMAZING +FIGURES ON GERMAN IMPORTS--FURTHER STARTLING STATISTICS--BRITISH +THE GREATEST MUDDLERS ON EARTH--NOBLE SERVICE +BY AUSTRALIAN PREMIER, W. H. HUGHES--HOLLOW SHAM OF +THE DANISH AGREEMENT AND THE NETHERLANDS OVERSEAS TRUST--BLOCKADE +MINISTER, LORD ROBERT CECIL, AND HIS FEEBLE, +FUTILE EFFORTS--MORE STATISTICS--THE TRIUMVIRATE--ASQUITH +THE UNREADY, SIR EDWARD GREY THE IRRESOLUTE, +AND LORD HALDANE THE FRIEND OF THE KAISER--DAVID LLOYD +GEORGE THE SAVIOUR OF THE SITUATION--HOW HE PROVED HIMSELF +A MAN--A NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY 264 + +L'ENVOI 317 + + + + +FOREWORD + + +There is something so mysterious and thrilling about Secret Service that +the subject must inevitably appeal to the public, and especially to the +more imaginative section of it. Secret Service is the theme of Mr. +Nicholas Everitt's book, in which he describes the exciting adventures +that he met with whilst in quest of information of use to his country +during the Great War. + +In carrying out his task he proved himself to be a keen observer and a +man of resource. His experience gives point to the old saying that a +man's ability is shewn less in never getting into a scrape, for _humanum +est errare_, than in knowing how to get out of one! There is perhaps no +vocation in which it is easier to get into a tight corner and more +difficult to get out again than in the Secret Service, where the sword +of Damocles often hangs over one's head. + +Besides giving an account of his adventures, Mr. Everitt devotes no +small part of his work to criticism of the Foreign Office and its +overseas branches--the Diplomatic and Consular Services. He draws +attention to what he conceives to be their defects and suggests how they +might be remedied. + +While not concurring with everything said by the Author in regard to +politics and politicians, I am sufficiently in agreement with the main +features of his book to recommend it to the British Public, because I +believe that publicity is the most potent instrument of Reform. + +NORTHCLIFFE. +_February, 1920._ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +This book is not published with the sole idea of increment to its +builder; it presumes to venture beyond. + +When old machinery is continued in use year after year with no thought +for wear and tear, no effort to repair defective parts, and no attempt +to modernise or keep pace with the times, a smash usually follows. + +The British Consular Service is a concrete example of such short-sighted +folly. It is so glaringly defective in its all-British efficiency that a +thorough and complete overhaul, with drastic reforms, should be put in +hand without further delay. + +The British Diplomatic Service is little better. Its highest positions +are filled by men appointed (in many instances) by influence and not by +merit. + +The exaggerated dignity, arrogance, and egotistical self-importance of +some ministers abroad is such that the mere mention of trade sets their +teeth on edge, the name of money is too vulgar for their personal +contemplation; while if any matter arises in which their authority or +actions are questioned they tender their resignations like sulky, +petulant children spoilt beyond measure by misguided parents. + +Attached to each Chancellery abroad should be a business or commercial +expert, paid a fair and reasonable salary, who should make a study of +British trade interests and who should control the whole consular +service in the country to which he is attached. He should make it his +special business to see that every consul is a born Englishman and that +each is paid a salary commensurate with his position and duties. + +Secret Service (if it is to be continued) should be a fully authorised +and recognised department having a real business minister at its head +with absolute control of its organisation, work, and finances. Service +men would naturally be appointed for each separate service department, +whilst civilians should be utilised in useful spheres. Such a +reorganisation would do much to stop the friction which arises when +military, naval, air-service, and other interests overlap, clash, or are +required to work in double harness. The pitiable jealousies with which +Whitehall is saturated have to be seen to be believed. Among the rank +and file this canker-worm has no existence. The affection of one arm of +the service for another is overwhelming, but the higher one investigates +upward in rank and officialdom, the more deep-seated are the roots of +the pernicious evil found to be. + +At home our politicians have ever been much too interfering. Our +Government has for all too long been overridden by a multitude of +lawyers who have pushed aside the more efficient business man, while +they interfere with, and attempt to control, colossal matters which they +do not and could not properly be expected to understand, and which ought +to have been left entirely to experts whose lives had been devoted to +the attainment of efficiency therein. + +That the Navy should have been deliberately prevented from making our +so-called blockade really effective throughout the war is as +unjustifiable as it has been exasperating to the British Public, whilst +it has been detrimental to the interests of the Empire. More than half +the nation believe that had this matter been treated with a firm, +courageous hand, the war would have been over in eighteen months at +least. Almost the entire nation believed that the war would continue to +drag its disastrous weary course until the Blockade was made really +effective. + +Part of this book is devoted to this most important issue. + +The public of the whole world believe we have a thoroughly active and +efficient Home Secret Service Organisation, working as a separate +independent unit. That is just what we ought to have had and for which +there has ever been an urgent want. This omission is a defect in our +armour which has been directly responsible for the undoubted loss of +valuable lives and the destruction of vast property. + +Much too much is left in the hands of the police. It is true our British +Police Force is the best, the most efficient, and the least corrupt in +the whole world. But it is not fair to place upon it more than it can +properly attend to; whilst in any event its powers should be enlarged +and a more elastic discretion extended. In comparison with the police of +other nations, words quite fail the author with which to express his +admiration for our noble and exemplary police administration. Yet its +work could be made more effective if we had a separate and properly +organised Home Secret Service branch, working conjointly with the +police, which could at a moment's notice send down its agents, drawn +from any station in society, with full powers to act and to commandeer +all and every assistance that occasion might require. + +Take a simple example in order that the matter may be the better +understood. It is admitted that for many years our East Coast had been +overrun with spies. There are places where two or more counties meet. A +member of the police force for one county has no power, authority, or +discretion enabling him to enter into and to act in another. Thus he +cannot follow a suspect over the county border. In 1916 a certain +female, whose cleverness was only equalled by her personal charms and +powers of fascination, started a tour of our great camps along the +Eastern seaboard. Her movements were reported by non-authorised +observers. Such a case was obviously one requiring delicate +investigation. Owing to lack of the necessary department under notice, +the case automatically devolved into the hands of the police. Our lady +fair is watched and followed. It matters not to her; she can gaily slip +over the county-border by automobile. Long reports have to be made out +and passed through slow and devious channels before the police in the +next county can act. By the time this becomes operative, the elusive one +has returned to the county she left, or she has entered another one--an +evolution which could happen several times in a very short period and +much mischief be done under the nose of authorities absolutely powerless +to act--until too late. It is not difficult to imagine how a home Secret +Service agent, with a private motor-car, would handle such a case; more +particularly when working in conjunction and perfect harmony with the +police generally. + +Take another case. + +On April 13th, 1916, the author wrote to Whitehall as follows: + + + "In a certain Naval Base of considerable importance on the East + Coast in the autumn of 1914, a complete plant of wireless + installation was discovered in the private house of an English + merchant who was known to have business connections abroad, which + plant was forthwith removed. + + Some months after, a second visit was paid to the same premises and + further parts of wireless telegraphy were found and taken away, and + an assurance was given that everything in any way connected with + wireless had been handed over. + + In the month of March, 1916, the premises were once more visited + and another complete plant was found to have been installed, which + was immediately removed. + + In April, 1916, a fourth surprise visit was made upon the same + premises, when a very ingenious and complete portable wireless + plant was discovered. + + My information records that the latter of these respective plants + controlled a radius of only about twenty miles, that they were in + perfect order and that they had been repeatedly used. + + The man and the occupiers of this house are said to be still at + large! These facts have given me much food for reflection. + + "Yours, etc." + + +The Powers-that-be took a _whole week to consider_ this report, the +result of private enterprise; then they suggested a meeting with the +author at any convenient time, for which they added there need be _no +hurry whatsoever_. + +Meanwhile on Monday, April 24th, 1916, the manipulator of these terribly +dangerous and unlawful instruments arrived at another naval +base--Lowestoft--_on the eve of its bombardment_ by the German Fleet, +_actually staying at the Royal Hotel, which overlooks the whole +sea-front_ and which was occupied by most of the officers in command of +the base. + +Private agitation alone seemed to account for this gentleman's eventual +removal from the East Coast; but it took an unpardonably long time in +its successful accomplishment. + +Another ridiculous muddle, which was undoubtedly dangerous to the +welfare of the nation, was the Petrol Fiasco. + +Such people as rag-and-bone merchants of possible alien extraction were +permitted petrol in such quantities that they could dispose of it at +good profit, whereas the police, even those in control of big and +important areas, with enormous added responsibilities piled upon their +too willing shoulders, were actually cut down to unworkable limits (one +tin per week, equal to about forty miles)--not enough to cover a journey +of consequence. Furthermore the author was informed by the Head of our +then Secret Service that "he himself was quite unable to move in the +matter." His supply appeared to have been insanely limited. + +No one ever doubted but that we should successfully pull through the +war, or that our heroic, unconquerable and magnificent Active Service +man would prove victorious in spite of all the mistakes, the clogs on +the wheels, and the disastrous blundering of interfering +politicians--those Grand Old Muddlers who so persistently blocked their +ears to the motto, "It is never too late to mend," and who so +obstinately declined to "get a move on" until positively spurred into +seemingly reluctant action by the patriotic Northcliffe Press voicing +the fierce indignation of the long suffering British nation. + +I venture to predict that Lord Northcliffe will go down in history as +the one man amongst men who has done most towards the winning of the war +and the safeguarding of the future welfare of our beloved British +Empire. + +Regarding the chapters in this book which recount actual experiences of +Secret Service work, I can assure my readers that nothing has been +divulged which touches even the fringe of the important secrets that +every Secret Service agent would proudly guard with his life. Those +things are sacred and would never be intentionally divulged. On the +other hand the records of adventure are not mere efforts at fiction. +They are actual experiences, faintly tinted, maybe, in _couleur de rose_ +to raise bald facts into readable narrative. They are also scenes which +are enacted every day on the stage of Life's Theatre, often much nearer +to the circle in which the reader moves than he or she may realise, +imagine, or dream about. They are given in order the better to excite +interest, to exemplify the work which has to be done, and which in the +future may still require attention. + +Needless to add that a book of this description has not been permitted +to go to press without difficulties. Much more has been left unsaid than +is said. Much has of necessity been omitted, not only for the sake of +the maintenance of the glory of one's own beloved land, but also for the +sake of the personal future safety and well-being of others besides +oneself. + +Some of the readers of the MS., through whose hands it had to pass +before publication, have commented upon the political amalgam which has +been introduced into the book as not being strictly within the scope of +its title. If any apology is due under this head the author can only +plead justification by reason of his deep and earnest desire for reform +both abroad and at home. In his humble opinion the evils that he exposes +or hints at could not have been brought home to his readers had he +confined himself entirely to the perhaps more interesting narrative of +individual adventure. + +So far as the statistics given regarding the blockade leakages are +concerned, he feels they are important enough to carry historical +interest, and should therefore be collated and put on permanent record. +Secret Service agents devoted much time and attention to these details, +and our then Government was or should have been fully alive to the fact +that the so-called blockade was only a ridiculous sham, long before the +_Daily Mail_ campaign opened. Why our Government made no effort to +checkmate, stop, or divert these extraordinary supplies going direct +into the enemy country, is left to the judgment of my readers. + +Twice, between Christmas 1914, and Midsummer 1915, I entered German +territory from Denmark and from the sea. After my second visit I was +warned that a head-hunter was looking diligently for me in the hope of +securing a reward which the Germans had secretly offered. This +enterprising individual I sought out, and for a day and a half helped +him with another in the hunt for myself, arguing in my own mind that it +was my safest occupation at that particular time and in that particular +locality. During this short partnership a quarrel ensued regarding the +division of the spoils before they were secured, when I learned that the +sum at first offered had been 10,000 marks but it had then recently been +increased to 25,000. Some compensation remains to me in being able to +look back at this attention on the part of the Hun as a compliment of +some value to my personal activities. + +In the spring of 1916, during our military operations in Belgium, a deep +and crafty Alsatian of violent disposition, and of German descent, was +captured by our Tommies, and to save his own skin admitted he had been +employed in the German Foreign Secret Service since the outbreak of war. +Much valuable information was thus obtained; by way of test evidence he +stated that _inter alia_ he had been ordered to endeavour to hold my +trail (I was known to him) during my Baltic wanderings in the late +autumn of 1914; and that although he had persisted in various disguises +he had been led a terrible dance and had been compelled to abandon the +task as hopeless. I was able to corroborate this. + +Anyone who has lived a strenuous life of many ups and downs must at +times have rubbed shoulders with celebrities. In later years these +personal reminiscences invariably provide reflections of more than +passing interest. + +The author has, from his teens upwards, been swayed with an insatiable +lust for travelling in foreign lands. During these peregrinations his +experiences have been somewhat unique, his adventures many. An +instinctive inquisitiveness has more than once caused his arrest for +trespassing in private places of national importance; whilst +cosmopolitan habits, imbibed from bohemian associations, may have tended +to mould a character adapted for the special work now under +consideration. + +Owing to a fortunate, or unfortunate, lapse of good manners he was on +one occasion--a good many years ago--given ample opportunity to survey +at close quarters the Kaiser, his Empress the Kaiserin, little Willie, +and the then entire German royal family, from the confines of a +guard-room in the grounds of their Imperial Schloss at Potsdam. + +The same year Lord Roberts, with General Wood of the U.S.A. Army, +personally escorted him round the most interesting sights of Dresden. +The very next day he was arrested in Bohemia for want of a passport. + +In 1895 he accompanied Dr. Leyds, then head of the South African Secret +Service, when he was on his way to Berlin to interview the Kaiser on a +mission of most serious menace to Great Britain on behalf of his master +Oom Paul Kruger; although the author was unaware at the time of the +importance of that mission. Cecil Rhodes he knew as a visitor to his +father's house. Dr. Jamieson he has sported with; Dr. Fridjof Nansen is +no stranger to him; whilst he crossed the North Sea when the submarine +season was in full swing with Ronald Amundsen, that most interesting +discoverer of the South Pole. He was within a stone's-throw of Dr. Sun +Yat Sen, in the province of Kiang So, when the northern Chinese Army of +Yuan Shi Kai surrounded and so nearly captured him during the rebellion +of 1918, on the eve of his escape to Japan. Under the Great Wall of +China on the southern limits of the Gobi desert he was within an ace of +being captured by the notorious renegade "White Wolf"; whilst part of +the band of another equally celebrated bandit, Raisuli, gave him cold +shudders down the spine in 1896, despite the scorching heats of the +Sahara. He has been an unwilling listener to treason from the lips of +one or other of the much-wanted Hardyal or Gardit Singh, who, on the +western foothills of the Rocky Mountains prophesied that Germany would +declare war in the autumn of 1914; whilst in direct contrast to these +unenviable experiences he has been the recipient of hospitality and of +sport as the guest of Royalty; although the enforced formalities +attendant upon such experiences tend to destroy the charm which may be +believed to surround the honour. + +Variety has been provided by being brought in contact with Nihilists in +Russia and Siberia; with anarchists in France and Spain; as a trembling +defendant in a stump-head court-martial by backwoodsmen in Western +America, where justice is administered with lightning-like rapidity, and +fatal mistakes often result through misidentification, as was so nearly +the case in his own particularly uncomfortable experience as the unlucky +chief actor in a "hold up" on the trail in British Columbia; and more +than once he has been lost in the untrodden wilds of vast forests. But +these experiences of the ups and downs of life pale and sink into +insignificance when compared with the vortex of the rapid, rushing, +kaleidoscopic changes, the hair-breadth escapes, the blood-curdling +thrills, the risks, the dangers and excitements, which at times are part +and parcel of the life of a Secret Service agent. + +Secret Service, Intelligence, Reconnaissance, Investigation Strategical +or Military Agent--use any name you will--the work of each merely +resolves itself for the time being into "the antennæ, or the senses of +fighting units"; the seeing, the hearing, the smelling, or the touching +of a fleet or an army; of what is before, behind, surrounding, or in its +midst. Without its aid few battles could be won and no ultimate victory +anticipated. + +Military and naval officers endowed with sufficient intelligence, +brains, and philological ability are, as a rule, very keen to devote +some part of their career to foreign Secret Service. It is believed, +with some certitude, to be the surest step to early promotion; to pave +the way to future advancement. Amongst those who have risen from such a +foundation and who have proved their worth to the British Empire may be +mentioned the late Lord Kitchener, who in Egypt, under various +disguises, penetrated far into the interior. Colonel Burnaby, Lord +Roberts, Sir Richard Burton and hundreds of other distinguished and +prominent men may be included in the category; whilst Lt.-General Sir R. +Baden-Powell eulogises this branch of the service in a book entitled "My +Adventures as a Spy." He writes: "It is an undisputable fact that our +Secret Service has at all times been recruited from men of unblemished +personal honour who would not descend to any act which in their view was +tainted with meanness." + +No sane, thinking man would condemn Secret Service agents as following a +dishonourable calling. If it were so, then it would be equally--if not +more--dishonourable to employ, to guide, and to direct them. Yet all +commanders of all nations employ them and have done so from time +immemorial; and if any nation failed to do so it might as well--as Lord +Wolseley said--"sheath its sword for ever." + +To quote a few well-known names at random, Catinat investigated in the +disguise of a coalheaver; Montlue as a cook; Ashby visited the Federal +line in the American Civil War as a horse-doctor; whilst General +Nathaniel Lyon visited the Confederate camp at St. Louis in disguise +before he attacked and captured it. In 1821, George III. granted a +pension to the mother of Major André, who, whilst acting as aide-de-camp +to General Clinton, was condemned as an English Secret Service agent; he +further gave a baronetcy to his brother; whilst the remains of the hero +were exhumed, brought from America to England, and buried in +Westminster Abbey. + +The Japanese, one of the proudest nations in the world, whose code of +honour is stricter even than our own, accord the highest honours to +military or naval intelligence officers, whose bravery and understanding +they fully recognise; although they never fail to shoot one whenever and +wherever he may be caught acting against them. + +It is sometimes puzzling to understand what is the real motive which +prompts our military and naval officers to seek so persistently to +become enrolled in the Secret Service Department. Is it solely the +desire to further their chances of advancement, or is it the bold +adventuresome activity of the service, the innate longing to take all +risks and to bring back personally the information so essential to the +successful conduct of war; or is it the feeling and knowledge that only +a brave man is ready to go out alone, unobserved and unapplauded, to +risk his life for his country's sake? For let it not be forgotten that +to accept an appointment under the Foreign Secret Service in war time is +no feather-bed occupation. The smallest slip, the slightest +indiscretion, and one's doom is sealed. Only a man to whom life was as +nothing if risking it would help his country, would dare to undertake +such perilous work. It is indeed the finest and most thrilling +recuperative tonic in the world for anyone weary of life's monotonies. +It commands the highest courage, the clearest understanding, the +greatest ability and cleverness, never-flagging persistence, and an +ever-prevailing optimism. Yet such men and women as these who have +striven, laboured, fought alone, and won through against inconceivable +difficulties and immense odds, possibly to the permanent ruin of their +health or financial status, are, although it seems inconceivable to +believe, more often than not overlooked and passed aside by the nation; +unobservantly pushed into the cold burial vaults of ungrateful +forgetfulness!--the fate, alas! of many an active Secret Service agent, +no matter how patriotically loyal, how brave, or how successful he may +have been. Such men neither seek nor expect to be bedecked with +baubles, or awarded shekels, so coveted by those who stay at home. They +know the hollowness which quickly fades or is lost in the vortex of +political upheaval or changing dynasty. They rest content in the +knowledge that they have well and truly served their country, that they +have lived in the full realism of existence; whilst they are happy in +their memories. + + + One crowded hour of glorious life + Is worth an age without a name. + + NICHOLAS EVERITT. + + + + +British Secret Service during the Great War + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WAR AND THE INTRODUCING OF JIM + + THE PROSPERITY OF 1914--AN OMINOUS CALM--MULTITUDE OF GERMAN + SPIES--HOW ENGLAND WAS UNDERMINED--SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF OUR LIBERAL + GOVERNMENT--SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF PROMINENT MEN--SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN'S + HISTORICAL DESPATCH--RUSH TO THE COLOURS--OUR + UNPREPAREDNESS--INTRODUCING JIM--PATRIOTS FROM AFAR--F. C. SELOUS' + ROUGHRIDERS--INITIATION INTO THE FOREIGN SECRET SERVICE--ADVISORY + TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS. + + +The year 1914 opened auspiciously. Future prospects looked brilliant. In +the past there had been depression owing to political extravagances, but +everything pointed to a change in the minds of the people; to an +awakening, to future betterment. Money was plentiful and cheap. Labour +was an active market with plenty of it. Good business seemed to be in +the air. All around there appeared to be a general cheerfulness. Then +came the lull before the storm. An ominous calm, a dull, dead, +mysterious cloud of invisible, inexplicable, unintelligible danger +threatened. No one could penetrate it; no one could fathom what it was; +but everyone felt instinctively that something great and terrible was +going to happen. + +The stock markets sagged and fell away in a most extraordinary fashion, +no matter how the Bulls or surrounding circumstances supported them. +Buyers of properties suddenly stayed their hands. Speculators by natural +impulse held aloof. Rumours began to circulate, strange stories passed +from mouth to mouth which none believed, but which left an impression of +gloom and impending disaster behind them. + +The man in the street, the one and only true barometer of England's +real feelings, showed an uneasy restlessness which could not be +interpreted. + +The multitude of German spies, who swarmed like locusts throughout the +British Isles, assured themselves that the seditious seeds they had been +sowing so energetically during the past years in the receptive and +nourishing soil of Radicalism and Socialism, plenteously manured by +liberal administrations from the vast financial resources at their +disposal, were at last bearing a rich harvest of rare and refreshing +fruit. They assured themselves that revolution would devastate Ireland, +perhaps part of England, Wales, and Scotland as well. The Unions of the +working classes they knew had been nurtured by their fond attentions +until they had grown to mighty proportions. Working men of German blood +or of strong Teutonic tendencies had agitated amongst the masses again +and yet again, for "less time, more pay, and greater and more extended +privileges." German Secret Service money had provided the sinews of an +underground labour war. Countless thousands of honest, hard-working +British labourers neither knew of, nor recognised, nor even suspected, +the traitorous hand which so gently stroked them down the back whilst +their ears were being tickled with persuasive suggestions and +argumentative reasoning, prompting a greater dissatisfaction the more +they were pandered to, and petted, and spoilt, and bribed by the Liberal +Government who were the men in power over them. It must not be forgotten +that for some years previous to 1914 prominent members of the Government +of the day had been roundly rated in the Press for encouraging and +expressing pro-German sentiments and inclinations; whilst the Government +itself had been accused of shattering the Constitution of the United +Kingdom, of muzzling the House of Lords, of trampling on the rights of +Democracy, of humiliating the Crown, and of robbing the Church of +England. + +Whether there was truth in these accusations the historian will record, +but that civil war was a seriously threatened danger there can be no +doubt; whilst the proverbial slackness of our phlegmatic British nature +is such that Englishmen permitted much to transpire which no other +nation in the world would have tolerated. Mr. W. M. Hughes, the +Australian Prime Minister, speaking in the London Stock Exchange on +March 20th, 1916, more eloquently describes us: "A people slow to anger, +unsuspicious of guile in others, foolishly generous in throwing open +their land to the world, offering sanctuary to all, even to those who +proposed first to exploit and then betray them, before we as a nation +awoke to the peril." + +It was only too well known to certain members of Scotland Yard, probably +others as well, that German Secret Service agents had reported to their +respective headquarters, that "the English Radical Government would +never dare to intervene in a war waged by Germany." They knew, or rather +thought they knew, that England was utterly unprepared for a war of any +magnitude; that for years military and naval estimates had been cut down +rather than added to, which was substantiated by a collection of +innumerable press cuttings showing the violent public agitation in +consequence; that the Government did not believe a great European war +could be possible within the next fifty years; that the United Kingdom +was on the verge of revolution over Ulster's dissent from Home Rule; +that the Labour Unions had grown so vast, so all-embracing and so +powerful that they could and would paralyse the Government's action if +by any possible chance it did decide on intervening; that Egypt, India, +and South Africa were ripe for revolt and only too anxious for an +opportunity to shake off British rule; that Australia, New Zealand, and +Canada were anxious to declare their respective independence; in fact +that the whole British Empire beyond the seas was itching for +disintegration, if only "The Day" would dawn giving half a chance of +striking a blow for freedom and exemption from control of the hated +British yoke; and that the welding together of all these +(believed-to-be) irreconcilable nations and peoples in a common battle +cause was an unthinkable impossibility. + +It was common knowledge to the Secret Service agents of all nations +that the Liberal-Radical Government of the United Kingdom of Great +Britain and Ireland was tottering to a fall. Its popularity with the +masses had waned; its hypocrisy with the middle classes had become a +byword; its disloyalty to the Empire with the upper classes had become +revolting; its days had become numbered. The German War party saw this +and realised the fact better than the English. It knew that it was of +vital importance to its world-power dream to make war only when a +Liberal, Radical, and Socialist party was in office in England; it would +be courting disaster to do so if a Unionist Government were in power. + +Yea, verily, the Kaiser believed that the harvest of his sowing was +ready for the garnering. + +All these things were reported in gloating glee by the army of Teutonic +spies in our midst to their respective headquarters, thence conveyed to +their Central Office at Berlin with an openness that might have seemed +an insult to the intelligence of Scotland Yard and those who direct and +control that very effective and efficient department; only our astute +police service happened to be much more wide awake than it appeared to +be. + +The man in power, the one and only being who really knew the truth of +what was actually happening over and beyond the horizon of our ken, +maintained an impassive silence. His motto throughout was and had been +"Wait and See." + +The ruler of the waves, the noble and illustrious British Bull-dog, Lord +Fisher, knew and had known. He had never failed his countrymen. He +pushed along all and every preparation for the evil day, which a weak +and Peace-at-any-price Government had permitted. + +The illustrious martial Warrior of previous wars, whose life and loved +ones had been sacrificed upon the altar of patriotism and loyalty, knew. +He had never failed to lift his voice in warning, both inside and +outside Parliament, since he returned from the South African War, +imploring support, reformation, and more attention to the Army; pleading +conscription amongst the youthful masses; working so unselfishly, so +energetically and so devotedly, and in feverish anxiety for the +protection and welfare of the Motherland and our Empire, right up to the +day of his glorious death within sound of the German guns. A fitting +dirge for so beloved and valiant a Hero. + +The man of Foreign Affairs, the man who gained for himself the utmost +honour, respect, esteem, and gratitude from all the world, by reason of +his unflagging and unceasing efforts to keep and maintain the peace of +Europe, he also knew. To the very last hour, yea, even far beyond it, he +worked on, hoping against hope that such a terrible calamity as +threatened to paralyse the nations of the earth for centuries to come +might yet be averted. Noble man, working for a noble cause! History will +record your efforts, but no pen can adequately record your meritorious +deserts. Oh! the pity of it that you, a true genius in the arts of peace +and of peaceful diplomacies, did not retire at the outbreak of war in +favour of some more martial, bellicose, and iron-fisted statesman, +instead of clinging to office during the awful years that followed, when +our enemy not only torpedoed all the laws of nations, but outraged every +decent feeling of humanity. Your honourable and gentlemanly nature made +it impossible for you to realise, to understand, or to compete with +these barbaric and inhuman practices. + +The man in opposition, whose duty it is to criticise and restrain the +hotheadedness of Governmental action, although he is not admitted to +share the secrets of the Cabinet, he knew. His instinct told him what +was looming behind the electrically charged atmosphere, and he at once +showed that he was a true-born Britisher first and foremost before he +was a politician. + +The man of marvellous organisation abilities, who had been more than +once conveniently removed far afield from English politics in order to +straighten out our tangled skeins in the East, because such efficient +capables as himself, Lord Fisher, Lord Roberts and others did not suit +the party system of our modern Democratic Government, also knew. But +that man of action without words had to sit and look on, whilst the +late friend of the Kaiser was kept in office until the unmistakable +voice of the people arose in ugly anger to demand the change. Alas, that +your precious life should have been sacrificed by treachery which ought +to have been checkmated. + +The man of mystery, who, although not admitted as a member of the ship +of state, clung limpet-like to its bottom and maintained an existence +thereon, he knew; perhaps first of all. His knowledge was but a +materialisation of reports foreshadowing such an event which had floated +to him in crescendo numbers. His office was one of semi-independence. He +could act with promptness and decision. He did, so far as he was +permitted to go. + +War was in the air. This seemed to be conceived but not to be realised. +The very idea was too terrible to be true. A portentous omen had been +uttered by a great Silesian nobleman, Count von Oppersdorff, only a few +hours before it was publicly known that England would declare war +against Germany if the neutrality of Belgium was violated. + +He had inquired from Mr. F. W. Wile, an Anglo-American journalist in +Berlin, if such a contingency could be possible. On being answered in +the affirmative, he muttered with great seriousness, "There will be many +surprises." + +The real and concise reason which forced England to join in the war is +recorded in the now famous despatch of Sir Edward Goschen, the British +Ambassador at Berlin, to Sir Edward Grey, the British Minister for +Foreign Affairs. It runs as follows: + + + August 4, 1914: "I found the Chancellor very agitated. His + Excellency at once began an harangue which lasted for twenty + minutes. He said that the step taken by His Majesty's Government + (the ultimatum of war) was terrible to a degree; just for a + word--'Neutrality,' a word which in war time had so often been + disregarded--just for a _scrap of paper_ Great Britain was going to + make war on a kindred nation. I said that, in the same way as he + and Herr von Jagow (the German Secretary of State) wished me to + understand that for strategical reasons it was a matter of life and + death to Germany to advance through Belgium and violate the + latter's neutrality, so I would wish him to understand that it was, + so to speak, a matter of 'life and death' for the honour of Great + Britain that she should keep her solemn engagement to do her utmost + to defend Belgium's neutrality if attacked." + + +It was on the 5th of August, 1914, that the British nation was called to +arms. It awoke, suddenly, startled as from some horrible nightmare. It +was shaken and stirred in a manner unprecedented in its history from the +day it had thrown off allegiance to Rome. Without hesitation or delay +every patriotic Britisher having no binding ties to hold him, in company +with many tens of thousands who had, rushed to seek out recruiting +officers or sergeants in order that their services might be proffered in +the service of their country. So great and clamorous were the crowds in +the big cities that the police had much ado to preserve and maintain +order. + +The Government was not prepared for anything like it. It had made no +provision in equipment or supplies to cope with the stream of men so +eager to join the colours. Long before arrangements could be made to +enrol the first batches of recruits, men from all parts of our empire +beyond the seas began to arrive in the Mother Country, all keen, +enthusiastic and eager for the fray. + +The authorities had their hands more than full and were compelled to +refuse thousands, including in some instances, it is said, fully +equipped companies of Colonial recruits. Yet posters and stimulating +advertisements, appealing for volunteers, continued to be spread +broadcast throughout the land, and, as the men rolled up in increasing +numbers, confusion became worse confounded. Many went to France in order +to join up there; others returned to their homes disgusted and sick at +heart by the manner in which they had been treated. + +Was the Government to blame for this? It had expressed blind faith in +Germany and the peaceful sentiments she was alleged to have expressed. +Had not Lord Haldane hobnobbed with the Kaiser, and had he not related +to Parliament what a good fellow the German Emperor really was, and how +friendly he meant to be to England? Labour members of Parliament had +been to Germany, where they also had been hoodwinked and deceived. Had +not the Cabinet argued so strenuously that a European war was +unthinkable and impossible for the next century at least, until it +seemed to believe it was actually true? _Hence no preparations for such +a disastrous calamity had been anticipated, thought out, or provided +for._ + +"The Day" had dawned. + +War with Germany had been declared. Every Britisher, worthy of the name, +was individually asking himself, in his heart of hearts or in public, +how he best could be of service to his country, to the Empire, and to +his King. + +In the days to come, when children and children's children will seek by +interrogation enlightenment from their forebears as to the part or parts +they respectively took in the greatest war the world has ever known, +what terrible shame and misgivings will assail the craven, palsied soul +of the shirker! + +To England's everlasting glory such have been very, very few, and very +far between. + + * * * * * + +I apologise for the necessity of having to introduce myself, because, as +the author, I must also figure prominently in these pages. I am a +Bohemian by nature, a Sportsman by instinct, and a Lawyer by training. + +Hail, fellow, well met! I believe in the old Scotch proverb, "Better a +fremit freend than a freend fremit." + +Acquaintances and correspondents I have endeavoured to cultivate in +every country I have been in, whilst as a traveller, an author, and a +sportsman I believe I am widely known. + +At the same time I must confess to being a man of moods, and like most +other light-hearted, happy-go-lucky individuals, who seem to be bubbling +over with an exuberance of animal spirits, there are times when +depression holds down my soul in a hell of its own making. That I never +understood myself may explain why so few really ever properly understand +me. I am said to be resourceful, ingenious, and so optimistic that I +extricate myself from difficulties under which many other people might +have capitulated as too overwhelmingly crushing to attempt to resist. My +great trouble has been that my restless, rolling-stone disposition makes +it intensely distasteful and difficult for me to anchor down for any +length of time in any one particular place. Ever and anon there comes to +me a call from the wild, a mysterious and irresistible whisper which a +true son of nature cannot hope to fight against; an imperative summons +from the vastnesses of unknown seas, from deep and pathless forests, +from the virgin snows of mountain peaks. Wanderlust has saturated my +system, yea, to the very marrow in my bones. It has lured me on, and in +obedience to periodical promptings I have travelled the world around and +experienced adventure, sport, and fighting in many a foreign land. + +Early in 1913-14 I volunteered in the threatened Irish upheavals, with +countless thousands of others of my countrymen who felt so strongly the +injustice of that matter. When a better and more meritorious chance of +"scrapping" presented itself, I was one of the first to offer my +services, which were promptly declined, solely because I was over the +age limit. Not satisfied with one effort, I made others in various +quarters and in various capacities, but all in vain. + +It was no consolation to learn later that someone else, an expert +engineer, had travelled 7,000 miles, from Hyderabad in India,[1] to help +in munition-making, only to be refused a job on arrival in this country; +nor that a Tasmanian,[2] with seventeen years' service in the Department +of Agriculture in Tasmania, carrying the highest credentials and having +obtained six months' leave in order to travel 13,000 miles to the Mother +Country to volunteer his gratuitous expert services to our Board of +Agriculture, had likewise butted his head against vain hopes of helping +to forward encouragement of more home-growing food for the nation. + +In the early stages there was a vast army of rejected would-be helpers +turned down ignominiously and left to kick their heels in fretful +idleness. What a wicked waste of time and good material! + +I begin to believe that my American associations have made me a bit of a +hustler. Anyway, I approached the celebrated Shikar of many trails, the +famed big game hunter, the late Mr. F. C. Selous.[3] I wrote to him +suggesting that a corps of Big Game Hunters should be mustered, to +consist only of men who had had at least three years' experience of that +exciting and dangerous sport; that each man should provide and +personally pay for the whole of his individual equipment, including +horse, rifle, uniform, and appendages; that Mr. Selous should take +command and then offer the services of the corps to the War Office. + +Mr. Selous grasped the idea and agreed that a body of quite 500 could +probably be raised. He communicated his willingness to take the whole +work of raising the troop, but the War Office was neither encouraging to +the proposal, nor willing to accept the services of such a body of men +when ready to serve. Sorrowful was the tone of the letter from Mr. +Selous conveying this news to me, its very much disappointed recipient. +He added in the P.S. that he had a friend in command of an infantry +regiment who expected soon to be ordered to France, and he had extracted +a promise from him to take him along in some capacity or another, in +spite of the fact that he was over sixty years of age; and he advised me +to look out for a similar loophole through which I might hope to crawl +into the catacombs of Yprès and the Meuse, with or without the knowledge +or sanction of the Red Tape artists at Whitehall. + +About this period many amateur spy hunters were actively on the +war-path, and it was suggested to me by friends of high standing in the +sporting world that my connection with Northern Europe and my varied +experience at home and abroad might be acceptable to the Secret Service; +furthermore it was pretty plainly hinted to me that if I wrote a +personal letter to Sir Edward Grey it would not be ignored. + +Not a moment was allowed to elapse after this. On October 16th, 1914, I +wrote, setting out my believed qualifications in concise terms, adding +that my age had unfortunately precluded my eagerly proffered services +from acceptance in other spheres; that I was keen and eager to be of +service to my country; and that I was eating my heart out through +inactivity. If there was a chance of my being any use, I prayed that my +services might be commanded. + +I had been cautioned with impressive seriousness that if my services +were accepted it might be only for enrolment in the "Forlorn Hope +Brigade" and that my chances of survival might be very remote indeed. + +Rather than damping my ardour, this warning merely added fuel to the +flames of my desires. In early life I had been most bitterly +disappointed. A somewhat sensitive nature had received a shock from +which it never properly recovered. With the fatuity of early youth I had +placed a whole family upon an idealistic pedestal--including a mere +child of thirteen years of age. When that theoristic fabric fell, +shattered to a million invisible fragments, at my feet, I could not +understand, but I felt for years afterwards that life for me held +nothing of worth. + +Time heals wounds, and I survived in bodily health. In 1912 I lost a +man's best friend on earth--my mother. At Christmas, 1913, my father, my +dearest pal, followed her to the grave. I was unmarried. My brother and +my sisters had homes of their own, far away. What mattered it to anyone, +least of all to myself, if I crossed the Great Divide before my allotted +time? I was at best a mere worthless atom of humanity dependent upon no +one, with no one dependent upon me. + +Here at least was a chance of doing something worth the while. 'Twas a +far, far better thing to do than I had ever done. + +Yea, indeed. I was ready, and willing, and eager, for the service, +whatsoever that service might be, and withersoever it might take me, +even to the jaws of death itself. + +Having regard to all the circumstances, I do not believe I shall be +accused of presumptuousness or of egotism if I say that I fully believed +myself to be a fit and qualified person for the service for which I then +had volunteered. + +On October 17th, 1914, I received a letter from the Under Permanent +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Arthur Nicholson--now Lord +Carnock), acknowledging my letter of the previous day's date and saying +Sir Edward Grey appreciated my offer, although he regretted there were +no such appointments at the disposal of his department; but he added +that my name had been noted in case my services might be utilised in any +capacity at some further date. + +On October 19th, I received a letter on War Office paper referring to my +letter to Sir Edward Grey of the 16th, saying: "I should be very glad if +you would arrange to come and see me here one morning. If you will let +me know when I may expect you I shall arrange to be free." This letter +was signed "P. W. Kenny, Captain"[4] and on its left-hand top corner +specified a certain room number. I subsequently ascertained that this +gentleman (and a real gentleman in every sense of that embracive word I +found him) was the "Acting Buffer" between the Secret Service +departments for both the War Office and the Admiralty to anyone who +might attempt to approach either of these departments. It will be +remembered that his name figured in the public Press as acting in that +capacity when Admiral W. R. Hall, C.B., brilliantly defeated and +frustrated the clever schemes so carefully yet vainly laid by the then +notorious ex.-M.P. Trebitsch Lincoln, whose apparent intention and +purpose was to work the double cross against the British Empire. + +I promptly answered this communication by a special journey to London, +of which I gave due notice as requested. + +After passing the Police Guards at the entrance to the War Office, I +traversed a long corridor to the inquiry room, where a number of +attendants were busily engaged issuing forms to be filled up by +applicants for interviews. Of course it was impossible to escape the +inevitable form, on which I inserted the name of Captain P. W. Kenny, +his room number, my name, address, and the nature of my +business--private and confidential. It was a bit of a staggerer to hear +from the attendant that he did not know Captain Kenny, nor of him, nor +did he believe there was any officer of that name in the building. +Inquiries, however, from others of his class elicited the information +that someone had heard a name somewhat like it and if I went up to the +floor on which the room was numbered as before-mentioned, and applied to +the porter or commissionaire at the lodge up there, he might be able to +locate him for me. + +After a wait of some minutes in an ante-room where were collecting a +large number of officers and others on errands of various natures, I was +sent away in charge of a boy-scout, with about ten other form-fillers, +whom he dropped at various floor lodges on the way. The system was for +each boy-scout to conduct a whole bunch of followers, who carried their +forms in their hands until the desired floors were reached, when the +boy-scout guide handed one or more of his followers to the +commissionaire in charge of the lodge on each floor sought, who in turn +sent them off again in charge of another attendant to the desired room. + +I was the last one to depart from our diminutive guide. But when I got +to the lodge on the floor on which the room I was seeking was numbered, +the commissionaire in charge said he knew nothing of the officer named +on my form. After arguing the matter discreetly with him I persuaded him +to take me to the room specified on my form, which we found unoccupied, +although there were a table and chairs there, as I saw them through the +half-open door. + +As the bona fides of my quest seemed to be doubted I produced the letter +I had received, when he politely escorted me to two other lodges on the +other floors; but only one of the men in charge could help me at all, +and in that he was very vague. He believed there had been an officer, +whose name he did not know, using the room so numbered or another room a +day or so ago, and he was not certain which it was; he had since changed +his room, but where he could not say. Anyway, as he expressed himself, +he was a mysterious kind of person, and what he did, or what functions +he performed, no one seemed to know. I must confess I was at a loss to +understand the position. Suddenly, however, the thought struck me that +it might be a possible stunt to test one's capabilities for a research +or investigation; so I listened with interest to the conversations of +the various commissionaires and gleaned that the gentleman I sought, if +such an individual had any business in the War Office at all, was tall, +thin, and aristocratic. The one man who described him thought he knew +whom I meant--"A horficer as spent his time a-dodging back'ards and +forrards betwixt the War Hoffice and the Hadmiralty, who never said +nothink to nobody, so one didn't know which he did belong to; one who +'ardly ever was in 'is room and one who 'ad some queer blokes come to +see 'im." + +I thanked the commissionaires politely and said I would try another +floor on my own account, as once inside the building with a form in +one's hand it seemed one could wander anywhere at will and without +question. + +Accordingly I at once made up my mind what to do. I went to the floor +below, to the lodge there, and I asked for Lord Kitchener. There was no +hesitation in answering that inquiry; within a few minutes I had reached +the desired portion of the building, where I asked to see his Lordship's +principal secretary. I have forgotten his name, but I was not kept +waiting for a moment. I was accorded an opportunity to explain my +mission. I showed him the letter I had summoning me to the War Office, +and told him the difficulties I had met with in attempting to locate the +elusive "Go-Between." This officer received me very graciously; he +smiled at the short description I gave him of my wanderings, and said: +"I think I can put you on the right track straight away; please follow +me," and getting up he took me to another room at the far end of the +corridor we were then in, where we interviewed another officer who also +laughed and told us that Captain Kenny had just changed his room and +would now be found in room number ---- which was on the floor above. +Having thanked these officers for their kindly services I ascended once +more, and within ten minutes from abandoning my false scent I ran my +quarry to earth and was tapping on his oak. + +I explained the difficulty I had been placed in to Captain Kenny, who +expressed some surprise. Whether he really felt it or not I do not know, +but when I showed him the room number given at the top of his letter he +admitted the recent change and made apologetic amends for the +inadvertence, adding that the attendants in charge of the inquiry bureau +below should certainly have known both his name and room number. + +_Quien sabe_, thought I to myself. Anyway, I held my peace and we +proceeded to business. + +For about an hour Captain Kenny questioned me regarding my knowledge of +Northern latitudes, their peoples and my linguistic capabilities. Then +he suggested in the most charming and persuasive manner that I should +remain awhile in London, like Wilkins Micawber of old, "in the hope of +something turning up." + +I did so. During this period I called at the War Office at various +appointed times and on each occasion was put to further interrogation. +Captain Kenny rather reminded me of Dr. Leyds. He seemed to possess that +same pleasing persuasiveness which made one feel that one was under deep +obligation to him personally for being permitted to relieve him of the +smallest matter in hand--indeed, a valuable asset to the person +possessing such skill. Within a week of my advent in London a letter +came to me from Captain Kenny in which he wrote: "For the moment there +are no vacancies in the Intelligence Service, but if you will exercise a +little patience I really believe I shall be able to do something for +you. I shall see that your name and special qualifications are kept well +in view and I trust that we shall be able to make use of your +exceptional abilities." + +This was followed about the day after by another short note from his +private address, asking me to call at the war office next day, adding: +"The delay arose through a temporary interruption of certain foreign +communications, but he was almost sure he would be able to do +something." + +I lost no time in answering this letter in person and within half an +hour I was fixed for the Foreign Secret Service under the Admiralty in +the north of Europe. My remuneration, I was informed, would be rated on +the scale appertaining to a naval captain in full commission; in +addition to which I should be allowed £1 per day to cover my personal +expenses, with a further allowance up to £1 per day to cover travelling +expenses; but if I exceeded this amount I must bear the extra payments +myself. I was delighted beyond measure: I would gladly have accepted any +offer, on almost any terms, I was so keen to "do my bit" to help my +country in whatever capacity I could be thought of any use. I +subsequently found, however, that these allowances by no means covered +one's travelling expenses abroad at that time, which daily mounted +higher and higher until they assumed alarming dimensions. True it is, +there were times, when one was obscuring oneself from too observant and +inquiring persons, that one's expenses could be kept well below these +amounts, but at other times, when speed in travelling was of vital +importance, expenditure had to be a secondary consideration, and the +average daily balances vanished beyond recognition. + +At this, last but one, interview with Captain Kenny he produced a large +map of Northern Germany and the Baltic. Pointing with his finger to +various parts of it he kept asking me whether I could and would go to +the places indicated, which included the outskirts of Kiel harbour. + +So in order to free his mind from any doubts he may have had as to my +venturesomeness, I clinched matters by saying "If you assure me it will +in any way benefit my country, I am ready and prepared to go to Hell +itself. So why waste breath on these pleasure resorts?" + +"Ah!" replied this most exceedingly polite interviewer. "That, my dear +sir, is the very answer I have been told, by a certain sporting +nobleman who recommended you, I should receive if I pressed you on this. +From what he said, and from what I have ascertained about you, I can +quite believe it. How long do you require to put your affairs in order?" + +"I am ready to start at once," was the reply. I had come to London +prepared for such an emergency. + +"Good! On Monday at 11 a.m. call upon me again. I shall give you a +sealed despatch to deliver at a time and place to be named, and enough +money to enable you to reach a certain town. There you will meet a +certain gentleman who will give you further instructions. You can now +apply for a passport, and I wish you every luck." + +"Excuse me, sir. But you do not give me any idea of what my duties will +consist--to whom I am to report, or how? I really don't quite follow +you; unless, of course, the despatch contains more enlightenment." + +"Naturally the despatch will give full instructions to the gentleman you +are to meet. He will seek you under the name of Mr. Jim. You will reply +by mentioning two other names or words which you must now commit to +memory, but not to paper. So far as your duties are concerned, _you have +the fullest discretion; remember to use discretion_. You will work +entirely on your own initiative. Henceforth you will be known to the +Service as 'Jim.' And in saying good-bye, I may as well add, if you have +not already done so, it might be advisable to seriously consider such +testamentary dispositions as you are minded to complete." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] _John Bull,_ January 29th, 1916. + +[2] _Ibid._, February 12th, 1916. + +[3] This gentleman subsequently died a glorious death in the service of +his country. He was shot when on active service in South Africa. + +[4] The author would not have felt at liberty to mention this gentleman +by name except for the fact that his connection with the Secret Service +was made public in the Press on the Trebitsch Lincoln affair. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SECRET SERVICE ORGANISATIONS, COMPARISONS, AND INCIDENTALS + + ESPIONAGE IN PAST AGES--MODERN BRITISH SECRET SERVICE FOUNDED, + 1910--POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS--COMPARISONS--JEALOUSIES OF BIG + DEPARTMENTS--EXAMPLES OF RECKLESS EXTRAVAGANCE--BUSINESS MEN + WANTED--ECONOMIES IN THE SECRET SERVICE--BUNGLING + INCOMPETENCE--IMPASSIVENESS OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE--GERMAN WAR + METHODS--FRENCH AND DUTCH SECRET SERVICE--MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, + B.C.--RISE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GERMAN SECRET SERVICE--THE EFFICIENCY + OF SCOTLAND YARD--DETAILS OF GERMAN FOREIGN PROPAGANDA AND + EXPENDITURE--BRITISH SECRET SERVICE, ITS COST AND + FRUGALITIES--MAJOR HENRI LE CARON--NATHAN HALE--SIMILITUDE OF THE + LIFE OF A SECRET SERVICE AGENT. + + +Not until the reign of Henry VII. and the days of the great Cardinal +Wolsey do we hear speak of organised systems of Secret Service. Cromwell +encouraged the department, whilst Charles II. seems to have arranged +grants for its continuance equivalent to £500,000 per annum. Pitt was a +firm supporter of the service, and Canning is said to have paid £20,000 +for the treaty of Tilsit. + +In earlier times, British Intelligence Agents were attached to the +Chancelleries of our Ministers abroad, as is the case to-day with nearly +every nation, except our own. Remuneration was given commensurate with +the risks and service. But from the 'sixties the pay diminished and the +department faded away from being an asset of much general valuable +utility. + +The present British Secret Service Department was founded about 1910 by +an officer, a man of untiring energy, pluck, and perseverance, who has +rendered noble service and willing sacrifice. Since its initiation this +department seems to have been harassed, attacked, and shot at by petty +jealousies, which, during the agony of the crisis of war were ignoble +and contemptible in the extreme. An observer behind the scenes can +therefore admire the more the men who ignored this and worked on, +unheeding all, with but a single thought, and that the welfare of their +King and Country. + +England never seems to have had any real organisation for Secret Service +propaganda which can compare in thoroughness with the German effort. It +has had no schools of instruction, nor does it send its members to +specialise in any particular branch. It is an unwritten rule of the +department that a naval or a military officer must be at the head of +every branch or sub-division of any importance; and the service of +civilians or of those from other professions than the Navy and the Army +is neither sought nor welcomed, however capable or however clever the +persons available may be. The exceptional civilian is soon made to feel +this. Whether the idea is to instil discipline, or to impress upon the +newcomer the superiority and importance of the right to wear a uniform, +it is difficult to imagine. The main work of the department, however, is +on a par with the collection of evidence, the unravelling of secret +mysteries, and the study and handling of character--which any man of the +world would have probably at once concluded was more fitted to the +controlling influence of experienced Criminal and Commercial +Investigators rather than to long-service officers who have been +strapped to their stool by strict disciplinary red-tapeism from their +teens upwards. Admitted that officers must be at the top of the Service +to direct the information required, and to deal with it when obtained, +nevertheless for the direction and control of ways and means of its +attainment, the financial part, both inside and out, the selection of +the executive staff, the tabulation of facts collected, and +correspondence, a member of the Government of some standing and with +experience of this class of work should be commissioned as special +Minister in full control of the department; because its importance to +the State cannot be overstated or exaggerated. + +Not only should this department have, as near its chief as possible, a +man who has had an extensive experience of active criminal and +commercial affairs, but he should also, if possible, be one who has +specially qualified himself in the commercial world as a _thoroughly +efficient business man_. + +It may perhaps be added that it is by no means the only Government +department which has suffered acutely for want of an efficient business +man on its directorate. + +So far as office work is concerned, a Service officer may understand +book routine and discipline, but when it comes to rock-bottom business +this war has produced overwhelming proof that a Service officer is lost +against an efficient business man. Speaking broadly, the former has no +idea of the general value of things, or of the worldly side of the +business world. How can it be expected of him? He is trained, specially +trained, in his profession, which has naught to do with the struggle of +the money-makers. He is not accustomed to rub shoulders with the man in +the street, whilst there are thousands of minor details which he would +probably ignore when brought to his notice, but which a business man +would recognise as floating thistledown showing the direction of the +wind. The business man knows that a knowledge of his fellow-man is the +most valuable knowledge in the world. He is not saddled with fastidious, +obsolete forms of etiquette, the waiting for the due observance of which +has cost millions of pounds sterling and thousands of much more valuable +lives. He is not tied down to the cut-and-dried book routine, probably +unrevised for years, which it is an impossibility to keep thoroughly +up-to-date. + +He is not afraid of the wrath of his immediate superior officers, which, +unless being an officer himself he could modify or smooth it over, might +put on the shelf for ever all chance of his future success in life. He +is not shackled with incompetents whom he dared not report or remove +because they hold indirect influences which might be moved to his +disadvantage. He is not hampered by the importunities of +brother-officers who are pushed at him continually by place-seekers, or +by feared or favoured ones. He is not handicapped by the jealous spite +of machination of other departments, because an efficient business man +will have none of this from anyone, whether above or below him. Should +it arise, he eradicates it root and branch at first sight, which an +ordinary Service officer is generally utterly powerless to do; nor dare +he dream of its accomplishment. + +It is the existence of this terrible canker-worm of jealousy, false +pride, petty spite, or absurd etiquette, which in the past has gnawed +into the very vitals of our glorious Services, sapping away much of +their efficiency and undermining future unity, which always tends to +turn victories into defeats or colossal disasters. It is devoutly to be +hoped that this world-war will level up the masses and kill and for ever +crush out of our midst this hydra-headed microbe, the greatest danger of +which is that on the surface it is invisible. + +Members of the Secret Service knew all along that the War Office and the +Admiralty were like oil and water, because they would not or could not +mix.[5] If one required anything of importance from the War Office it +might have blighted the hopes of success to have blurted out that one +came from, or was a member of, the Admiralty, and _vice versâ_. These +two mighty departments never seemed to work in harmonious unity. Hence, +whenever Jim had business at the War Office he advisedly concealed that +he had any interest in the Admiralty; and whenever he was at the +Admiralty he denied all connection with the War Office. It saved so much +friction and avoided so much unnecessary formality, trouble, and delay. + +That this friction was bad for the country, detrimental to the +shortening of the war, and most expensive to the taxpayer, goes without +saying; but perhaps the fault lay with our system, which permits so many +men over sixty years of age to remain in, or to be suddenly placed into +positions of such terrible responsibility and such colossal and +continual accumulation of work; men who hitherto had had a slack time +and who perhaps had hardly ever been contradicted or denied in their +lives; men who constantly demonstrated to those around them that their +dignity and self-importance must be admitted and put before almost every +other consideration; men who ought to have taken honorary positions and +not for a single hour kept from the chair of office more efficient and +younger officers; men who knew only the old routine, who were long past +their prime, and who were consistent upholders of the greatest curse +that ever cursed our island Kingdom--the Red-tapeism of the +Circumlocution Office. + +Volumes could be filled with examples of the pernicious results arising +because this country has not adopted modern and up-to-date methods. +Volumes could be written to prove the reckless waste and extravagance +that has been allowed to run wild and caused by our not providing for a +department having a Minister of Conservation and Economy. Volumes could +be written to prove that if jealousies could be stamped out, false +dignity crushed, and red-tapeism abolished, our nation would rise far +above the heads of all other nations in the world, and our taxpayers' +burdens, both now and in the future, would be materially reduced. + +Although thousands of examples could be given it is submitted that for a +book of this description an example from two or three departments should +be sufficient to illustrate the argument. + + +FROM THE ADMIRALTY. + +Some time in the autumn of 1915, two fields were acquired by the +Admiralty at Bacton, on the Norfolk coast, for use as an aviation +ground. In order to give a sufficiently large unbroken and even surface +for aeroplanes, it was deemed necessary to level a hedge-bank of +considerable length, dividing the fields in question. + +Within a few miles of these fields were stationed a thousand soldiers, +who were chafing at and weary with the monotony of their daily routine, +an unvaried one for over a year. The majority of these men would have +welcomed the acceptance of such a task as this. But follow the events +which happened, and it is proved convincingly that some silly, +ridiculous reason prevented any approach, by those who sit in Chairs at +the Admiralty to those who sit in Chairs at the War Office, to utilise +this unemployed labour, or to save the nation's pocket in so simple a +matter. + +The expenditure of money seemed to be of no consideration whatsoever, +although the House of Commons was at this particular period shrieking +for economy in others, which they were quite unwilling to commence +themselves; whilst the Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) addressed a great +economy speech to the massed delegates representing 4,000,000 organised +workers at Westminster on December 1st, 1915. So a contract was offered +and entered into with a civilian to do the work. Owing to Lord Derby's +scare-scheme system of recruiting instead of National Service (which +ought to have been enforced immediately after the Boer War, as pressed +by Lord Roberts and others), the unlucky contractor lost most of his +young men and was quite unable to get more than a very few old men who +were past the age of strenuous labour. His job progressed so slowly that +the Admiralty realised the work might not be finished for months and +months to come if permitted to continue on the then present line. + +What was it that prevented the Admiralty, on this second occasion of +necessity, from approaching the War Office, or even one of the officers +in command of the thousands and thousands of troops stationed in +Norfolk, a few of whom could and would gladly have completed the work in +a few hours without a penny extra expense to the country? + +Instead of incurring any possible suspicion of an obligation from the +War Office, an appeal was made to the newly-formed City of Norwich +Volunteers for their men to put down their names for this work. That +loyal, energetic, and patriotic body of Englishmen, which was drawn +from all ranks of society, although working at their various vocations +all the week, immediately acquiesced, without stopping to reason why, +and agreed to go to Bacton the next ensuing Sunday. + +The distance from Norwich to Bacton is twenty miles, but the nearest +station is about three miles from the fields in question. + +By reason of the War Office having taken over control of the railways, +these men could, by a simple request from the Admiralty to the War +Office, have been provided with free travelling passes. They had +expressed their willingness to walk the remaining three miles of the +journey, do the work gratuitously (although quite unaccustomed to any +such rough manual labour), find their own rations, and walk the return +three miles to the station afterwards. Such, however, was not +acceptable, nor permitted. + +At North Walsham, five miles from the aerodrome site, at least a +thousand troops were stationed. They were provided with motor vehicles +capable of travelling thirty miles per hour. A few of these vehicles +could have carried the whole party from North Walsham station to the +fields in under half an hour; or they could have fetched them from +Norwich in about an hour. But no; such an arrangement might incur the +obligation of a request and a compliance. + +_So the Admiralty arranged to send some of their own motor lorries from +Portsmouth to Norwich in order to convey this small party of civilian +volunteer-workers twenty-one miles to the job_. + +It was said that five lorries were ordered, but only three were sent. +They were of the large size, extra heavy type, which cannot, with +general convenience, travel at a speed beyond ten miles an hour--if so +fast; whilst their petrol consumption might be estimated at about a +gallon per hour. They arrived at Norwich on Sunday morning November +28th, 1915, apparently after several days on the road. They took part of +the small party of enthusiasts to Bacton, who worked all through the +Sabbath; whilst other Admiralty motor-cars were ordered specially over +from Newmarket which took the remainder of the party to and from the +job. + +The three lorries avoided London, thus the full journey of each must +have approximated 500 miles. + +Consider: the running expenses of a private two-ton motor-car would not +be less than a shilling a mile; compare the petrol, oil consumption, and +wear and tear. It is thus not difficult to estimate this absurdly +unnecessary and recklessly extravagant waste of the taxpayers' money; +and all because of some ridiculous personal prejudices, or of the sacred +cause of red-tapeism; or the possible touching of some false sentiments +of dignity or hollow pride, assumed by those who sit on Chairs on one +side or the other of Whitehall, and who direct the details of war +expenditure. + + +FROM THE WAR OFFICE. + +Every Englishman must deeply regret the memory of countless examples of +reckless waste, incompetent management, and riotous extravagance which +particularly marked the first two years of the war; and which, alas, +appeared much more flagrantly in connection with the Army than with the +Navy. + +During the progress of the war groans arose in this strain from every +county. The Yorkshire £10 to £15 tent-pegs case, as recorded in the +Press, December 18th, 1915, was never denied. + +A motor trolley accidentally smashed about half a score of tent-pegs at +---- camp. Instead of replacing them at the cost of half a crown or +less, the C.O. ruled that a report must be drawn up and submitted to the +War Office requesting a new supply of pegs. In due course the answer +arrived saying: "Loose pegs could not be sent, as they were only +supplied with new tents, but a new tent would be sent, value £150, _with +the usual quantity of pegs_." Which course in all seriousness was +actually adopted. + + * * * * * + +In June, 1916, a chimney at a Drill Hall in the town of Lowestoft on the +east coast required sweeping, and an orderly suggested to the +commanding officer that he should employ a local man residing a few +doors away, who offered to undertake the job efficiently at the modest +outlay of 1s. But the commanding officer was shackled body and soul in +red-tape bonds. Following his duty he reported the matter to +headquarters. Further particulars were required and given and in the +course of a few days the army chimney-sweep arrived, did the work and +departed. _He came from and returned to Birmingham_, and stated that his +contract price was 10d. The third-class return fare from Birmingham is +26s. 7d. It probably meant two days occupied at an expense which could +not have been much less than 30s. A total of £2 16s. 7d., plus payment, +postages, paper and possible extras, to _save 2d._ and to do a local man +out of a 1s. job in a town admittedly ruined by the unfortunate +exigencies of the war! + + +FROM THE HOME OFFICE. + +The Leicester correspondent of the _Shoe and Leather Record_, wrote on +February 25th, 1916: + +"The Government have intimated, through the medium of the usual official +document, that they are willing to receive tenders for twenty-four emery +pads, the total value of which would be one shilling and four pence. The +tender forms are marked 'very urgent' and firms tendering are warned +that inability of the railway companies to carry the goods will not +relieve contractors of responsibility for non-delivery. + +"The goods are presumably intended for the Army boot-repairing depôts, +but in view of the admitted 'urgency' it will, I think, strike most +business men as strange that there is not an official connected with +this branch of the service possessing sufficient authority to give the +office boy sixteen pence with instructions to go and fetch the goods +from the nearest grindery shop. + +"Up to the time of writing I have not heard which local firm has been +fortunate enough to secure this 'contract.'" + + * * * * * + +After this gigantic tussle of titanic races is over and the bill of +costs has to be met, perhaps the nation will realise the cry, that for +some years past has been lost like a voice crying in the wilderness--_We +want business men_: business men in all Government departments which +have to handle business matters. England's colossal financial +liabilities, pyramided up during recent years, are practically all +traceable to her lack of efficient business men in her business +departments. + +In the Navy, in the Army, in the Transport, in the supplies, and +throughout, let the head of each department be chosen from a member of +its body, if believed best so to do; but let the business side thereof +be presided over by an efficient and fully-qualified business man--a man +who knows the purchasing power of a pound; more important still, who +knows how hard it is to earn one. The men entrusted with such +responsible positions should have full responsibility placed upon their +shoulders; they should be highly paid and they should be free to act +without being tied down by the fetters of "the book," by red-tape +precedents, and by the counter-consents of so many others who in nine +cases out of ten are men of no previous business training nor +qualification concerning the majority of details which they are called +upon to handle. + +Recent Army and Naval administration, as the public have seen, requires +little further comment here. The hundreds of thousands of pounds +absolutely squandered in surplus rations, billeting, pay, and transport, +etc., should have impressed the minds of observers in a manner that this +generation is never likely to forget. A business man in each department, +with a free hand to economise and arrange its details, in a +business-like way, would have saved the country the salaries paid to +them ten thousand times over, with a gigantic surplus to spare. + +The British Intelligence Department probably suffered least of any in +this respect. Its actual managing chief never wasted a shilling where he +could personally see a way of saving it. To my knowledge he never +overpaid anyone, whilst he was not at all adverse to using the +persuasive argument of patriotism, in order to get a mass of useful work +done for nothing at all. To quote an instance. It was the case of a man +who, at his country's call, had sacrificed an income of considerably +over £1,000 per annum, together with all his home and business +interests, and who in the chief's absence had accepted a thankless and a +dangerous task on the active foreign executive at a remuneration less +than he had been paying a confidential clerk. + +The chief on his return to office did not hesitate to ask him to waive +altogether his remuneration, and to pay out of his own pocket +twenty-five per cent. of his personal travelling expenses in addition! +Loyally he agreed, and for months he thus served, although those in +authority above him showed no sign of appreciation or gratitude +afterwards for the sacrifice. + +If other Government departments were half as careful over their +expenditure as the Secret Service, the British public would not have +much cause to find fault nor even to grumble. But what hampered its +efficiency, and was neither fair, nor politic, nor economic, was the +policy of the Foreign Office, which permitted others, in no way +whatsoever connected with the Service, or with the Intelligence, to +interfere (during 1914 and 1915) with its work and with members of its +executive both at home and abroad. This was not the worst of it. Not +only was the organisation of a whole and important branch of the +department on two occasions brought to a complete standstill, owing to +the interference of one vainly conceited incompetent who had collected a +string of high-sounding qualifications behind his name, but he caused +money to be scattered in thousands where hundreds, and probably tens, or +a little judicious entertaining, would have been more than sufficient. +If these monies were debited to the Secret Service Department, such a +wrong ought to be righted. In due course the colossal indiscretions of +this interfering bungler involved matters in such a dangerous tangle +that he apparently lost his head, and for a period of time was quite +inaccessible for business. On recovery he coolly announced that he +should wash his hands entirely of all Secret Service affairs. Imagine +the feelings of the patient chiefs of the Foreign Secret Service +Department. They had silently sat for months watching the efforts of +their captured staff hampered at every turn whilst they were +persistently building up a sound, practical, useful organisation, which +a fool and his folly overturned, like a house of cards, in one day. They +had been actually stopped from controlling the movements of their own +men, yet they were responsible for their pay and their expenses; whilst +possibly they had had a heavy load of extravagant outside expenditure +heaped upon their department without any equivalent advantage. They had +been compelled to endure this indignity, because, as Service officers, +they dared not, for the sake of their then present position and possibly +their future, openly remonstrate or criticise, or even report the bare +facts concerning the all-too-palpable incompetence of this somewhat +Powerful Gentleman who had insisted on poking his officious and +inefficacious nose into a department which did not concern him, and the +existence of which it was his loyal duty to ignore. + +Without a word of complaint (except to members of his executive, to whom +his language was as emphatic as it was sultry), our good old managing +chief set to work afresh. Within a couple of months he had straightened +out the line, when, to the astonishment of all concerned, the old enemy +appeared once more upon the scene. Moved either by jealousy, or by +vindictive spite at the success which followed where he had failed, he +again attacked the department by hitting at individual members of its +actively working executive! Remember, England was at war at the time; +thus a more unpatriotic action could hardly have been conceived. Yet the +Foreign Office, although impressively advised of the wrong-doing and the +probable consequences, either dared not or would not trouble itself to +investigate the details of the matter. + +Yes, verily, my friends, _suppressio veri_ has much to answer for. It is +well for some of those who sit in high offices that a rigid censorship +and secrecy was maintained throughout the war; or the very walls of +England might have arisen in fierce mutiny. + +Mr. Le Queux touches the point in his book on "German Spies in England," +page 92: + +"We want no more attempts to gag the Press, no evasive speeches in the +House, no more pandering to the foreign financier, or bestowing upon him +Birthday Honours: no more kid-gloved legislation for our monied enemies +whose sons, in some cases, are fighting against us, but sturdy, honest, +and deliberate action--the action with the iron hand of justice in the +interests of our own beloved Empire." + +Whilst Burnod--"Maxims de Guerre de Napoléon"--quotes: "It is the +persons who would deceive the people and exploit them for their own +profit that are keeping them in ignorance." + +Napoleon's greatness was achieved by employing only the best men +obtainable for positions of the highest responsibility. His most +important officer in the Secret Service Department seems to have been a +German, by name Karl Schulmiester, who drew the princely salary of +£20,000 per annum. Proved efficiency was the little Corsican's only +passport. + +Germany has learnt well from this lesson. Soldiers, sailors, and +business men waged her war. Not a lawyer or professional politician took +part in it except in the trenches. Germany entrusted the administration +of her affairs to experts. Blue blood, patronage, and reputation carried +neither weight nor meaning. It was ruthless, but it was business--it was +war. The magic of a great military name did not save Lieutenant-General +Helmuth von Moltke from dismissal from the Head of the German staff when +the Kaiser was convinced of his inefficiency. Vice-Admiral von Engenohl, +Commander-in-Chief of the High Canal Fleet, had to retire in favour of +Admiral von Pohl owing to failures; whilst the septuagenarian father of +bureaucrats, Dr. Kuhn, had to vacate finance in order to make way for +the professional banker, Dr. Helfferich, who although quite unknown to +distinction was appointed Chancellor of the Imperial Exchequer. + +From the very commencement, Germany appointed experts over each +department of her colossal war machine--_expert business men_. Every +solitary industry which has aught to do with war-making was linked up +with the Government. By way of example there was a Cotton Council, a +Coal Advisory Board, a Motor and Rubber Committee, a Chemical Committee, +etc., etc. + +That able journalist, Mr. F. W. Wile, has proved again and again by his +articles that war is and always has been a scientific business with +Germany. He argues that there is nothing hyperphysical or mysterious +about the successes she achieved. They were essentially material. German +soldiers are not supermen, or as individual warriors the equal to those +of many other nations. Their victories have been due to a chain of very +obvious and systematic circumstances: to organisation, strict +discipline, thoroughness, and far-sighted expert management; in other +words, making a business of their business and employing therein only +business men who know the business. + +Apologising for this partial digression from the main subject matter, +the French Secret Service of modern times has been principally conducted +on the Dossier principle, which came to light in the Dreyfus affair. In +the present war this system has seemingly been of little practical +value, and France has had to depend almost entirely upon her Allies for +foreign intelligence work. Eighteen months after the war commenced her +foreign Secret Service department was said to have practically closed +down for want of finances, so far as the north of Europe was concerned. + +Harking back to before the South African War, we find that Paul Kruger, +the late President of the South African Republic, was a great believer +in an efficient up-to-date Secret Service department, and vast sums were +expended by him with little, if any, inquiry or vouching. Messrs. D. +Blackburn and Captain W. Waithman Caddell, in their book on "Secret +Service in South Africa," record how Tjaard Kruger, a son of the +President of the Transvaal Republic, who was for a short time Chief of +the Secret Service Bureau, paid £2,800 in one afternoon in 1906, out of +the many thousands of pounds in gold coinage which he always kept in his +office, to casual callers only, to men who came accredited by some +person in authority as being able to supply valuable information. + +Tjaard Kruger was succeeded in office by a most clever and interesting +celebrity, Dr. Leyds, Secretary of State, who was the only man who made +the department a success. He showed the unfailing tact of the born +diplomat. He was a great reader of character and formed a pretty +accurate estimate of a person in a surprisingly short time. He conducted +his affairs so delicately and diplomatically that he won universal +esteem and the staunchest and most loyal adherents. He would hand over +disagreeable work to a subordinate so gracefully that it gave the +impression that he was relegating the work, not because it irked him, +but because he had found a man more capable than himself--the man whom +he had long sought. + +Dr. Leyds' letters of instructions to his agents were clear, precise, +and exacting, and provided for every possible contingency; yet had they +fallen into the hands of the unauthorised they would have conveyed +little. These letters bespoke the diplomat. They would have come safely +out of an investigation by a committee of suspicious spy-hunters. + +When he required to "draw" any person he would instruct his agents to +ascertain carefully that person's tastes, habits, prejudices, and +amusements. These he would study to the minutest trifle, and by skilful +play upon a weakness, or by the evidence of a similar taste, he would +successfully penetrate to the most exclusive and jealously guarded +sanctum sanctorum. + +Mr. Hamil Grant is an author who may be congratulated upon his +carefully-compiled work, entitled, "Spies and Secret Service," which +contains the history of espionage from earliest times to the present +day. He shows how the practice was used by Joshua, David, Absalom, and +the mighty warriors whose deeds of valour are recorded in the Old +Testament. He quotes Alexander Mithridates, the King of Pontus, who +made himself the master of twenty-five languages and spent seven years +wandering through countries he subsequently fought and vanquished. He +traces developments from Alexander the Great, who lived 300 years before +Christ and was the first known to start secret post censorship; from +Hannibal, who could never have crossed from Andalusia over the Pyrenees +and the Alps into the plains of Piedmont to fight the battle of Trebia +(218 B.C.) without the assistance he received from the intelligence +scouts who preceded him. He points out how Cæsar and the great generals +who conquered Europe invariably used scouts and intelligence agents. He +quotes Napoleon's admission of indebtedness to Polyænus for original +strategic ideas of espionage; whilst he has much to say in proving that +no war of either ancient or modern times was successful without it. + +His most interesting chapters are those dealing with the rise of the +Prussian empire, which he claims to have been built almost entirely upon +such an unenviable foundation. The author has taken the liberty of +quoting somewhat numerous extracts as follows: + + + "The Modern System of espionage seems to have been originally + conceived by Frederick the Great of Prussia and subsequently + elaborated into a kind of National Philosophy by writers like + Nietzsche, Treitschke and Bernhardi. But a nation which is ruled as + if it were a country of convicts actual or potential cannot fail + inevitably to develop in a pronounced degree those symptoms of + character and predisposition which land its converts in the + correction institutions where they are most commonly to be found. + + "Baron Stein, a well-known statesman of the Napoleonic period, was + responsible for the practical application of the theories in the + philosophy of Frederick the Great. He was followed by the + celebrated Dr. Stieber, who had the handling of millions of pounds + at his discretion and whose character had all those elements which + were associated with the criminal who operates along the higher + lines. He was a barrister, born in Prussia in 1818, and he first + curried favour with the officials by persuading his friends and + relations to enter into illegal acts in order that he might betray + them for his own advantage. The German word _stieber_ seems + appropriate; in our language it means sleuth-hound. In appearance + he represented an inquisitor of old. His eyes were almost white and + colourless, whilst there were hard drawn lines about his mouth. + With subordinates he adopted the loud airs of a master towards + slaves. In the presence of high authorities he was self-abasing and + subdued, with a smile of deferential oiliness and acquiescence, + with much rubbing of hands. + + "He seemed to have commenced Secret Service work with a standing + salary of £1,200 a year, in addition to which he received side + emoluments. He organised an internal and external service with + complete independence from all other official bodies, subsidised by + full and adequate appropriations from Parliament. His system was + thorough. He commenced by spying into the privacies of the Royal + family and Court and Government officials, Army and Naval officers, + and everybody of the slightest importance, down to the labourers' + and the workmen's organisations. In a very few years his nominal + salary had risen to £18,000, but about 1863, in spite of his having + been honoured with every German decoration conceivable, he was for + a couple of years suspended from office, during which period he + organised the Russian Secret Police. + + "With Stieber's assistance, Bismarck struck down Denmark in 1864, + Austria in 1866, and France in 1870. Even Moltke, the great + Prussian organiser of victory, was astonished and astounded at the + vast amount of valuable military information by which Stieber had + facilitated the rapid advance of his armies. + + "As a preliminary journey into France in 1867, Stieber appointed + 1,000 spies, within the invasion zone, with head centres at + Brussels, Lausanne, and Geneva; and on his return he handed over to + Bismarck some 1,650 reports which contained full military and + original maps of the French frontiers and the invasion zone. Year + by year this army of spies was increased, until in 1870 Stieber + had between 30,000 and 40,000 on his pay-roll. + + "In 1867 an attempt was made on the life of Alexander the Second of + Russia when on a visit to Paris in order to create a closer + Franco-Russian Alliance, which dastardly act was planned by Stieber + in order to be frustrated by him. When the assassin was tried for + his life the jury were bought by Prussian gold to acquit the + accused in order that the two nations could be kept apart and the + object of the journey thereby frustrated, but whether it was the + fertile brain of Bismarck or Stieber who planned the scheme of the + plot will never be known. + + "In 1870 Stieber boasted that he controlled the opinions of some + eighty-five writers in the French daily and weekly newspapers, + furthermore that he had paid sympathisers on the Austrian, Italian, + and English Press in addition. + + "By 1880 Stieber and Prince Bismarck had extended their organised + system materially as well as personally, which can be seen in the + present day network of railway lines and stations controlled solely + for militarist uses rather than for the development of the country; + whilst the funds demanded yearly from the Reichstag for Secret + Service work increased proportionately. + + "No one but a native of Prussia was allowed to hold any responsible + position in Prussia, yet in 1884 there were 15,000 Germans or + semi-foreigners serving on the French railways, all of them more or + less in the employ of the German Espionage Bureau and prepared to + destroy the plant, the lines, the buildings, and to paralyse French + mobilisation at the word of command. + + "In addition to this, Stieber's plans embraced upheavals in all + industrial classes. + + "It was German gold which instigated and carried through the + Dreyfus agitation, also the Association Bill which brought about + the disestablishment of the Church of France and the so-called + Agadir incident in the spring of 1911, which coincided so + remarkably with the devastating strikes in Great Britain. + + "It is a cry of the Fatherland that every good citizen is required + to pay taxes, build barracks, and shut his mouth. + + "The recent agitations in Ireland and practically all the strikes + in England have been indirectly supported by German gold; to which + the circulation of the extraordinary manifesto in August, 1914, was + also directly traceable. £4,000 was used for the purposes of the + French Railway Strike of 1893; in the same year a local + subscription of £48 was raised for a bootmakers' strike at Amiens, + whilst an alleged sympathetic £1,000 was sent from Frankfort. + + "The English suffragettes are also said to have received thousands + of pounds from unknown sources which in reality were German. + + "Stieber died in 1892, possessed of over £100,000. + + "As a part of his deep-rooted policy multitudes of Germans were + sent to France, England, and elsewhere to establish small + businesses, practically every one of which was subsidised by the + German Secret Service Office; as also were German clerks and others + who could obtain positions giving access to information of any + value. Stieberism practically demoralised the entire German nation, + whilst it inoculated its poison into other European countries in + such a manner that their energies and sound judgment seem to have + been paralysed in more ways than one. + + "Stieberists follow the same creed as Jesuits, 'All is justifiable + in the interests of the future of the Fatherland.' + + "Major Steinhauer succeeded Stieber, and the present Secret Service + Bureau of Berlin was in his hands when this war started. He also + was a past master in the art of organisation. The entry into + Brussels of 700,000 men without inconvenience or mishap was + practically entirely due to his organisation. Over 8,000 spies had + been placed on the various routes between Aix-la-Chapelle and Saint + Quentin, whilst those in the Belgian capital had some two or three + years previously actually worked out on paper the billets and + lodgings for all those troops in advance.[6] + + "The ordinary German Secret Service agent started with a salary of + £200 a year and 10s. a day expenses, with a bonus for each job to + an unlimited amount. Whilst abroad or on any matter of delicacy, + out-of-pocket allowances were increased to £2 a day, but 33% of all + current monies owing was kept back as a safety-valve until he left + the service. + + "Amongst the members were to be found Princes, Dukes, Counts, + Barons, Lawyers, Clergymen, Doctors, Actresses, Actors, Mondaines, + Demi-Mondaines, Journalists, Authors, Money-lenders, Jockeys, + Printers, Waiters, Porters; practically every class of society was + represented. + + "The remuneration cannot be considered high when compared with the + dangers undertaken, and since no official countenance was ever + given (nor indeed expected) on the part of the agents once one of + them fell into the hands of the enemy, the game was far from being + worth the worry and strain it entailed. + + "The training and examination before efficiency was reached were + far more difficult than our cadets would have to pass at Woolwich + or Sandhurst, or even officers for a staff college appointment." + + +The head offices of the German Secret Service Department, which was +presided over by the Kaiser himself, were situated in Berlin at +Koenigergratzerstrasse No. 70. So far as callers were concerned the same +routine was followed as at our War Office and Admiralty: the portals +were guarded by commissionaires who kept records of every visitor, with +such particulars as they could gather. Army or Naval officers were in +charge of all departments. They planned the work, but they never or very +rarely executed it. The secretaries and general assistants were all +civilians. No Ambassadors, Ministers, secretaries of legation, envoys, +plenipotentiaries, consuls, or recognised officials were permitted to +interfere in any way with the work of this department, although they +undoubtedly gave it every material assistance whenever they could. +History has clearly proved this. No jealousies or acts of favouritism to +relatives and the nominees of indirect influences were countenanced. +For such an offence the very highest in office would at once be deposed +and punished, whilst there was no appeal to a Parliament, Congress, +Chamber of Deputies, or political newspapers, against the Kaiser's +decision. He was not only the supreme head of what he himself described +as "My army of spies scattered over Great Britain and France, as it is +over North and South America, as well as the other parts of the world, +where German interests may come to a clash with a foreign power," but he +took a very keen interest in their individual work. Efficiency and +obedience only counted in his estimation. + +The persons selected for this work were specially trained in preparation +for the prospective tasks ahead of them. For days, weeks, and months, as +the case may be, they were grounded in topography, trigonometry, +mechanics, army and naval work; with a mass of detail which might be of +service, possibly when least expected. Their studies embraced visits to +the big Government construction works and yards; they were made familiar +with all necessary knowledge concerning war-ships, submarines, +torpedoes, aircraft, guns and fortifications; silhouettes of vessels; +uniforms of officers; secret surveys of interesting districts; signals, +codes, telegraphs and multitudinous other matters which the +thorough-going German considered absolutely essential to the training of +an efficient Secret Service agent. + +Mr. Le Queux, to whom all honour is due for his persistent and patriotic +efforts in unmasking German spies, their systems and organisations in +this country, corroborates Mr. Hamil in recording that the German Secret +Service dates back to about 1850, when an obscure Saxon named Stieber +began the espionage of revolutionary socialists, from which original +effort the present department originated. Also that the work was +fostered under the royal patronage of Frederick William, the King of +Prussia, which guarded it against anti-counter plotting from both +militarism and police, and which permitted it to grow and flourish until +it ultimately became the most powerful and feared department of the +State. In August, 1914, with an income approximating £750,000 per +annum, the agents of the German Secret Service extended all over the +world, organised to perfection as are the veins and arteries +perambulating the flesh and tissues of a man's body. + +Herr Stieber's present-day successor, Herr Steinhauer, also seemed to +enjoy the full confidence of His Majesty the Kaiser. He was then between +forty and fifty years of age, charming in manners, excellent in +education and of good presence. This officer of the Prussian Guard is +well known throughout the capitals of Europe. He has collected +information concerning every foreign land which is almost incredible. He +had maps of the British Isles which in minute detail and accuracy +surpass our own Ordnance Survey. The Norwegian fiords were better known +to German navigation lieutenants than to the native pilots and fishermen +who daily use them. These are facts which practical experts in many +countries have seen put to successful tests since the world-war started. + +For some years Mr. Le Queux made it his hobby to follow up the movements +of German spies in England. He collected information of value and +importance which he says he placed in the hands of our Government +officials, but that our Government departments were so hopelessly bound +up and entangled by red-tapeism that for years his communications and +warnings fell upon ears that would not listen, eyes that would not see, +brains that would not believe, and hands that would not act. + +The late Lord Roberts, who devoted his life to his country, referred to +this in the House of Lords some ten years before the present war, but +the Liberal and Radical politicians scoffed and laughed at him; as they +did when he urged other reforms so sound, so urgent, and so necessary +for our very existence. Now prayers are offered for the dead who never +would have died had these warnings been accepted in time. + +German espionage in England has been worked from Brussels, the chief +bureau being situate in the Montagne de la Coeur; whilst Ostend and +Boulogne were favoured rendezvous for those engaged in the work and the +go-betweens. + +Large English towns and counties were divided into groups or sections. +In each were selected numerous acting agents who received small +periodical payments for services rendered. Such sections acted under the +supervision of a Secret Service agent, the whole system being visited +from time to time by agents higher up in the service, who paid over all +monies in cash, collected reports, and gave further instructions. The +favourite cloak or guise to conceal identity was usually that of a +commercial traveller. + +It is a great pity that full reports of various trials of German spies +captured in England have not been permitted to be made public in the +Press, passing, of course, under a reasonable censorship which would +have deleted only such parts as referred to matters affecting the safety +of the realm. The scales would then perhaps have fallen from the eyes of +our fatuous and blinded public. And many another secret enemy who was, +or had been, working throughout the war, would have been reported and +laid by the heels; as well as many a noble life spared which has fallen +through such short-sighted folly. + +If the public are under the impression that the great round-up of over +14,000 German, Austrian, and foreign spies so actively at work in +England at the outbreak of war, and within a few weeks thereof, was due +to our Secret Service Department, it is labouring under a great +delusion. The credit for this exceedingly valuable work is due to the +energy, zeal, and intelligence of Scotland Yard, backed up by thoroughly +efficient police officers throughout the country, which force is without +doubt the finest in the world. + +Our censorships are also separate departments run on their own lines and +quite apart from any direct control from the Secret Service. + +On January 7th, 1916, Mr. J. L. Balderston, the special correspondent of +the _Pittsburg Despatch_, U.S.A., published data he had collected in +Europe showing that German propaganda had been carried on with feverish +energy in eighteen neutral countries, two of which had been won over at +a cost of £19,000,000, and one lost after a vain expenditure of +£10,000,000. During the first eighteen months of war, Germany had spent +no less than £72,600,000 to foster intimidation, persuasion, and +bribery, in conjunction with her colossal Secret Service system. + +The following extract gives the estimated expenditure in each country +where German agents were at work: + + + United States £15,000,000 + Turkey 14,000,000 + Italy 10,000,000 + Bulgaria 5,000,000 + Greece 4,000,000 + China 4,000,000 + Sweden 3,000,000 + Roumania 3,000,000 + Persia 3,000,000 + Spain 3,000,000 + Holland 2,000,000 + Norway 1,600,000 + Denmark 1,000,000 + Switzerland 1,000,000 + Argentine 1,000,000 + Brazil 1,000,000 + Chili 600,000 + Peru 400,000 + ----------- + Total £72,600,000 + ----------- + + +The moderation of the estimate that only £15,000,000 has been spent in +influencing the United States, a figure half or one-third of that often +mentioned in America, is also characteristic of the other estimates, all +of which are probably too low, since they deal only with expenditures +which have been traced or have produced observable results, such as +harems for Persian potentates, or palaces for Chinese mandarins, or +motor-cars for poor Greek lawyers who happen to be members of Parliament +on the King's side. + +It should also be noted that no attempt is made here to deal with the +German system of espionage in hostile countries, or with the organised, +but of course secret, attempt to sow sedition among the subjects of +Great Britain, France, and Italy, in India, South Africa, Egypt, +Tripoli, and Tunis. + +To the German Government, the stirring up of trouble in the dependencies +of her enemies is an aim of perhaps equal importance with that of +winning over neutrals to be actively or passively pro-German. + +Returning to the actual work of the English Secret Service agents, it +is soon noted that any ordinary British Service officer of a few years' +standing is a marked man in whatever society he may find himself. His +bearing and mannerisms invariably give him away. There may be +exceptions, in which he can disguise himself for a time, but that time +will be found to be much too short. There are, of course, in the Service +many officers who are different from the ordinary standard, men whose +veins tingle with the wanderlust of the explorer or adventurer, or who +are of abnormal or eccentric temperament; men who generally hold +themselves aloof from the fashionable society vanities, which in the +past have been dangled too much and too closely round our +stripe-bedecked uniforms to be good for efficiency. But even with these +men, after they have been a few years in the Service, they find that +their greatest difficulty is to conceal that fact. It should be +unnecessary to add that for the particular work which is under +discussion it could hardly be considered an advantage for anyone to +start out labelled with his profession and nationality. What ruled Rome +so successfully in olden times should have taught the world its lesson; +namely, a triumvirate. + +In this particular venture, a naval man, a military man, and a civilian +strike one as a good combination to be allotted to a given centre of +importance. A paradoxical coalition abroad, in that it should ever be +apart and yet together; each should know the other and yet be strangers; +each should be in constant touch with the others' movements and yet be +separated by every outward sign. The duties of Service men should be +limited to those of consulting experts, whilst specially selected and +trained individuals should be employed to carry out active requirements. +In some places and in some instances Service men can undertake executive +work better perhaps than anyone else could do; but these opportunities +are limited. Perhaps they may almost be classed as the exceptions which +prove the rule. + +There seems to be an unwritten rule in the British Secret Service that +no one should be engaged for any position of any importance below the +rank of captain. In the head office it was a saying: "We are all +captains here." And it may be assumed that every officer so engaged in +the Intelligence also ranked as a staff officer. + +Most people have an idea that the pay in the British Secret Service is +high, even princely. On this they may as well at once undeceive +themselves; the pay is mean compared with the risks run, yet officers +are keen on entering the B.S.S., as it is known to be a sure +stepping-stone to promotion and soft fat future jobs. + +Germany was said to vote about £750,000 per annum to cover direct Secret +Service work, in addition to £250,000 for subsidising the foreign Press; +£1,000,000 each year in all. Yet certain members of the House of Commons +grudgingly and somewhat reluctantly gave their consent to the £50,000 +originally asked for at the end of 1914 by the English Secret Service +Department. + +The actual amounts voted and expended on English Secret Service work are +shown hereunder. + + +_Year ending 31st March._ _Grant._ _Expended._ + + 1912 £50,000 £48,996 + 1913 50,000 48,109 + 1914 50,000 46,840 + 1915 110,000 107,596 + 1916 400,000 398,698 + 1917 620,000 593,917 + 1918 750,000 740,984 + 1919 1,150,000 1,207,697 + 1920 200,000 (_not known_) + + +How much of the money was actually available for direct Secret Service +work, and how much may have been diverted into other or indirect +channels (_exempli gratia_--the Liberal solatium of £1,200 per annum to +Mr. Masterman for perusing foreign newspapers)[7] is not known; nor has +the government allowed any explanation to be given. + +Mr. Thomas Beach, of Colchester, Essex, whose identity was for so many +years and so very successfully concealed under the pseudonym of Major +Henri le Caron, and by whose energies the United Kingdom was saved the +loss of many millions of money and many thousands of lives, proves, from +so far back as the year 1867 and for the twenty-five years following, +during which period he was employed in the Secret Service of the British +Government and stultifying the popular fiction which associates with +such work fabulous payments and frequent rewards, that "there is in this +service only ever-present danger and constantly recurring difficulty; +but of recompense a particularly scant supply." + +At the conclusion of his somewhat interesting volume "The Recollections +of a Spy," he complains bitterly of the meanness and cheese-paring +methods of the British Government: "On this question of Secret Service +money I could say much. The miserable pittance doled out for the purpose +of fighting such an enemy as the Clan-na-Gael becomes perfectly +ludicrous in the light of such facts as I have quoted in connection with +the monetary side of the dynamite campaign." After quoting the vast sums +used by the enemy he adds: "How on earth can the English police and +their assistants in the Secret Service hope to grapple with such +heavily-financed plots as these on the miserable sums granted by +Parliament for the purpose?... Some day, however, a big thing will +happen--and then the affrighted and indignant British citizen will turn. +The fault will be the want of a perfect system of Secret Service, +properly financed.... Imagine offering men in position a retainer of £20 +a month with a very odd cheque for expenses thrown in! The idea is +ridiculous. I have heard it urged that the thought of Secret Service is +repugnant to the British heart, wherein are instilled the purest +principles of freedom. The argument has sounded strange in my ears when +I remembered that London, as somebody has said, is the cesspool of +Europe, the shelter of the worst ruffians of every country and clime. +America is called the Land of the Free, but she could give England +points in the working of the Secret Service, for there there is no +stinting of men or money." + +What a contrast were the life and actions of this man to Nathan Hale, +one of the heroes of the American War of Independence, who said: "Every +kind of service necessary for the public good becomes honourable by +being necessary. If one desires to be useful, if the exigencies of his +country demand a peculiar service, its claims to the performance of that +service are imperious." + +When caught and sentenced to be shot he exclaimed: + +"I only regret that I have but one life to sacrifice for my country." + +Throughout the period that I was connected with the B.S.S. there were +constant difficulties about money. Had not my personal credit been good, +which enabled me to raise large amounts almost everywhere I happened to +travel, I, or my colleagues, might have been stranded again and again. +It was nothing unusual for appeals to be made to me to act as banker and +Good Samaritan until long-deferred payments eventually arrived. + +In the early days most of the B.S.S. agents travelling abroad seemed to +labour under the same difficulty: a shortage of funds and overdue +accounts wanting payment. It may not have been any fault of, but merely +an eccentricity of, our good old managing chief; be that as it may, +impecuniosity never bothered me. Some of the others got very angry about +it, whilst their irritation increased as their banking accounts became +more heavily overdrawn. + +So far as actual pay went, a B.S.S. man drew the equivalent to his +ordinary army or naval pay, with nothing over for rations or extras. He, +however, returned a list of his travelling expenses and hotel bills +which were agreed to be refunded each month. If he were a married man, +he had to pay his wife's and his family's expenses out of his own +pocket, should it be necessary for any of them to accompany him, which +often absorbed the whole of his pay and a good bit above it. If he +entertained anyone with a view to drawing out some point of useful +intelligence, it would be passed in general expenses, provided the +outlay was exceedingly moderate. But the members of the executive with +whom I came in contact were inclined to be of the parsimonious type, +much too much afraid to spend a sovereign, either because they could not +really afford it, or for fear they would never see it back again. Their +entertaining was conspicuous by its absence, which necessitated a rather +heavier drain upon my pocket and upon my good nature. It had at times to +be done, and someone had to do it; that someone was nearly always +myself. The Chief preached economy at all times and he religiously +practised it. It was paradoxical in that if a big amount was wanted for +some exceedingly doubtful purpose no limit seemed to be made; the +wherewithal was almost certain to be forthcoming to meet the demand. But +the loyal Britisher who came along to help the Service and his country +in her hour of need, who freely and ungrudgingly offered to sacrifice +everything he possessed in order to serve, who worked for nothing or +practically nothing, and who perhaps paid a good part of his own +expenses, received an absurdly small remuneration and little if any +thanks; most certainly he never received a line in writing from anyone +in high authority to express his country's gratitude. + +Those who sit in chairs in Whitehall take their regular fat salaries and +periodical distinctive honours as a matter of course. They are the men +who watch the wheels revolving. They collect and hand over results, the +fruit garnered in by others working in the twilight which shades their +individuality. With the Powers-that-be these men (the gentlemen who sit +in chairs) are ever in the official limelight, whilst the reckless, +devil-may-care workers over the horizon, the men who carry their life in +their hands and who go right into the lion's den to collect facts and +data which often mean success or defeat in battles raged elsewhere, or +who manipulate and pull the strings on the spot, seem to be ignored and +forgotten. The secrecy of the Service is so absolute that no mention of +the way their work is accomplished may be made. The cloak of mystery is +drawn so completely over the whole department that no matter what +sacrifice a member may make for his country's sake, no matter what +bravery he may have exhibited in almost every instance alone and +unsupported, probably in an enemy's domain as one man facing a host of +his country's enemies, his deeds are unrecorded, unhonoured and unsung. +Whilst he is in the Service he is merely a cypher, a unit, an atom. When +he has left it he is hardly remembered as once a member. What of it? He +only did his duty. Now he is out of the Service he is no longer +interesting, he ceases to exist. The big wheel of life continues to +revolve. The B.S.S. Department is but a very minute little wheel which +cogs into the larger machinery of State in its own respective corner. As +the rim of this very minor wheel comes up from the dark recesses of the +working world and the separate cogs become revealed, those in authority +who sit watching each and every cog, upon the stamina and reliability of +which so much depends, from time to time find one that cannot stand the +strain, because it is hurt or damaged, either in body, or in mind, or in +fortune. It is at once removed. We are at war. Sentiment is dead and +buried, except with the weak, who in life's battles are crushed and +accordingly find themselves forced to the wall. Any cog believed to show +signs of weakness is instantly extracted, and those who sit and watch +the wheels revolve seek another piece of tougher and believed to be +better material which may come to hand, and which they force into the +vacant space created. For a second perhaps the discarded hard-used cog +is looked at with admiration for past and valued service when knowingly +driven at highest pressure; or with regret at having to part with such a +tried and trusted friend; then it is hurled into outer darkness, on to +the scrap-heap of broken and forgotten humanity. The new cog is pushed +in and hammered home, it is smeared with the grease of experience, and +the wheel continues its monotonous revolution. + +Such is a good similitude of the short and exciting life of a Secret +Service agent. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] "So far from co-operating, the Army and the Navy were rival +purchasers of aircraft."--Mr. Ellis Griffith, House of Commons, February +16th, 1916. See also Air Defence Debate in House of Commons, March 22nd, +1916. At Hull, which was under military control, it was rumoured that a +certain naval officer, in command of a small warship lying in the Humber +at the time of one of the first of the Zeppelin raids, was +court-martialled because he fired at and hit one of the Zeppelins whilst +it was bombarding the town, without having first received an order from +the Military permitting him to do so. Annals of Red-tapeism, June, 1915. + +[6] This fact refutes the theoristic argument that Germany was forced at +the eleventh hour to invade Belgium. + +[7] Reports of House of Commons. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +INITIATION TO ACTIVE WORK + + CROSSING THE NORTH SEA--A MEMORABLE MEETING--INSTRUCTIONS--ON A + CARGO BOAT--SNOWSTORMS--FALSE ALARM--DANISH PROFITEERS--ENGLISH + CONSUL PROFITEERING IN FOOD TO GERMANY--HORSE-SMUGGLING--MEETING MY + C.O.--BLOODED. + + +The only open route to Northern Europe which members of belligerent +nations could safely take was through Bergen in Norway. The Wilson Line +from Hull to Christiania continued to run one weekly boat regularly, +which carried mails, general cargo, and an occasional passenger. It was +considered advisable by most people to avoid taking this boat. + +From Newcastle a Norwegian Company ran a line of small steamers daily, +which had not been molested by submarines or warships. They were +mail-boats, and although their accommodation and fittings were far from +up-to-date, and travellers had to look after themselves much more than +they should have been called upon to do, they appeared to be crowded +each trip. The neutral flag and the shortest direct passage was +responsible for this. + +There were many other available ways of crossing the North Sea open to +me, and no restrictions as to route had been laid down. I had simply to +visit a certain hotel in a certain town, in a certain country, at a +certain hour, on a certain date--arranged well ahead. The margin of time +allowed was ample for a crossing by sail if desired. + +With a passport, a revolver, a bundle of English banknotes (of my own +providing), and as little luggage as possible, I made my way towards +Scotland to take ship for Norway and the beyond. + +There were three vessels which sailed from the port of embarkation I +selected, two Norwegians and a Swede. One of the former was fortunately +taken. It was certainly fortunate, because the latter was blown up and +sunk by a mine within a few hours of her departure. Such is the luck of +war. + +The voyage across the North Sea was uneventful. It was rough, as it +generally is. The passengers were few. They were almost entirely Russian +Poles; I was the only Englishman on board, and there was one Japanese. +All were ill with sea-sickness, which was perhaps accentuated by a +deadly fear of mines and torpedoes. Few slept, less ate, and as they +were charged for the meals they did not consume the owners must have +made money, more particularly so when it is remembered that fifty per +cent. extra was charged in addition to the ordinary fares, to cover war +risks. + +The sea seemed to be utterly devoid of life. Not a sail, not a column of +smoke, nor even a bird was sighted until the ship emerged from a +fog-bank, wherein she had rolled for many hours broadside on, within a +few miles of the outer island-barrier of the Norwegian coast. + +To the ultimate intense relief of everybody the fog lifted, and a few +hours afterwards a small fishing-town on the south-west of Norway was +reached. Cargo was discharged, more cargo was taken on board, and again +the chains rattled in the hawser pipes; the engines throbbed and the +siren aroused echoes from the rocks around as the voyage was renewed +northwards. + +Later in the day other towns were reached, and similar scenes repeated, +until near midnight the lights of the historic port of Bergen danced in +the distance. + +Securing the services of a friendly native, one of the numerous +hangers-on who flit round the quays of seaport towns in every land in +the hope of picking up money with the least possible exertion expended +to earn it, I made my way to a quiet hostelry in the quietest part of +the pleasant old town and installed myself as comfortably as +circumstances permitted. + +At the appointed place and hour, I strolled casually into the entrance +hall of a certain hotel and stood apparently puzzling over the railway +and steamboat time-tables which were hanging on the wall. Several people +were in evidence, but no one seemed to be particularly interested in +anyone else. I had been there quite a time, and was wondering how I +could explain my presence in order to excuse and justify a prolonged +lingering, when I observed a small-built, quiet inoffensive-looking +young man cross the hall and stop near the hotel register. +Absent-mindedly he tapped his teeth with his pince-nez, and muttered to +himself and half aloud, "I wonder if Mr. Jim has called for that +letter." + +Now "Mr. Jim" was the password I had been instructed to listen for. The +unknown was to give me certain orders. Without them I would have been +like a ship in a gale minus the rudder. + +The little man never looked at me nor even my way. He had stepped near +enough so that I could overhear his _sotto voce_, also within range of +two or three others who were congregated in the hall. His utterance was +low, but it was as clear as a bell, and he spoke in Norwegian. + +No one took any notice of him or his remark. This, however, appeared to +trouble him not a bit. Adjusting his glasses he pulled a newspaper out +of his coat pocket and proceeded to make himself comfortable on a settee +in a remote corner, where he could observe all that passed and all who +came or went; provided he wished so to interest himself should the +contents of his paper fail to hold his attention. + +Having marked down the man there was no need to hasten matters. Caution +at one's initiation is generally advantageous. Ten minutes later I +seated myself on the same settee as the stranger and also became +absorbed in a newspaper. Assuring myself that no one was within earshot +except the little gentleman before referred to, I murmured soft and low, +whilst I still appeared to be reading the paper: "I know Mr. Jim. Can I +give him the letter for you?" + +"Who sent you to ask for it?" the stranger queried. I named a name which +was a countersign. "For whom does Mr. Jim require it?" I gave the third +and final word which proved beyond doubt my title to the precious +document in question. + +During this short conversation both of us had been studying our +news-sheets, and unless an observer had been stationed within a few feet +of us, nothing transpired that could have given the smallest clue to the +fact that any communication had passed. + +With no sign of recognition the little man got up to go. He left his +paper on the seat, and in passing me he whispered: "You will find the +letter in my _Evening News_. Good luck to you." + +In the privacy of a bedroom the letter was opened. It was type-written, +with no address and no signature. It contained instructions to proceed +to another hotel two full days' journey away, where I was to look out +for, and make the acquaintance of, a certain English Staff Officer to +whom I had to deliver my dispatches. + +It was fortunate I had provided myself with plenty of money. The ten +pounds for preliminary expenses, which was all I had been given, was +already over-exhausted, and travelling in those days of war scares, high +freights, and shortage of accommodation, was far more expensive than the +gentlemen who sit in easy-chairs at home would believe. + +I was the only passenger on a semi-cargo boat which sailed next day for +the port desired. The weather was awful. Severe frost coated the deck +and rigging with ice, in places inches thick. Heavy snowstorms impeded +navigation, whilst again and again the vessel had to lay to for hours at +a stretch before her captain dare make any attempt at headway. Wrecks +were continually passed, not cheery encouragement to one's spirits; +whilst, generally speaking, that two days' voyage was about as severe a +shaking up as anyone could possibly expect to receive at any time, or +anywhere, during a year or more at sea. + +During the night, about 2.0 a.m., the engines suddenly ceased running. +Feet pattered up and down the deck and everyone on board instinctively +became aware that something unusual had happened. Slipping on a thick +overcoat and a small Norwegian forage cap, I cautiously negotiated the +companion-way. I suspected a German war-vessel had held up the ship. If +so, I had no desire to meet any members of a boarding party until I had +destroyed the sealed dispatch entrusted to me. After turning over +possibilities in my mind I had decided to make use of the exhaust pipe +of the lavatory. It was therefore essential that one's lines of retreat +should be kept open without fear of being cut off. + +It transpired, however, that my fears were groundless. The captain had +suddenly been taken ill, and an immediate operation seemed to the first +mate necessary as the only chance of saving his life. The ship had, +therefore, run to the neighbourhood of an island whereon a doctor was +known to reside, and the unfortunate captain was about to be conveyed +ashore. + +Poor chap! It subsequently transpired that he died the following day in +spite of every effort to save him. + +During the voyage the ship touched at various small stations to deliver +and receive cargo. Sometimes a few passengers would come aboard, +generally for short trips. At one place a couple of Danes rushed over +the gangway as it was being dropped preparatory to departure. They had +made a record journey across the mountains, and exhibited intense +anxiety for expedition. They wanted to reach rail-head in order that +they could get back to their own country as soon as it was possible. + +Why? That one little word gave something to concentrate one's thoughts +upon during the long hours at sea. + +Danes, generally speaking, are heavy drinkers. They have a fondness for +spirits, particularly with their coffee. It was advisable to wait until +after the midday meal, when it was customary to repair to the +smoke-room, if further curiosity was to be satisfied. Securing a corner +seat I cocked up both my legs on to the settee and buried myself in a +book--the Sagas of the North. After ostentatiously appearing to drink a +number of small glasses of spirits, signs of somnolescence followed. +Soon the book dropped with a bang on the floor and intermittent snoring +became almost a nuisance to the only two other occupants of the saloon, +the Danish travellers. + +The confined space of the apartment caused them by compulsion to sit +within a few feet of where I was lying. They had been whispering in so +low a tone that not a word could be heard. As the snoring increased they +raised their voices. Under the impression that the sleep was probably +alcoholic, they were soon discussing their affairs in distinctly audible +tones. And very interesting business it turned out to be. + +Shortly, it concerned the purchase, transport, and delivery of some +hundreds of horses which they had been buying for and on behalf of, or +for resale to, the German Government. This business had apparently been +going on for some time. Denmark and Sweden had been early denuded of all +available horseflesh at enormous prices. Norway was now being swept +clean. + +The two travellers were discussing the probabilities of any action being +taken by the British Minister at ---- to attempt to veto or put what +obstacles he was capable of in the way of this traffic. + +One of the twain was a fat, good-natured man whom nothing seemed to +trouble. The other was thin and dyspeptic looking, who seemed suspicious +of his own shadow. + +"He'll never be fool enough to sit quiet under the thousands we are +sending over," the latter remarked. + +"Oh, he'll never trouble. Look at Consul ---- at ----. Ever since the +war broke out he has been sending hundreds of thousands of barrels of +herrings to Germany. He is shipping them off now, as fast as he can get +them. And, the devil burn me, he's the English Consul. The Minister has +never stopped him. Why should he trouble us?" + +"But has he not power to remove him?" asked the thin man. + +"Of course he has," replied fatty. "Ministers appoint and remove Consuls +as they please. And when an English Consul is allowed to rake in a +fortune in a few months, supplying the Germans with food, how can you +argue he will stop us dealing in horses _to go to Denmark_?" + +"Anyhow, the sooner we can get ours through the more relieved I shall +be," grunted the other. "It will take them two days to reach ----, and +once they are shipped it's all right." + +Their conversation drifted to other topics, and although I waited +patiently on the sofa for another hour nothing further of importance was +divulged. Some time after this an exceptionally heavy sea struck the +vessel, causing her to roll so heavily that everything on the tables was +spilt, whilst I was pitched, _nolens volens_, amongst the spittoons on +the floor. This foretaste of further rocking to come sent all three of +us to our respective berths. + +On landing at the port of ---- I lost no time in searching for my +unknown Commanding Officer. The hotel which had been named to me was a +good one, its guests included many nationalities. At dinner I spotted +three men of military aspect, each of whom might well be the gentleman +in question. Coffee and a cigar in the lounge failed to procure any sign +of the expectant one; I therefore strolled out into the town to make a +few small purchases. + +An hour later I returned. Only three people now occupied the lounge. One +of them undoubtedly was an army officer belonging to a smart regiment, +but it would have been difficult to guess to what country he belonged. A +first venture would probably have elicited German as the answer. All the +more reason for double caution, thought I to myself. + +In nonchalant fashion I overhauled the mass of periodicals upon the +tables, and having selected a local one, settled myself down at ease in +a long deck-chair under a potted palm to watch and wait for possible +developments. + +In half an hour's time two of the visitors departed, whereupon my +_vis-à-vis_ looked hard at me over the top of his newspaper and elevated +both eyebrows. I nodded. He smiled, and with a slight indication of the +head, implying that he wished to be followed, slowly left the room and +proceeded up the grand stairway. Waiting perhaps a quarter of an hour I +also took the same route. The first and second landings were devoid of +life. On the third I noticed a half-open door, which I entered as though +the room were my own; whilst I was quite prepared to apologise if a +mistake was made in my so doing. + +Here, however, I found my friend of the elevating eyebrows, who received +me cordially, and I was introduced to his wife as an Englishman recently +arrived. I gave the name in which I had booked on arrival; my +newly-found friend did the same. This, of course, was not sufficient. +For some little time we talked of trivialities and verbally fenced, and +thrust, and parried, the while certain secret passwords were casually +introduced and exchanged in a somewhat similar manner as has before been +narrated in connection with the little gentleman at Bergen. When +assurance had become doubly sure, the door was locked and bolted, the +dispatch handed over, and the story of the horses told. + +Thus it came to pass that I was first "blooded" in the Foreign Secret +Service of His Britannic Majesty's Government. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +INTERCOMMUNICATING WITH TEMPORARY CODES AND INCIDENTS + + GRAMMATICAL CODE--A TÊTE-A-TÊTE--CONFIDENCES--MISCONSTRUED MESSAGE + LEADS TO DOMESTIC TRAGEDY--LOCAL CODES--AN ALTERED MESSAGE--AN + IMPORTANT MISSION--SHADOWED--ATTEMPTED THEFTS OF PAPERS--A + CONTRETEMPS--LEAKAGE OF NEWS FROM ENGLAND--WATCHING A + SUSPECT--FALSE MESSAGE DISCLOSES AN OPEN CODE--GEOMETRICAL + CODES--THE KNOT CODE--A FASCINATING ACTRESS, A CONFIDING ATTACHÉ, + AND A MYSTERIOUS CHESS PROBLEM--CLEVERNESS OF FRENCH SECRET + SERVICE. + + +No reader must expect or anticipate a disclosure of the direct methods +which the British Secret Service uses for communicating with +headquarters. That is a carefully-guarded secret which no one in or out +of the Service would dream of referring to. Suffice it therefore to say +that it is difficult to conceive anything more clever or effective than +it is, both as to its efficiency and its celerity in use. + +On the other hand, when Secret Service agents are working abroad they +must perforce rely upon codes of sorts, for means of intercommunication +between themselves, their friends and supporters. These codes are +invented by them entirely at their discretion. If they are wise in their +generation they never keep the same code too long in use, but change it, +at frequent intervals, for another entirely different in every respect. +Such codes cannot be too carefully prepared; whilst every user knows +that if his deception is discovered the consequences to himself might be +serious indeed. Simplicity is invariably the safest and most effective +rule to follow. In order to give the reader a good idea of how the work +was accomplished a couple of these codes are roughly outlined, with +examples of their working in each case. + +One was used for sea work. It was a grammatical code, which, although +simple enough in its patent aspect, was not easy to memorise with that +strict accuracy which is so essential to future use. Shortly, this code +ran somewhat on the following lines, although English names are therein +substituted in order to give better illustration. Needless to add, these +messages were worded in the language of the country in which they were +despatched, and signed with an assumed name which would be in common use +in that country. + + +EXAMPLE 1. + + I. Communications signed with _Christian Name_ refer to _War + Ships_. + + Communications signed with _Surname_ refer to _Merchant Ships_. + + II. _Please send a copy of_ "_The Times_" _to_ ... means "a base is + being formed at ..." + + III. I received a letter from ... _on_ ... + + means {German auxiliary cruiser(s) in port at ... + {German battleship(s) hanging about near ... + + IV. I received a message from ... _on_ ... + + means {German large merchant ship in port at ... + {German cruiser hanging about near ... + + V. I am hoping to hear from ... _on_ ... + + means {German small merchant ship in port at ... + {German torpedo-boat(s) hanging about near ... + + VI. I am expecting a message from ... _on_ ... + + means {German collier(s) in port at ... + {German submarine(s) hanging about near ... + + VII. The _first blank_ in the sentence is to be filled in with the + _name of the place_ at which the base is being formed, or at which + the ships have been seen. + + VIII. The _second blank_ in the sentence, after the word "on" is to + be filled in with a _day of the week_ indicating the number of + ships seen (_see_ over, IX). + + IX. 1 is Monday + 2 is Tuesday + 3 is Wednesday + 4 is Thursday + 5 is Friday + 6 is Saturday + 7 is Sunday + 8 is Monday-week + 9 is Tuesday-week, and so on. + 15 is Monday-fortnight, and so on. + + X. If, _instead of the singular person_ "I am (had)," the _plural_ + "We are (had)" is written, it means that the ships in question, if + merchantmen, have left port and are _going South_. + + XI. If neither the first person singular nor plural is written and + the communication begins, for instance, "Letter from ... _on_ ..." + it means that the ships in question, if merchantmen, have left port + and are _gone North_. + + XII. Any mention of _illness_ means that the ships are _disabled_. + + XIII. _I am expecting a letter from_ ... _on_ ... means that + several German warships (or merchantmen) of different classes (or + sizes) have been seen. + + XIV. _Specimen message_: + + We are hoping to hear from Newcastle on Sunday. + + _signed_) CHARLES. + + _Decoded_, means 7 German warships have been observed outside + Newcastle, proceeding South. + + +The week after my arrival, this code had been completed and put into +use. I was one evening sitting in the best and most popular restaurant +in a certain town. The place was crowded with customers and business was +brisk. The walls were decorated with magnificent frescoes by a +celebrated German artist. Hundreds of electric lamps added warmth and +attractiveness, whilst dreamy valse music from Wald Teufel, given by a +German orchestra, seemed to help the digestion. Between bites and sips +of German lager I was absorbed in the perusal of an evening news-sheet +wherein every belligerent army was reported to be making marvellous +forward movements, which, if half true, would have carried them +respectively quite through Europe and back again in the course of a few +weeks. Whenever my eye shifted from the newspaper to my plate an +opportunity offered to note casually my surroundings, as well as my +immediate neighbours. Two seats only were vacant. They were located next +my own and in due course were occupied by a young naval lieutenant +accompanied by an outwardly appearing charming demi-mondaine. The +champagne of sunny France soon loosened their tongues. But the more +their voices became raised the more absorbed I became in my reading. +Presently snatches of conversation drifted my way. The lady was +complimenting her gallant upon his patriotism and prowess. He, as the +Americans say, was blowing hot air. A listener's difficulty was to sift +the substance from the imaginary boasting. Subject matters dealt with +were mostly of a frivolous nature, but ever and anon the lieutenant +would return to his sea trips and the results from their patrolling. +_Inter alia_ he related the number of drifting mines taken up, vessels +sighted and submarine visitation, which matters only were of interest to +me. Presently he paused, then, sinking his voice almost to a whisper, +informed his enchantress that just before his ship entered port, that +very afternoon, a German cruiser had been sighted going full steam north +and close in shore. He proceeded by giving at length his personal +opinions and suppositions as to her destination and objective. Now I +happened to be aware of several objectives which would be very +attractive to such an enemy vessel. For some weeks I had been +over-anxious regarding the safety of a line of steamers, the +uninterrupted running of which was a matter of some importance to +England. And although I entertained considerable doubts regarding the +truth of the latter part of the young lieutenant's statement, yet I felt +that I should send the information along to headquarters for what it was +worth. So I despatched the following telegram: + + + "Received letter from B ... on Monday about you from a chic lady + although do not believe what she says.--CHRISTIAN." + + +Which on being decoded would run: + + + "One enemy battleship is stated to be hanging around B ... going + North. Information obtained through female source and doubtful." + + +It had been previously arranged that all local wires should be sent to a +certain individual at his private residence, who conveyed them to +another who had his fingers on the reins of management. + +If the news contained was sufficiently important it would be transmitted +home, which would mean a duplicate communication and ensure a double +chance of safe arrival. + +The first recipient at local headquarters was a man of gentle +disposition, a domesticated and homely parent, whose many years of +connubial bliss had never been marred by a single cloud of unhappiness. +He was one of those lovable personages who is generally captured by a +lady who may have enjoyed numerous innocent flirtations before marriage, +and consequently might perhaps be of a suspicious and jealous +disposition, who, knowing the goodness of heart of her spouse, might +imagine that every woman showing an amiable or friendly spirit towards +him was trying to wean his affections from herself; and who might +accordingly be always on the watch for all possible emergencies. + +Never having seen, nor met, the good lady, I had no accurate data on +these points, but the fact is recorded that when the telegraph official, +who happened to be a personal friend of the addressee, received the +aforesaid message, he warned the telegraph delivery boy to give it only +to the addressee. + +Unfortunately the addressee did not happen to be at home when the +message arrived, and his faithful wife answered the door. Having been +advised to a certain extent regarding these matters, and recognising the +boy who brought the message, she naturally pressed him upon the nature +of his errand and soon persuaded the reluctant youth to hand over the +missive, which she at once opened and read. Not knowing its hidden +meaning she jumped to wrong conclusions. + +From the scraps of news which reached me afterwards relating to the +domestic tragedy which followed, I pieced together that the +believed-to-be wronged wife immediately donned her outdoor apparel in +order to seek out her Judas in lamb's-skin. Before she ran him to earth, +she had imagined the worst, and had worked herself up into a veritable +furore of unnecessary excitement. + +What really happened when they met, what was said, or done, were details +which I never knew. But the unfortunate message-receiver implored me to +invent another code at my earliest convenience; one, for choice, which +was not quite so open to dual construction. + +Most local codes, when and where possible, were worked out on domestic +lines. By way of example, familiar and commonplace names were selected +which could be found in an ordinary directory. To each was attached a +definite meaning, and the message would be worded so that anyone seeing +it would think it related to an ordinary everyday event. Christian names +might be coded to mean definite objects; to wit--Bertha, a battleship; +Dora, a torpedo boat destroyer; Sarah, a submarine; Tiny, a torpedo +boat; Mary, a merchantman; Connie, a collier; Trina, a trawler; Louisa, +an airship; and so on. + +Surnames were useful to designate numerals; to wit--Oldman, one; Turner, +two; Truman, three; Smith, four; Jones, five; Robinson, six; and so on. + +Knowing that every telegram was stamped with the name of the place it +was handed in at, the points of the compass, north, south, east, and +west were conveyed by including the name of some place which could be +found on any ordinary map within a reasonable radius of the place of +dispatch. + +Time spoke for itself. + +Thus, a telegram handed in at Lowestoft worded as follows: + + + "Sent your housemaid Sarah Jones to Felixstowe 4 o'clock this + afternoon," + + +on being coded would read: + + + "Five submarines passed Lowestoft at 4 o'clock this afternoon + steaming south." + + +Any reference to an illness meant that damage had been done, or that a +vessel had been adversely affected to some extent. Any reference to a +marriage or engagement meant that a combat or battle had taken place. +"In bed" conveyed the news that a ship or ships had been sunk. "Put to +bed" meant sunk, annihilation, or defeat, according to the context; +mention of "delirium or head sickness" conveyed suspicions, or +suspicious circumstances; "doctor called in" that the enemy (or others, +as the context might convey) had retired, or been put to flight, whilst +any direct, or indirect, reference to "remaining here, or at some named +place," that the object or objects in question were still there or +likely to remain. + +The above-mentioned outline should be sufficient to convey to the reader +an idea of how the stunt worked out in practice. + +That these messages were often tapped and became the subject of racking +headaches to the code decipherers who attempted to unravel them, was +quite probable. When we could we tried on the same thing ourselves; such +was considered only fair in love as well as in war. Lady telegraph and +telephone operators are sometimes amenable to flattery and judiciously +administered attentions. It is also within the bounds of possibility +that an occasional one might be met with who might not object to test a +communication with a semblance of reason; whilst one of the most +interesting enemy codes we managed to intercept during our rambles was +confined to the limits of a postage-stamp. It meant not only +intercepting the letter or postcard but having to unstick the stamp and +test it before the message could be copied. + +It is not at all necessary, however, to pursue this subject further, +but once upon a time during the continuance of this war a certain +message was handed in at a certain telegraph office in Holland to cable +to a certain address in the U.S.A., which ran as follows: + + + "Father dead." + + +The telegraph operator, for some reason which we need not trouble to +inquire into, altered the wording to "Father deceased," and then +despatched the message in the usual manner. + +Immediately came back the reply: + + + "Is father really dead _or only deceased_?" + + +The following up of that simple message cost one Government a +considerable sum of money, but it was well worth the outlay. + +To those who seek the sunny side of life, humour can be found in all +things. Once at a funeral, when the author was broken in body and soul +with the painful agony of dry tears, kind Providence sent relief from an +unexpected quarter. In the pew immediately in front were seated two +mourners, one a tiny man, the other about 350 lbs. in weight, whose head +was nearly as big as the puny man's whole body. On leaving the church +for the graveside each took the other's hat by mistake and they got +separated in the crowd. At the close of the service they unconsciously +and solemnly put on the hats they respectively held. That of the tiny +man did not find resting-place until it had covered his head, ears, and +face, and settled on his shoulders. That of the enormously fat man +looked like a pea on a drum. + +Likewise it was with our local code messages. Their use in practice was +often the innocent cause of much trouble; more often, perhaps, the +source of some humour. The gentle cherub who had undertaken the +collection of messages and who has recently been hereinbefore referred +to, maybe received another shock to his domestic bliss; and that only a +week after the one before related. It is much to be feared that he did +not fully appreciate the humorous side. However, as it gives an +excellent illustration of the practical and simple working of the +last-mentioned code, it is narrated. + +The facts are as follows: + +I one day received this request. + + + "I shall be exceedingly obliged if you will undertake to deliver + this package to ---- personally. If you could start at once it + would be very good of you; but please understand, no living soul + may see the contents of this packet except ---- himself." + + +I bowed my acceptance of the mission, murmuring how honoured I felt at +an opportunity to render service to the illustrious personage soliciting +my assistance. Then I hastened to my hotel to prepare for immediate +departure. + +The midnight express to ---- was crowded. On the platform a few minutes +before the scheduled time of leaving, representatives from almost every +country in Europe could have been picked out. Detectives and Secret +Servant agents glided through the crowd, observing, watching and noting +the many strange and familiar faces. Their work meant an added +consumption of current on the wires. The vacant stare, the side glance, +or the wooden far-away expression of countenance, conveyed much to these +men. To them it was always interesting to try and read the working of +the brain behind. But I was a traveller and the doings of these +night-hawks interested me but little, beyond such casual observation as +could be made during a quick passage to the train. + +In the corridor of the car to which I was allotted were several Germans. +Two in particular I instinctively feared. Their faces were familiar. One +of them had secured a berth in my compartment, and addressing me in +excellent Danish, showed a desire to be affable. It was unsought, but it +would perhaps be dangerous not to reciprocate. + +Soon after the train had started on its journey I politely offered to +share some refreshment with this fellow-traveller, which, however, that +astute gentleman politely but firmly declined. It was an easy matter to +guess the suspicious working in his mind. He meant to pass a sleepless +night. So did I. + +In due course I retired to rest, and the German secured the door of the +cubicle before climbing to his berth, which was above mine. As soon as +he was comfortably settled I opened the door he had closed. The German +waited a while, and then, very stealthily, shut it again. I waited about +a like period and reopened it. So the game proceeded, until about four +o'clock in the morning the German complained of the draught. In the most +polite language that could be commanded I replied by commenting upon the +extreme heat and the unhygienic practice of curtailing fresh air. + +At 6 a.m. the German decided to seek another car, at which I inwardly +rejoiced exceedingly. No sooner had he departed than I secured the door +and enjoyed a refreshing sleep of several hours. + +Later that morning the door-closing German was observed in close +consultation with his companion. On a ferry which had to be crossed both +of them watched my every movement, and I began to congratulate myself in +that I had taken precautions before departure in order to guard against +contingencies. + +Forearmed is forewarned. Before leaving I had prepared another packet in +exact duplicate of the original I had been entrusted with. The dummy +contained only an old newspaper, and it was placed in an inside +bank-note pocket of my waistcoat. Its outline could have been detected +by anyone on the look-out for it. The original packet was elsewhere +concealed, in a secure hiding-place, where it was least likely to be +sought or found. + +On leaving the ferry a rush was made at the gangway and I found myself +involuntarily pushed forward and wedged in between the two over-night +observers. I could feel their hands run over my chest, so I took some +interest in the proceedings. I had not been on numerous race-courses, +nor participated in football, boat-race night, and other big crowds in +England, without learning something of the ropes. Every time a hand +entered the inside of my coat it encountered small steel obstacles which +lacerated and hurt. True I lost a few buttons, and my clothes were +damaged, but the dummy packet remained intact, and I noticed with some +satisfaction afterwards that one of the two gentlemen before mentioned +had a hand bound up in a pocket handkerchief when they boarded the +waiting train. + +On arrival at ---- my taxi-cab was followed. Having been a constant +visitor to the town in question for many years I redirected my driver to +a public building which had a bolt hole at its back, by the use of which +my pursuers were baffled successfully, and the package was safely +delivered without further trouble or anxiety. After which I despatched +the following cablegram: + + + "Child delivered safely this morning mother doing well." + + +Whether this message was also intercepted by the jealous wife of our +temporary receiving agent, history does not relate, but I tremble to +think of the volcanic domestic eruption which must have ensued if it +were so. + + +When war was declared, cables were cut, a most rigid censorship +installed, and no printed matter was allowed to leave England. Yet news, +most important news, continued to leak through to Germany, and most of +it went through neutral countries. + +Before the war, Germany used cyphers, but these were soon dropped. It is +common knowledge that every Government keeps a copy of all cypher and +code messages sent over the cables from every Embassy or Consulate, +whether the countries are at peace or war. The great cleverness of +certain men at unravelling any code, however complicated, is also openly +acknowledged. + +Yet, in spite of every precaution and all science and knowledge the +country could bring to bear, news continued to leak through and to fly +across the North Sea. Scotland Yard, to which admirable institution the +whole world owes so much, was put upon its mettle. It proceeded to watch +with still closer scrutiny certain suspected persons who still claimed +the privilege of freedom. One of these was a small London tradesman +whose premises were situated in a remote and quiet back street. He +appeared to have rather more corresponding friends than his position or +his business justified. His correspondence, in and out, was intercepted, +copied, and sent along in a manner not likely to arouse his suspicions. +Nothing, however, occurred which could be looked upon as even +suspicious, until one day a telegram arrived which had been handed in at +a certain naval base of some importance in the U.K. It simply said "Been +ill three days--John," or words to that effect. + +Now the sender had also been watched, an attention which had been evenly +divided amongst every one of this tradesman's correspondents. The police +knew that the sender of the message, "John," had been in perfect health +for quite a long time past, which fact was, of course, communicated to +headquarters. + +The information caused a flutter in the official dovecots. + +Copies of the message, with comments, were forwarded to the War Office, +to the Admiralty, and to other Government Departments likely to be +interested. + +To shorten the story, certain gentlemen in the Admiralty were amazed +when they remembered vividly that secret orders had been issued by them +which commanded a squadron of warships to leave the port at which the +message had been handed in, and join up with the High Seas Fleet +_exactly three days_ from the date of the aforesaid message. + +Needless to add that the further activities of both the sender and the +receiver of the telegram were forthwith promptly crushed, once and for +all future time. + +Scotland Yard also discovered, probably with considerable assistance +from the Censorship Department, that the Germans were successfully +getting out information useful to them through open business letters +addressed to residents in neutral countries, particularly Norway, +Sweden, Denmark, and Holland, which were decoded by adding certain +geometrical figures. For example, where the sides of an added triangle +or triangles intersected one another, or cut the rim of a circle, there +would be found the words used in the secret messages. + +Several of these ingenious codes were described in a most interesting +article which was published in _Pearson's Magazine_, October, 1918, with +illustrations which more clearly demonstrated their latent meaning. Two +of the most brilliant of them were the knot alphabet and the chess +problem. + +In the former case a parcel sent to a supposed prisoner in a German +internment camp was found to contain, amongst other things, a woollen +sweater, or knitted sports vest. It was apparently so badly knitted, and +the wool was seen to be so full of knots, that the censor's suspicions +were aroused. Subsequent searches revealed that no such person as the +addressee of the parcel in question was known to exist. His name +certainly did not appear in any Army List. The aforesaid garment was +most carefully unravelled. The wool was found to be whole, with a +multitude of simple knots tied at irregular intervals. Alphabets were +written on a board, each letter being placed at given distances apart, +and very soon a most interesting message was read off. + +The chess problem was deeper in its cunning and its intricacy. During +1917, a young and fascinating actress appeared in Paris. She was +suspected and closely watched. In due course she captivated one of the +junior secretaries of a neutral Embassy. His integrity was absolutely +beyond all doubt, but naturally he also was watched and shadowed in +order to learn what was passing, or might be passing, between them or +otherwise. + +The watchers' notes, on being compared, revealed certain facts which +when carefully pieced together laid bare the whole plot. The actress +professed to be deeply interested in the serious game of chess. She +inspired a similar passion in the breast of the young and inexperienced +attaché. One day she produced to him a rough illustration of an alleged +chess problem which she had cut from a local newspaper; in all +probability she herself had indirectly caused its publication. She +worried her admirer unduly to help her solve what had been, or were, the +opening moves in the game which had caused the pieces to be left on the +board as shown in the sketch. No one in Paris could be found who could +enlighten or help her; at least, so she represented. + +Gentle interrogation of the attaché by his inamorata caused him to admit +the existence of a chess club of some renown in the capital of the +country his Embassy represented. It was a neutral country which bordered +on Germany. + +The actress then persuaded him to send this simple problem to the club +mentioned with an urgent request to unravel the problem, if possible, +and to let her know, through him, the result. + +She knew, as does everyone who has had any close relationship with an +Embassy, that every Embassy has its own private letter-bag, which is +inviolate, and is passed over all frontiers uncensored and unopened, and +is generally carried personally by some trusted messenger of the +Government interested. + +The actress undoubtedly relied on the almost certain chance of her +admirer sending his letters, this one in particular enclosing the +problem illustration, in the Embassy letter-bag. Which indeed he did. +But the very astute members of the French Secret Service were wide awake +to all her carefully-thought-out plans. They took measures accordingly, +and the letter in question never reached its destination. + +The watchers had reported that this actress had shown strong outward +charitable dispositions, particularly towards the wounded soldiers from +the war; that she frequently visited them in the various hospitals, sung +to them, entertained them, and took them lavish presents of fruit and +flowers. On one of these most praiseworthy visits she had been observed +to linger unduly at the bedside of a young German aviation officer who +had been shot down well behind the French lines. + +The French Secret Service knew that prior to the war Germans had made +many secret surveys of France, particularly of the northern territories +and provinces. Greatly to the credit of the French, and unknown to the +Germans, copies of most of these surveys had been obtained and filed +away for possible future use or reference. Probably it was remembered +that one of these survey maps had been ruled up with diagonal, lateral +and parallel lines dividing the country into squares, precisely as is +shown on a chess-board. + +It was not therefore much of a surprise when it was ascertained on +comparing the sketch of the chess problem, which had been brought back +to Paris, with the copy survey plan of the Germans which had been ruled +up as before mentioned, to find that the one exactly corresponded with +the other. But the French War Office was certainly surprised to see +before it, set out on the sketch of the chess-board, an accurate +portrayal of all their reserve forces behind their front lines, posted +in the exact positions which they then held. It required little +perspicuity to understand that pawns on the board, or rather map, +represented infantry; kings, heavy artillery; queens, field artillery; +knights, cavalry; bishops, air divisions; and a castle, the military +headquarters. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +LOCATING GERMAN MINE-LAYERS + + COAST HUNTING--A FIND--SPIES OF MANY NATIONS--OBLITERATING + TRAILS--TRACKING DOWN THE _BERLIN_--MARVELLOUS NAVIGATION BY + GERMANS--INTERNED--GERMAN ARSON--AN IMPUDENT INVITATION--A RUSSIAN + SUGAR QUEEN'S YACHT--QUEER COMPANY--SAPPING HUN + INTELLIGENCE--PLAYING ON WEAKNESSES--SUCCESS--LOSS OF H.M.S. + _AUDACIOUS_--SOLILOQUISING. + + +The first work which was entrusted to me after having been granted a +rating in the Foreign Secret Service was to hunt out the hiding-places +of the large German auxiliary cruisers which had been specially fitted +out for the important service of laying special minefields off remoter +parts of the coastline of the British Isles. + +Early in October, 1914, I landed at the south of Norway, and I zigzagged +my way northwards on all kinds of craft that cruised about the thousands +of fjords and islands, inquiring as unobservantly and disinterestedly as +circumstances would admit in the hope of picking up some information +which might lead me to the object of my search. + +It was believed that these pests of the seas were using unknown fjords +as hiding-places, and taking advantage of the double neutral routes of +the inner and outer passage of the west coast of Norway to cover their +coming and their going from Germany to the Icelandic coast, whence they +dropped down upon the British Isles suddenly and unexpectedly, laid +their dangerous batches of eggs, and returned the same way as they came. + +I had travelled almost 750 miles northward, and I was quite convinced +that no German mine-layer was concealed anywhere in that distance. Many +reports I gathered of German war and other vessels of various rig and +shape taking advantage of the neutral waterways; but they had all been +under steam. + +I had nearly reached the Arctic Circle, and I meant going north to +Hammerfest, and even beyond, if the smallest clue showed itself. I was +stopped in the town of T----, because there was a German vessel of some +mystery which had been lying there quite a while. I wanted to learn more +about her, so I lingered. She was a steamer of several thousand tons +burden and loaded with coal. In spite of her disguised condition, she +had been chased into neutral waters by English warships. Having remained +over her allotted interval of time she became interned; but she was +under suspicion and watched night and day by interested parties. This +suspicion was accentuated by the fact that a strong head of steam was +always kept up in her engine-room. Why? + +Her name was s.s. _Brandenberg_, and it was openly whispered that she +probably had on board supplies for submarines concealed under her coal. + +The second night after my arrival, the proprietor of my hotel exhibited +much friendliness towards me. Beside volunteering a considerable amount +of interesting information about the war, Germany, and the Germans, he +commented on "the great scandal," as he referred to it, that an English +Consul at S---- was allowed to pocket hundreds of thousands of kroner by +supplying the Germans with herrings whilst they were at war with the +country he actually represented. He added, "It is no secret, the whole +country is talking about it, and every man, woman, and child considers +it disgraceful." Continuing a running fire of generalities, he went on +to state that he had several German spies stopping at his hotel, and one +who was English. He said he was quite sure about this, because they all +seemed to try to watch each other, whilst the police and the military +watched them. + +"That gentleman over there with the sandy moustache, sitting at a table +in the corner by himself, is the English spy," he said, as we stood in a +secluded part of the _salle à manger_. "He goes out every night about 8 +o'clock and does not return until breakfast-time. He sits in railway +trucks and woodstacks on the quays and other queer places, watching the +_Brandenberg_. He thinks no one knows, but we all know. When he comes +back in the morning, hints are dropped about amorous wanderings, and +what 'wonderful dogs with the ladies some men are to be sure.' You see, +he feels flattered in two ways, whilst we 'laugh in the trouser,' as you +English sometimes say. That man at the other end of the hall, with the +military bearing, is a German spy, and so are the two at the middle +table. Some of my servants draw money from all sides. They report to me +a great deal. Perhaps a great deal more they keep to themselves. +However, it seems to be good business for all of us, in spite of added +and extra war burdens and taxes. It's a peculiar game on the whole, yet +it's interesting." + +I wondered why the proprietor should be so open with his confidences. It +was probably the old, old feint--a luring to draw to attract, or +extract, reciprocal advances. It was the proprietor's policy to +sympathise and tender make-believe unanimity and agreement with all his +guests; to humour all their troubles, whims, or fancies, so that all +believed him to be their particular friend and supporter. It was the +backbone of his business, which, needless to add, was a thriving and +lucrative one. + +Within twenty-four hours of arrival I instinctively felt and knew that +I, too, had been labelled as a suspect. I was being watched and +followed. + +Immediate action to checkmate this was perhaps advisable. I knew +personally the individual heads of some of the large business firms in +the town and its neighbourhood. I had acted legally for or against +several of them in England, in matters concerning the expenditure of +thousands of pounds. It would be simple to raise imaginary or other +business issues. I mentally determined that it should be done without +delay. + +When next I left the hotel a couple of the wealthiest local traders +called shortly afterwards to inquire for me. They expressed annoyance at +my absence and sought the proprietor. That gentleman, at their request, +sent out the hotel porter and a page to visit the main streets, the +barbers' shops, the post-office, and other possible places wherein I +might be met with. Whilst they were chafing outwardly in their +impatience, they casually mentioned to the proprietor that I was one of +the best-known Continental lawyers in London, from Gibraltar to +Hammerfest; that I had come over specially to transact some important +business with which they were indirectly connected and which might +detain me in the country some considerable period, and that I was a +guest worthy of consideration. + +An hour later I returned. I was all apologies for my absence. I had +called at the respective offices of my visitors and I had found them +out. The proprietor bustled away with the news, by which he probably +ingratiated himself a little further into the confidence of other guests +of different nationality. + +Subsequent events proved that my ruse had for the time being worked +successfully against my opponents, although the local authorities, who +had known me and of me for many years past, may have entertained their +own surmises concerning my advent at that particular place and at that +particular period of the world's history. + +Next day was blustering and stormy. Snowflakes fell thick in large +globules in the streets, making them almost impassable to traffic; yet a +silent and unobtrusive man ploughed his way to the hotel soon after +daylight, carrying interesting news. + +The German auxiliary fast cruiser _Berlin_ had been seen entering the +fjord. + +This was indeed important. The news must at any cost be transmitted +home, and at the earliest possible moment. + +It appeared that the cruiser, a vessel of some 18,000 tons, armed with +eight to a dozen quick-firing guns and other equipment, had, under her +enormously powerful engines, and after disposing of her cargo of mines, +laid a course northwards well into the region of floating ice, thus +outwitting the vigilance of the English patrol boats. Taking the fullest +advantage of the awful weather and frequent snowstorms, she had slipped +unobserved through the tortuous entrances and difficult channels of the +Norwegian coast; past the guard fortresses at ----; past the guardships; +and finally dropped her anchor unchallenged and unhindered under the +windows of the town of ----, which half encircles one of the most +coveted harbours in all Europe. + +It was a marvellous feat of navigation, but then it is an open secret +that members of the German Navy know the ins and outs of the Norwegian +fjords even better than Norwegians do themselves. They have also much +better charts; both of which facts they proved in a startling manner in +their manoeuvres before the war. + +It is another open secret that at the German War Office, in the +Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, was kept a complete series of the Ordnance maps +of England, brought fully up-to-date by secret surveys, which gave +detail and information that our maps do not show and which our War +Office is probably quite unacquainted with. I was never more astonished +in my life, although I had the sense to conceal it, than when an alleged +German commercial traveller with whom I had been travelling somewhere in +Finland sketched, in order to illustrate an argument, a correct plan of +a remote part of the East Coast of England with which I was very well +acquainted. On this sketch the aforesaid traveller proceeded to +delineate fords to streams and hidden roadways, the existence of which +most of those even who had dwelt all their lives in the parishes +affected had either forgotten or never knew about. + +To return to the subject. The long-lost _Berlin_ had been run to ground. +The burning question of the moment was whether she would face the music +and make a bolt for the Fatherland or whether she would remain where she +was and become interned. A collection of British cruisers outside +probably caused her to elect the latter course. So it was up to me, +somehow or other, to try and ferret out all I could relating to her +recent voyage. But how? + +The chief of the British Secret Service is never interested in detail. +To him the most interesting particulars, showing how an objective is +attained, are irritating and merely so much waste of time. His +requirements and mind centre only round concrete results, congealed +into the fewest possible number of words. Whilst interviews in his +office are limited almost to grudgingly-given minutes. + +It is undoubtedly prudent and wise to draw a bough over my innumerable +snow-trails in order to obliterate the footprints of my tortuous +wanderings during the days that followed. Suffice to say that, night and +day, awake or dreaming, the subject never left my thoughts, whilst I +schemed and invented possible and impossible plans, until at last one +day chance supplied the missing link. + +Meanwhile side issues were not wanting. German agents had traced the +hotel proprietor's show-English-spy to his nightly lair in the +woodstacks. They naturally attached an unknown importance to what they +believed to be his anxiety concerning the safety of these piles of +innocent timber. They appeared to assume that this particular +wood--worth possibly somewhere about £20,000--was considered of great +value to the English Government. Accordingly they planned, by contra +espionage, to lure the nightly watcher in another direction. As soon as +his presence was thus temporarily removed they promptly fired the pile, +which job was so thoroughly well done that hardly a plank could be +salved from the flames. + +Having been confidentially told that I was suspected of being an English +S.S. agent, I promptly called up on the telephone the head of the +department which controlled these matters, and invited him to lunch. +Fortunately I knew him well and could do so. It was humorous that whilst +I was doing this the gentleman in question happened to be attending a +small committee meeting which was, at the moment, discussing my _bona +fides_, and the somewhat important personage called for raised +unavailing protests at being compelled to answer my insistent call, only +to learn of the unimportant invitation to himself from the actual +suspect whose presence was then under discussion and whom it was part of +his duty to be accountable for. + +I could not help subsequently smiling when I was privately informed by +another member of the committee that the old colonel had returned from +the telephone, very red in the face, and swearing audibly about that +"d--d impudent mad-brained Englishman who was chasing him about, instead +of waiting to be properly chased," or its equivalent in words in his own +language. + +In a snug creek, away from the busy waterways and the ever-moving +industry of the heavily overloaded quays, was securely moored and laid +up for the winter a palatial pleasure yacht, belonging to a well-known +Russian sugar queen of reputed fabulous wealth. Her captain and crew +were objects of interest to all. I considered it politic to ingratiate +myself with the crew with a view to future possibilities. + +In course of time, certain ladies of unknown origin appeared at various +hotels in the town and its environs. They possessed youth, beauty, +vivacity of spirit, charm of manner, and apparently plenty of ready +money to add to their attraction and graces. They had friends who soon +called, or met them at or away from their hotels. From information +received and from personal observation, I deemed it expedient to push +myself forward into this small but somewhat exclusive circle, although +it required the utmost ingenuity to mix with the members of these +various circles whilst in constant touch with the chief residents of the +town without permitting one group to gain knowledge of my intimacy with +other groups. + +By judicious expenditure in hospitality and a free hand with small +gifts, I was able to draw into my confidences half a dozen acquaintances +whom I could trust to render any assistance I might perhaps at some time +require. Meanwhile I was ostensibly engaged in legal matters. Clients +called with masses of papers and remained closeted with me for hours. +Often they remained for meals, and then the choicest of wines were +ordered, and the last doubts the proprietor of the hotel might have +entertained vanished. + +Within a week or ten days an accurate report was secretly handed to me +of the exact number, nationality, and rating of every man on board the +enemy vessel. It also contained addenda giving the name and business of +every visitor thereto, and the duration of each visit; this afforded +matter for cogitation, reflection, and thought. + +My next requirement was a roughly summed-up estimate of the +characteristics of each person I designated, with all possible +information and detail concerning their believed weaknesses, whims, +fancies, hobbies, ambitions, or failings, which I persisted in procuring +concerning every person I could on the before-mentioned list. This was a +long and more difficult task. Pride, conceit, alcohol, women, and money +figured against one or the other. The two former would seem the easiest +to work upon, but in the end it was the latter which affected the +_débàcle_. + +Having laid well my plans, which promised almost certain successful +results, it was advisable for me to depart from the town and district in +order that matters might be permitted to operate successfully without +any possible chance of failure through some remote suspicion being +hatched and developed from my presence. It was far better for me to +watch from a distance, to observe the effects of palm-oil penetrate +deeper and yet deeper, until that which I was most anxious to get hold +of, namely, material extracts from the log of the recent voyage of this +important vessel, had been brought ashore and communicated; and, what +was most important of all, the exact number of mines she had laid in +British waters, with precise latitude and longitude of such laying. + +It was expensive, but it was worth the outlay many times over. It would +have been undoubtedly a very great surprise indeed to the kultured Hun +sea-pirates, had they only known how their most jealously-guarded +secrets were thus so easily opened up. + +When in England some months after this information had been +communicated, I had an opportunity of interviewing some officers and +members of the crews on board various minesweeping vessels which had +been employed to remove these pests from navigable waters. They were men +engaged to harvest what the _Berlin_ was alleged to have sown near Tory +Island, which lies off the north-west coast of Ireland, and not far from +the all-important Loch Swilly. The first and second fleet sent there to +act upon the information which had been collected in the manner +hereinbefore described seem to have returned to their respective bases +and reported there were no mines to be found. But whilst those in +authority were debating or doubting the accuracy of the original +information collected abroad, proof positive soon convinced them. + +Vessel after vessel was reported sunk by mine contact, including the new +leviathan, H.M.S. _Audacious_, which awful disaster was religiously +hushed up and kept away from the ken of the English nation. American +papers, however, exhibited photos of the wreck and rescues which were +freely copied by international journals, whilst Germany knew all about +it from the first. The third fleet of mine-sweepers, eventually sent to +Tory Island with instructions to sweep the same area as at first +directed but at a greater depth, gathered in about 120 to 130 large +mines out of the 150 said to have been sown there. But this was after +far too many casualties had been reported, and much shipping, with +valuable lives, had been lost to Great Britain. + +Although at times I am notoriously loquacious, I can also be a deep +thinker. Sometimes when alone during those dark days in the solitude of +deep forests, or perched upon some bleak promontory jutting out into +northern seas and watching over the angry waters beneath me, I would sit +for hours lost in meditation turning over in my mind again and again +passing events, weighing the possibilities, probabilities, alleged +diplomatic mistakes and indiscretions; social upheavals, labour strikes, +absurd optimism of a section of the Press; false security created by too +rigid censorship; political dangers from continued vote-angling and +pandering to obvious German agitation amongst workmen and miners; +continued short-sighted political revenge upon English landowners for +the suppression rather than encouragement of any increased user of the +land towards food production; contradictions which were irreconcilable; +on the one hand enormous and useless expenditures, on the other +unparalleled meanness and littleness; the clinging to fatal fallacies by +refusing conscription; the insistence with which old and admittedly +absolutely incompetent officials were kept in office; refusals to find +places--even honorary ones--for admittedly first-class younger +volunteers from our colonies; muddle upon muddle; waste upon waste; +mistake upon mistake; yet the glorious gallantry and irrepressible +loyalty and patriotism of Britisher units and her allies on land and sea +seemed to be pulling everything through. + +Having regard to the thirty years' preparation of Germany and the utter +unpreparedness of England, a miracle seemed in the process of evolution. +Would the nations involved cease their strife owing to absolute +exhaustion and attrition? Would the Entente eventually achieve full +consummation of its hopes, so devoutly to be wished? Or was the sequel +foreshadowed by the late Lord Tennyson: + + + "Chaos, Cosmos! Cosmos, Chaos! who can tell how all will end? + Read the wide world's annals, you, and take their wisdom for your + friend; + Hope the best, but hold the Present fatal daughter of the Past, + Shape your heart to front the hour, but dream not that the hour + will last." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +DEPOSING A RIVAL + + RETREAT AND WOULD-BE REST--WINTRY WEATHER IN THE NORTH SEA--THE + SECRET MESSAGE--RIVAL'S REMOVAL COMMANDED FORTHWITH--SEEMINGLY + IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSITION--SEEKING ONE'S COLLEAGUES--SOLVING THE + RIDDLE--PREPARING THE TRAP--THE LONELY SENTRY AND THE MYSTERIOUS + BOATMAN CAPTURE, ARREST, SEARCH AND FIND--THE INCRIMINATING + DOCUMENT--INSTANT DEPORTATION--EXULTATION--NEXT, PLEASE. + + +After a coup of importance has been successfully accomplished, it is +sometimes advisable for a Secret Service agent to betake himself to a +quiet, secluded place where his identity and his activities are least +likely to be known, or even suspected. + +Towards Christmas, in the first year of the war, I found myself in such +a position; my work for some weeks past had been not only exceedingly +strenuous, but, it was gratifying to remember, it had also been +successful. Perhaps luck had unduly favoured me. Anyway, I knew quite +enough of the enemy to be only too well assured that he would stop at +nothing to get, or to attempt to get, even with me if he possibly could. +I also thoroughly understood it was advisable for more reasons than one +that I should take a well-earned rest, a few days breathing-space until +further demands were made upon my individual efforts. + +Thus it was I turned my face towards a lonely, secluded little haven +snugly concealed in an inner fjord of the Norwegian coast where I +intended to sleep and dream and sink all traces of my existence on earth +for a few brief days at least. + +December, 1914, in northern seas was a month of record storms and +multitudinous wrecks. The daily life of those unfortunates whose duties +took them there, or compelled them to navigate, was unenviable in the +extreme. Ice, which accumulated and increased in its envelopment hourly, +not only made decks doubly dangerous, but, unless removed from rails, +ropes, deckhouses, and other parts of a ship at periodical intervals +might possibly threaten worse disaster than the wrecks and sunken rocks +around. + +Fogs, snowstorms, floating mines, mountainous seas, submerged hulks and +treacherous shoals, coupled with the long, long winter nights, were +enemies more to be feared than the cruel Hun. A few weeks of this work +would try any man; it had been more than enough for me, a landsman whose +soul never yearned for the life of a sailor. + +The relief at hearing the cranky, ought-to-have-been-long-ago-condemned +old packet, rejoicing in the high-sounding name of some forgotten +heathen god, bump and scrape and groan against the piling of the quay at +my quiet sleepy little Scandinavian seaport, was a joy not to be +expressed in words. To me who had roughed it, under strenuous +conditions, the coarse fare and the still coarser bed-linen on even a +flea-smothered couch seemed Valhalla adorned. + +It was rest. It was peace. It was contentment. It naturally followed +that it was supreme happiness for the immediate moment. + +No shack, cottage, or villa in these northern parts runs to window +curtains. Darkness comes early in the afternoon. Daylight follows late +in the morning, varying in time in accordance with latitude. Sleep, the +greatest blessing on earth, after such fatigues and endurance would be +long and profound. There was no reason to arise early. To trust to +Nature's call with the sun would probably mean somewhere about 10 a.m. +or later. + +It was, of course, necessary for me to convey to headquarters the +information of my whereabouts, which duty performed, the luxuries and +enjoyments at hand were embraced by me with limitless indulgence. + +It was late next day when a frowsy-haired fishwife brought my _café au +lait_, also news that I was wanted. I was not surprised. A Secret +Service agent is never allowed to rest. Holidays, quietude, peace, or +enjoyment are words not known in his vocabulary. Anyone envying those in +the Service should first contemplate that its units are looked upon as +mere chattels of little worth, easily to be replaced should accident or +machination cause them to fall by the way or to be removed to a better +land. Such patriots must sink all home-ties, business relationships, +pleasures, pains, and personal thoughts for the one and only object--to +achieve the seemingly impossible. + +Outside it was snowing in big, massive flakes, which added many inches +in a few hours to the deep covering already settled on the +solidly-frozen earth. It was biting cold, but I had to face it. +Struggling along as best I could against the unkind elements, I made +three doubles and a walk back to test whether any possible observer took +interest in my movements, such a precaution being always advisable after +advent on fresh ground. Then, slipping up an unfrequented pathway, I +gained the shelter of another fisherman's hut, where an enthusiastic +welcome from numerous chubby-faced bairns awaited me. + +It's a good rule in life to remember the little ones. Every +decent-minded parent worships his or her children. If a home possess +none, then affections are often centred on some four-footed animal. Make +a fuss over these and a weakness in the hardest heart is at once +touched. My annual chocolate bill averaged many pounds, whilst it has +returned to me tenfold its value in the pleasure created. Not a penny of +such outlay could be grudged. + +A good friend was awaiting my arrival. He had a small package, which had +come to hand shortly before. He was one of those open-hearted, +unsuspecting innocents who led the simple life and believed ill of no +man. I wished him to continue to hold his good opinions, particularly +regarding myself. In murmuring my thanks for the parcel, I hazarded the +supposition that it probably contained some long-sought smokes. On +opening it before his eyes, so to speak, there was disclosed a tin of +pipe tobacco and a bundle of cigars, which were at once sampled. + +Sherlock Holmes would probably have noticed that one, and one cigar +only, had had its smoking-end bitten off. Further, that that particular +cigar was not selected by me, owing perhaps--perhaps not--to the +possibility of its having already been tested in a stranger's mouth. Be +that as it may, after an hour's small talk (one must never be at all +impatient in Scandinavia), I took my departure and carried the precious +tobacco away with me. + +A careful dissection of the bitten cigar, in the seclusion of my own +quarters, brought to light a scrap of paper. A pocket glass helped me to +decipher the mystic signs, the interpretation whereof read as follows: + + + "Karl Von S----, a German Artillery officer, married to a native of + Scandinavia, is posing as a convalescent consumptive and has been + some time in a private villa on the Island of ----. He is much too + friendly with the wireless operator there, also the garrison + officers. Advisable that he be removed at once. You must do it. Act + promptly." + + +Now I was a matter of 300 miles' travel from the _locus in quo_. It was +in the immediate neighbourhood of large army reserves and was also much +frequented by warships and naval men. Three times I reread the message +in order to memorise it, then I burnt it to ashes. "He must be removed +at once. You must do it." + +Now it is very easy to sit in an office and give commands, right and +left, for this and for that, or for anything which strikes the fancy. +But it's altogether a different proposition to find oneself in the shoes +of the commanded one. I soon began to feel worried. The thought of the +seeming impossibility of the carrying out of the order was annoying. I +lit cigar after cigar, as I lay on the couch with closed eyes; I smoked, +and thought, and scratched for an indefinite period; until my all too +lively stable companions effectually did for me what I was so vainly +racking my brains to find some way of bringing about with regard to +another. + +Two hours' brisk walk in the open air did not solve the problem. So I +despatched a message to a colleague, N. P., who was then on the Russian +frontier, informing him that we must meet immediately, each coming +half-way towards the other. + +N. P. knew that I should never trouble him over trifles, and, good +fellow that he was, he answered the call without delay. We met at a +frontier town, within a day or so of the receipt of original +instructions. When I explained the problem and how the more I had +thought it over the further its solution seemed to fade away, N. P. +naturally wanted to know why I had summoned him to meet me. + +"That is easy, my dear Nixie," I exclaimed; "you are without doubt the +cleverest man in the Service. You speak many tongues. You are a garrison +artillery staff officer. What better material could anyone wish for to +help unravel a proposition like this? He must be removed at once. You +must do it." + +"Not me, my boy. That won't come off. It's your job, and I would not +deprive you of the honour and glory of it for worlds." + +"Ah, Nixie, my dear fellow, we may get the jobs, but all the honour and +glory is appropriated by the gentlemen who remain at home. I think we +both appreciate that point; but what I want to debate with you are +possibilities, actualities, and probabilities. If either of us, for +example, were on a small island and we received a warning that a German +had had orders to shift us--what would you fear most?" + +"I should fear nothing." + +"I don't mean it that way. What I mean is, wherein would you be most +careful, or most on your guard?" + +"He would not get a dog's chance with me, anyway," snapped N. P. Then he +added in a petulant tone, "I want some more whiskey and another cigar. +It helps one to think better." + +"How about your line of communications?" I queried. + +"No living soul would ever get hold of mine," Nixie replied. + +"Of course not; but don't you see it's a danger, it's a weak spot that +can be shot at." + +"No, I don't," said Nixie, stretching himself at full length on the +sofa until it creaked again and again. + +I was lying on a bed, and the room was in darkness. One can think better +in the dark. There is no counter-attraction for the sense of sight to +divert any stray thought from the objective in being. The brain becomes +more active and more concentrative accordingly. + +"If you flatter yourself you can touch his lines of communication--after +he has been established some time, as the message says, you are apt to +get your fingers burnt in the trying. Won't do, Jim, my boy. Try and +think of something else." + +"Bide a wee. Don't you see where we are drifting to? My idea is that we +don't try to touch him at all, but that _we make a line of communication +in order to be able to break it_. Twiggez vous?" + +A short silence ensued, which Nixie broke, in an emphasised drawling +tone: "You diabolical devil! You mean you will send a note to him which +you will take good care is intercepted before he gets it, and in such a +manner that the local authorities will do the rest to complete the _coup +de grâce_." + +"That's my suggestion," I exclaimed in a deliberate tone. "Also that's +where you come in. You, being a garrison expert, will weave the strands +and splice the knot of rope that will eventually hang him. Think it out. +Ponder over how it will work." + +For a long time we both smoked in silence, and we smoked in the dark, +which somehow seems entirely different from smoking when one can see the +blue clouds drifting. How long the interval lasted neither of us could +tell. It seemed an age. Then Nixie Pixie demanded lights up. He wanted +to get on with the business. He was keenly interested. His instincts +foretold success, and, what was far sweeter to both of us, we imagined +one more dictatorial militarist would shortly be driven back to stew in +the kultured juice of Teutonic concentrated cruelties, in the +Fatherland. + +With lights burning and pens and papers before us, we soon filled in +necessary details of the plan of campaign; chuckling the while in +anticipatory satisfaction at the debacle to come. + +Before dawn broke on the day following we had drifted apart; as silent +shadows of the night we flitted to and from our respective destinations, +whilst the world slept, and no watchman had observed our coming or our +going. Nixie was away to the westward by train, whilst I followed the +currents of the ever-restless sea. + + * * * * * + +Night and day I travelled, in desperate haste. I journeyed to the +northern frontier of Germany, to a small, uninviting place on the map, +where I had a colleague working, who for many years had lived in Germany +and who had only crossed the frontier a short time prior to the +declaration of war. + +This English gentleman was perfectly acquainted with both High and Low +Prussian. In a matter of this kind, where straws had to be grasped at +and relied upon, it was essential to any hope of success to carry out +every minute detail with the greatest accuracy. + +I was anxious to have a certain message which I had drafted en route +translated into accurate and perfect High German. I did not feel +confident to do this myself, hence my present mission. + +I hunted up my colleague, who entered enthusiastically upon the work, +and immediately after its completion I journeyed away again to a small +sleepy hamlet not far removed from the nearest point on the mainland +contiguous to the island in question. I covered several hundreds of +miles during the four days these journeys occupied my attention. + +To carry out the plan which I had devolved I secured the necessary +materials at places where no suspicion was likely to be aroused. They +were simple in themselves: an etching pen, some fine, thin foreign +correspondence paper, some oil-silk and a small tin phial. The message, +which will be disclosed later, was most carefully written in German +characters under a magnifying glass, which latter I always carry. + +It was then rolled up, carefully protected by an outer covering of +oil-silk and inserted into a tin phial. + +The next steps in the plot to remove this obnoxious German officer from +the security of his stronghold, which certain high officials were +convinced he was using to contravene the laws of hospitality, trust, and +friendship, were carried out by another. + +The reason for this should be obvious. The risk was nothing in itself, +but it was a matter of importance that I should not be implicated, +either directly or indirectly, with such a matter, so that my own +chances for further activity in the cause of my country might not be +endangered. I remember the old adage, "Sauce for the goose is equally +good sauce for the gander." + +I therefore arranged matters down to the smallest details, impressing +every point upon my only too willing assistant, and then I quickly took +my departure to a place many, many miles away from the locality in +question, there to await with impatient interest the report I was +promised, which should tell me whether the scheme attempted had +succeeded or proved a disappointing fiasco. + +I had not long to wait. Within three days a message was flashed to me. I +visualise events as I believe they happened. + +On the never-to-be-forgotten day a certain sentry was pacing a rocky +promontory on a lonely island overlooking lonely waters. In spite of its +uninviting outward appearance this island was a place of the utmost +importance, because it guarded the watergate to many a European capital. + +The sentry was impatient. It was growing dark. He was cold and hungry, +and none too pleased at his job; besides, he imagined the relief guard +was late. Perhaps it was. + +Whilst in this uneasy frame of mind a small sailing-boat hove into +sight. She was hugging the shore, or rather the rocky cliffs of which +the shore consisted. When within a few hundred yards of the sentry's +position, the mast and sail were taken down and stowed, and the boatman +proceeded to row. + +The sentry was interested. + +As the boat approached nearer to his position it disappeared into a +small alcove, formed by overhanging cliffs, and he saw it no more. + +Perhaps it was a coincidence that this happened just a quarter of an +hour before the sentry should be relieved. But in that fifteen minutes +he had ample time to work himself into a high pitch of excitement. + +The gloaming had increased. He was straining his eyes into the coming +night when the sergeant with the relief arrived. + +A quick whispered report caused double guards to be mounted, men to be +sent to cover possible lines of retreat, and a messenger to be +despatched for assistance on the water. These precautions were efficient +and effective. The mysterious boatman was captured. + +It was not known whether he was too frightened, or too unintelligent, or +too intoxicated to give a satisfactory account of his movements, but in +a parcel concealed under odd bits of rope and sailcloth was a dead +codfish addressed to Herr K. V. S. + +Whilst the captured one was meditating under lock and key, the boat and +its contents were minutely examined. Nothing unusual had been found on +the prisoner, nothing else had been found in the boat. The cod-fish was +ordered to be dissected, when, lo and behold! a small metal tube was +extracted from the gullet. Inside this, tightly rolled and wrapped in +oil-silk, was a small piece of thin foreign correspondence paper, which, +on being held up to the light, revealed hieroglyphics in the smallest of +German characters imaginable. + +Subsequent investigation and examination elicited that the boatman had +agreed to deliver the parcel personally to Herr K. von S---- at a +certain place, and at a certain hour in the evening, for which he had +received a generous sum of money. The advisability of remaining in the +alcove until dark to prevent the military from holding him up, or prying +into his parcel, had been suggested to him by his employer, who was +quite a stranger to him. He had never seen him until two hours before he +had arranged to bring the parcel along; he had assured him it was all +right. It was only an act of kindness to a sick man. There could be no +harm done by it. + +A thin story indeed, but the fishermen of northern seas are a confiding, +unsuspecting, innocent race. + +The letter proved to be written in Prussian or High German. It required +a good magnifying glass to decipher it. It was highly technical in its +terms, and was evidently composed by a thoroughly expert _garrison +artillery officer_. It ran somewhat as follows: + + + 1. You say we can now communicate with you through more open + channels but we doubt this and fear taking any avoidable risk. + + 2. On the plans you sent us you omitted to mark the ranges of the + guns numbered 1, 5, and 7. + + 3. The exact location of the magazine was not clearly defined. + + 4. What are the reliefs? Give exact detail. + + 5. Ascertain exact amounts of ammunition at present stored, with + full capacity for added reserves. + + 6. Advise estimated sum to cover wireless operators' requirements + for a year. + + 7........................................ + + 8........................................ + + 9........................................ + + 10. Next time cut a larger portion off the dorsal fin, as your last + message was nearly missed through difficulty in identification. + + +The boatman, who was a local man and innocent enough, was lectured and +frightened half out of his wits, and finally permitted to go. + +Captain Karl von S---- with his wife and family were given twelve short +hours to clear the country, once and for all, with peremptory orders +never to set foot in it again. Probably he is wondering to this day what +earthly reason could have instigated such a decisive and unmistakably +severe command. + +The inhabitants on the island cannot yet understand why no live fish of +any description, nor dead fish which had not been split open from head +to tail, were permitted to be imported or exported, whether destined for +private consumption or for other uses. + +Many miles away from the island in question a telegraph official a few +days later in a small town carefully scrutinised an innocently worded +message which was handed in at his office shortly after these stirring +events had occurred. It was, however, permitted to pass and in due +course its recipient, my headquarters department, interpreted its hidden +meaning. It ran: + + + "The shoddy article submitted and marked K. V. S. has been returned + as not up to sample and unworthy of retention. Next please!--JIM." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +FIGHTING GERMAN AGENTS WITH FAKED WEAPONS + + DANGER WARNING--DISGUISED TEUTONS--HAIR TESTS--OBSERVATION FROM + WITHOUT--CLEVER FEMALE GUARD--DEPORTED HUN AGENTS--TOO MANY + WRECKS--BOOT CHANGE TRICK--FLIGHT--PATIENCE UNREWARDED--NIGHT WORK + AT THE DOCKS--A SUDDEN ATTACK--ODDS OF THREE TO ONE--PIPE-FAKING + FOR MAKE-BELIEVE REVOLVER--A STERN CHASE--AMERICAN RUSE BAFFLES + PURSUERS--THE SANCTUARY OF CONVIVIALITY. + + +The sudden transportation and exile of an alleged invalid German officer +back to the home of his fathers had been a distinct secret score for the +British Foreign Secret Service Intelligence Department, although +probably no one was aware of this except those in the innermost circles +of the Service of the two countries directly concerned. + +As a necessary precaution for my own safety I had very discreetly +removed myself some hundreds of miles in another direction as soon as it +was certain that my trap had been properly sprung. With my mind +concentrated on other matters I had almost forgotten the episode, when a +whisper echoed and re-echoed from the south that the full fury of the +Northern German espionage bureau had been invoked upon my fortunate or +unfortunate head, and that I must beware of a certain Baron +Nordenpligt,[8] which irate Teuton had started hot on my trail, vowing +the direst vengeance imaginable. "Nordenpligt" in English means "the +North duty or obligation," and I was at no loss to comprehend the full +force of the hinted warning thus so auspiciously conveyed to me. + +Whilst musing over events under the benign influence of my usual black +cigar, some stir became apparent in the entrance hall of the hotel at +which I was then stopping. Several new-comers had arrived. One very fat +lady appeared over-concerned regarding the handling of her many +belongings. A wheezy, consumptive-looking weakling of humanity was +trying to assist her. Most probably he would have been crushed under an +iron-bound trunk which a porter was lowering from the roof of the hotel +bus had not another traveller, seeing the danger, rushed forward to his +assistance. As he did so he involuntarily ejaculated the short +exclamation, "Mein Gott!" My ears tingled at once. The Teutonic oath had +given away the nationality of this individual, at all events. It became +my immediate business to ascertain who he was, and what his business +might be. Without a moment's hesitation I also sprang to the rescue. + +The result of too many persons concerning themselves with the matters of +one led to a natural tangle and considerable jostling in which the +German gentleman lost his pince-nez. In stopping to recover them a +leather case fell from his inside breast pocket. But before he could +reach it I had anticipated his desire, picked up the article in +question, and handed it to its owner. In so doing I observed that on one +corner was an embossed gold coronet and monogram, in which the letter +"N" was prominent. + +My room was on the first floor. I had registered my occupation as that +of a fish merchant of Scandinavian origin, which, on a strict +investigation, might have been held not too remote. The German baron, +for such he undoubtedly was, had registered as a commercial traveller +from an inland town in Denmark, whilst he obviously knew the language of +that country as well as he did his own. It was ominous that he +subsequently contrived to secure a bedroom adjoining mine, whilst the +fat lady sandwiched herself into possession of another apartment which +was situated on the other side. + +After supper I placed three hair tests on my belongings, and lighting +the inevitable weed strolled out to give matters a chance to develop. + +At the back of the hotel was a large heap of moss-bedecked boulders, +behind which was a rocky hill, in the crevasses and hollows of which +some scant vegetation had collected and a few scraggy fir-trees formed +an arboreal retreat where in the summer months loiterers could sit and +enjoy the view with the added pleasure of light refreshments from the +hotel. + +This arbour commanded a full view of the windows of the back rooms, the +centre one of which was for the time being in my occupation. + +The hair test is a useful expedient for gauging the inquisitiveness or +prying proclivities of one's immediate neighbours. It is affixed by +tension from two notches, or with the aid of a little wax. Either method +will be found equally efficacious. Human hairs a few inches in length +are easily procurable; a single one is practically invisible to the +naked eye, and a slight strain will snap it. If cunningly placed across +the two covers of a box, on the lid of a box, over an unlocked bag, +trunk, suit-case or elsewhere, few Paul Prys would ever dream of +suspecting its presence, and the precaution inevitably tells its own +tale. + +A very clever investigator would probably be on the lookout for anything +of this kind, but an equally clever actor would so place at least one of +his precaution signals that it would be impossible to touch the object +it protected without a break or disturbance sufficient to notice. + +When night fell it was dark, cold, and raw, with a nasty wind blowing, +and I found the draughty arbour none too cosy for my liking, but I +stayed there for upwards of an hour in the belief that something was +going to turn up. Meanwhile half a gale whistled through leafless +branches and howled round the crevasses and protuberances of the rocky +background. Just as I was on the point of quitting I observed a faint +flicker of light upon the blind of my room, and I knew that evil agents +were abroad. + +An attempt to ascend the stairway behind a couple of other visitors +whereby I could gain my apartment unobserved was frustrated by the stout +lady before mentioned. She, by an extraordinary coincidence, started to +come downstairs just as my foot had gained the last step of the ascent. +In her haste she jostled first one and then the other of the gentlemen +meeting her, for which she apologised most profusely and in a loud, +jovial, bantering manner. + +I leaned against the wall and laughed. It was my custom to take +everything as it came, never to meet trouble half-way by worrying, and +even to attempt the credit of gaining happiness under almost impossible +conditions. + +In the present instance the fortune of war favoured me, although +conditions were adverse. A large mirror hung upon the landing, the +reflection field of which embraced wide angles. I, happening to glance +upwards and beyond the little pleasantries going on above, observed a +shadow darken the surface of the glass, but the noise made by the +merry-makers on the stairhead prevented any slighter sounds from being +heard. + +Later on, when I had entered and was alone within the privacy of my own +apartment, examining the test traps at my leisure, all possible doubt of +an interest having been taken in my belongings was removed. + +What would happen next? + +The veiled secret warning that had been given me portended mischief. It +was hardly reasonable to suppose one's natural enemy would take a +knock-down blow without reprisals. They were more than hinted at in the +urgent message I had received. I was not deceived for one moment. I felt +myself within the claws of the pincers and it was up to me to wriggle +out before they could be closed. There must be no hesitation, no delay, +and no "wait and see" about my decisions. I must quit, and that at once, +or the worst might befall. + +Having supped in the restaurant common to all guests of the hostelry, I +retired early, but instead of undressing I lay upon the outside of the +bed and smoked and read until the early hours of the morning, between +whiles turning over many matters of more or less moment in my mind. + +I remembered that the latest ejected one from that hospitable country +was by no means the only one who had unceremoniously been pushed out by +reason of information which had reached the authorities in a roundabout +untraceable way. The origin had never come to light, but the inmates of +Koenigergratzerstrasse No. 70 probably had a shrewd suspicion whom they +could credit for the attention. S---- was another very active German +agent who had recently been expelled the country; he returned almost +immediately under another name and disguise. He successfully crossed the +frontier and would in all probability have escaped identification had +not certain strings been pulled whereby he was located and ejected +again, within forty-eight hours of his arrival. Most annoying to him, of +course, but then these small matters had of necessity to be attended to. + +It was unpleasant to remember that the number of wrecks along the coast +was abnormal. The majority of these unfortunate vessels were or had been +cargo carriers to Germany. Perhaps it was a just retribution that they +should sink or encounter disaster preventing their further assistance to +direct acts of barbarism by the mad dogs of Europe. Be that as it may, +Germans in that particular neighbourhood would hardly have agreed with +any such sentiments; nor were they sympathetic towards the invective +which was raised by the local police and others interested--although +breathed _sub rosa_--against fellow-countrymen of theirs who were +suspected of having fired several vast timber-stacks supposed to have +been sold to England. + +Taking one consideration with another no love was lost between +travellers from England and Germany. + +At 2 a.m., as the silent corridors of the hotel were awakened by the +cuckoos from a Swiss-made clock on the landing, I stealthily emerged +from my apartment. Tiptoeing along past several of the adjoining +bedrooms, I changed the boots standing outside their respective doors, +placing large for small and _vice versâ_. But one pair I selected from +the extreme end of the corridor as being as nearly as I could judge a +fair match in size to my own. These I brought along, and not being an +obstinate, blind-to-all-home-principle-Free-Trade Britisher, I dumped +them down outside my own door. It should have become obvious to the +reader that I was contemplating my departure. There had been former +occasions when I had been compelled to leave my own boots behind me, +whereby thoughtful hotel attendants and others had been deceived into +believing me to be a very late riser, and I had been thereby enabled to +cover many a league before the simple deception had been exposed. + +But on the occasion in question, in the course of my calm, contemplative +meditations upon the bed, I had evolved the comforting conclusion that +it would be better far to borrow the foot-gear of some other traveller +in order to carry into effect my playful little deception, rather than +sacrifice any more boots of my own. The ruse would assuredly work +equally as well, whilst past experiences had taught me that it was a +much easier matter to remove a pair of boots from a neighbouring doorway +than to leave my own behind, necessitating the trouble and expense of +their subsequent replacement. + +"Shooting the moon" in this manner is a pastime which I may add is not +usual with me, but there are occasions in the career of everyone when +discretion and retirement are undoubtedly the better part of valour. + +Next morning I was chuckling to myself at about 10 o'clock, and +picturing the confusion and the language likely to be used by the +parties mostly concerned, at the small hotel I had quitted so suddenly +overnight. + +What a sell it would be to His Excellency the Baron to find that his +bird had once more flown, and what a head-aching task he would have of +it if he tried to trail his quarry Indian fashion instead of relying +upon the surer and less worrying methods known to the Secret Service +agents of all nations. + +At least I knew I was safe for another week certain, and much could be +done in that time. So I journeyed away in an exulting frame of mind to a +colleague who I knew had some very interesting investigations which he +was following up in the neighbourhood of one of the largest and most +important docks on the Baltic Sea. + +Within a couple of hours of my arrival I was in harness again. Some +important particulars from the manifest and bills of lading of a big +steamer were wanted. The captain was a convivial soul with a great +weakness for sport of all kinds; and it was suggested that I, being a +sportsman myself, might be able to succeed in drawing him, although so +far no one else had been able to do so. + +A bottle of whiskey and a bundle of cigars were calculated to be +sufficient to move the information required. But they failed. Patience +and perseverance rarely fail. On this occasion both seemed useless. + +From 2 p.m. until 2 a.m., twelve solid hours, I sat listening, talking, +complimenting, criticising, flattering, cajoling, and arguing in such +manner that at first I entirely disagreed, then allowed myself to be +talked round to absolute approval. In short, no artifice that calculated +cunning could suggest was omitted, yet results proved fruitless. Thus at +2 a.m. I was forced to abandon my objective of the day, and I agreed it +was time to turn in. + +Perhaps the disappointment of failing to achieve a purpose influenced my +judgment. Perhaps it was the weather. Perhaps it was the mellowing +effects of some decent whiskey which made me feel devil-may-care and +careless. Anyhow, I was foolish in the extreme not to have accepted the +proffered and pressed invitation of a berth on board the ship I was then +visiting in preference to the more or less dangerous passage of the +docks which was my only alternative. + +That there was any real danger never entered my head. Had it done so it +would probably have made little difference, excepting that I might have +borrowed a stick, or some weapon of defence. It was not until I was +actually cornered that I remembered I had left my revolver at home. The +incident was so sudden there was no time to think. Spontaneous action +alone was capable of saving what might have proved a remarkably awkward +position. + +Hanging on to a rope guide I slid down the gangway which was covered +some inches thick with a coating of ice. Groping a pathway as best I +could across the quay in the dark, amongst innumerable stacks of +freighted goods and merchandise of every description, was no easy +matter. Nor were my difficulties lessened by a snowstorm which raged at +the time. Passing between some sheds, and stack after stack of cotton +bales, destined for the land of barbaric "kultur," I made my way towards +the only faint glimmering light which flickered its bilious rays from +the one solitary lamp-post in that immediate neighbourhood. + +Just as I reached it I heard a voice. At the same time I observed two +shadows which seemed to appear and disappear somewhere near the piles of +cotton. No complete sentence reached my ears, only two words, "Das vas," +uttered in a high-pitched key and with startling suddenness. The +remaining words were lost in the lowered tone. Those words, however, +were quite enough. I had been privately informed, only that morning, by +an interesting conveyer of intelligence newly arrived, from Berlin, that +some rather important German officials were taking a kindly interest in +my welfare; certainly to the extent that they had offered quite a +substantial sum of cash (not paper or cheques) for my delivery in their +country, condition no object. The sum named was far and away beyond what +I would ever have imagined my uninteresting carcase was worth. In a +flash the situation became clear to me. It was a plant to kidnap. Great, +blundering, self-satisfied, careless, conceited ass that I undoubtedly +was, I had walked right into the spider's web without so much as a +toothpick on me with which to put up a fight. + +Immediately in front of where I was standing was an open space, some +forty yards across. The ground was covered a foot deep or more with +snow. Concealed thereby and beneath it were railway lines, points, +uneven places, bits of wood, parts of packing-cases, hoops, and +innumerable obstacles of all kinds, which I knew of too well, having +been frequently tripped by them on former occasions. To attempt to rush +it would be courting disaster. + +The shadows, hardly discernible in the feeble light, seemed to flicker +nearer and nearer. Then I observed a third, and silently I wondered how +many in all I should have to contend with. Only one thing was +absolutely definite in my mind, that was, come what might, I had not the +slightest intention of having my liberty curtailed without a fight to a +finish. + +As before stated, I had reached the only lamp-post anywhere around. My +movements were observable, whereas those who were hunting me were +concealed by the shadows. Involuntarily I dived my hands deep into the +pockets of the thick overcoat I was wearing. I felt a pipe and tobacco +pouch--common enough objects, but the former was never more welcome. + +Somewhere in the dim and distant past I had heard or read of highway +robbers, or burglars, or other rough people, having been tricked by the +use of a wooden tobacco pipe as a make-believe for a revolver. Why not +try it now? + +There was just a chance the bluff might come off. Anything was better +than to be caught and ill-treated by Germans. + +The thought was mother to the action. Backing a few yards to a veritable +rampart of cotton, I half bobbed down and suddenly whipped out the pipe +in my hand from the right coat pocket. It was of ordinary briar-wood, +having a silver band, and holding it close to the pit of my stomach I +slowly moved it round _à la_ American up-to-date methods. Probably the +small silver mounting showed some glint from the straggling rays of the +solitary lamp. Anyhow, I saw the shadows, which had appeared well +separated before, fading away and concentrating in the rear. This gave +me a chance which I was not slow to avail myself of. Moving as rapidly +as I conveniently could I crossed the open space towards the warehouses +beyond. I had covered half the distance when I saw that I was being +pursued in force. Risking all possibilities of a trip and a fall, I +raced for my life to the first street turning into the town proper. I +had obtained a bit of a start and had the great advantage of thoroughly +knowing the ground. The leading German fell. I heard him swear. The +language was distinctly Teutonic. + +When I reached the corner of the street I was not more than twenty yards +ahead of those behind me. Here again a practical knowledge of the tricks +and ways of sportsmen of the Western States of America stood me in good +stead. In fact, it saved the situation and pulled me through. Instead of +dashing at full speed up the street after I had negotiated the corner, +when I should for certain have been caught and pulled down within about +fifty yards, I stopped short and peeped round, exhibiting my nose, one +eye, and part of my hat; also the hand holding the spoof pipe-revolver. +The effect was electrical, not to say humorous. The two Prussian +sleuth-hounds who were racing full pelt after me pulled up dead in their +tracks: so suddenly, in fact, that the third, who was rapidly making up +lost way behind, bumped into them, and all three sprawled in the snow. +As soon as they could pick themselves up they cautiously opened-out the +corner, fearing that their quarry was waiting behind it to pot them off +one at a time as they came round. Imagine their disgust when they +discovered the ruse and saw me in the distance scooting far away up the +deserted street with a good long lead. As I turned the next corner +leading into a diverging street I bumped into a crowd of merry-makers +which poured out from some large, brilliantly-illuminated building. +Every one of them was very exuberant and seemed to be embracing everyone +else. Every one of them appeared to be supremely happy and good-natured, +whilst every one of them was without doubt most gloriously drunk. + +What a haven of refuge to a hunted being almost at his last gasp, +fleeing from unknown terrors, from capture, torture, imprisonment, or +possible death! Before they realised my presence I was in the very heart +of the crowd, where I was at once embraced. Needless to add that I +returned the endearments with a vigour and sincerity that I had never +before equalled in all my life. Nor did I attempt to go further until I +had linked up with a convoy of homeward-bound convivial souls, far too +intoxicated to know whether I was myself or one of them, or some other +person. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[8] A fictitious name, but near enough to give the desired clue. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ESCAPING FROM THE CLUTCHES OF A VERY CLEVER LADY + + DISGUISES--IMPORTANCE OF HANDS--SERVICE ON A BALTIC TRADER--"IDLE, + DIRTY, GOOD-FOR-NOTHING SCAMP"--A TENDER-HEARTED LADY--A + FASHIONABLE GATHERING--THE ENGLISH DUDE--THEIR SECOND + MEETING--SUSPECTED--CLEVER FENCING--WHALES WITH IRON + SKINS--ALLIANCE OFFERED--A WOMAN SCORNED--MEDITATION--FLIGHT. + + +So many people imagine that anyone and everyone who is engaged in +detective or Secret Service work carries about with him a large +assortment of wigs, false hair, and other disguises. When any of this +work is reproduced on the stage or in moving pictures, or in the pages +of works of fiction, disguises of various kinds are generally well to +the fore. But, gentle reader, take it from me, who have been through the +real thing, and rest assured that any kind of disguise is always +attended with danger. To wear false hair or wigs, or even to have them +found in your possession, would mean death instantaneously, or at best +next dawn, in an enemy country; probable imprisonment in a fortress for +many years in a neutral one. The cleverest men I have met in the Service +rarely assume any artificial disguise, although I admit that there are +exceptional and urgent occasions when its aid must be sought of +necessity. + +In fiction you will perhaps have observed the universal rule seems to +ordain that the assumer of disguises invariably endeavours to change his +outward appearance from juvenility to old age. That, to my way of +thinking, is merely adding to one's difficulties. In real life it will +be found far easier to play the part of a person much younger than you +really are than it is to play the part of one who is much older. + +On such rare occasions as I had to make it part of my business to +disguise myself I selected for choice the transfiguration of my outward +appearance to a younger rather than an older person whenever the +circumstances so permitted. For example, I would enter a building to all +outward appearances a man of sixty years of age or upwards, and within a +very short space of time reappear as a man of not more than thirty. +These tricks may be attempted at night in artificial lights, but by +daylight the risks of discovery are not worth the small gain or +advantage that may be believed to be attained by their aid. + +The common sailor, or working-man who is badly dressed, very dirty in +appearance and who has not shaved for many days, is generally an object +which most men avoid and few women find the smallest interest in; whilst +he can roam at pleasure in most public places, and if he has the price +of a drink in his pocket he invariably gathers around him a multitude of +friends ready to tell him anything they may know or to believe any +cock-and-bull story as to his own antecedents which force of +circumstances or a very vivid imagination may suggest. + +All disguises and concealments of identity are of little avail unless +very thoroughly attempted and carried out. + +Sir Robert Baden Powell, in his book "My Adventures as a Spy," speaks of +the importance of remembering the back view. He writes: + +"The matter of disguise is not so much one of a theatrical +make-up--although this is undoubtedly a useful art--as of being able to +assume a totally different character, change of voice and mannerisms, +especially of gait in walking, and appearance from behind." + +A Service officer, whether of the Army or Navy, would have far greater +difficulties to contend with in this respect than would any ordinary +civilian--which is probably one of the main reasons why Service men are +avoided when possible by the German Intelligence Department for active +executive work. + +The face and body are easy to disguise, but the hands are not. For a +rough character rough hands are essential. Remember that it is a sure +test, when questioning a tramp or hobo before probably wasting one's +sympathies as well as one's substance in trying to help him, to demand +an examination of his hands. They tell at a glance whether he is a +genuine trier, or merely a chronic waster. Therefore, before undertaking +to appear as a unit of the working-classes, it is advisable to take on a +job which will put one's hands into the condition that would appear +compatible to one's outward appearance. Unloading or loading bricks into +a vessel, or a truck, is the quickest and surest way of accomplishing +this purpose. In a few hours, hands which are unaccustomed to this work +will crack up and blister beyond recognition. Its continuance for a +couple of days will pull the nails out of shape and give the full, true, +horny, hardened grip of a genuine son of toil. Want of soap and water +will complete a supreme finish to the seeming ideal. + +Once upon a time there arose an occasion when I had to ship as deck-hand +and general knockabout on a small Baltic coasting craft of no classified +definition. It was rough work, rougher living, and roughest weather. But +one soon accustoms oneself to one's surroundings in life; and it really +is marvellous what a satisfactory clean-up one can make with the +assistance of a little grease and a tiny piece of cotton waste. + +The cruise had been completed and the vessel was returning to a friendly +port when her skipper undertook to ferry a party of ladies and gentlemen +across from one small island to another. The deck hand--need I explain +that I acted in that capacity?--was indisposed. He sought his bunk +below, only to be sworn at and cursed, and ordered out again in a manner +which unfortunately brought him under observation, exactly the opposite +to that which his modest, retiring nature desired; more particularly so +on the occasion in question. + +One lady, a bright-eyed, vivacious, sweet-faced woman of between twenty +and thirty years of age, remonstrated on behalf of this seemingly +ill-used and unfortunate mortal, and she pleaded with the skipper that +the poor man looked frightened and ill. Alas, poor me! + +"D----d idle, dirty, good-for-nothing scamp," is the nearest equivalent +in English to a translation of his retort. I had been playing up for a +discharge, and plead guilty to the indictment. + + * * * * * + +A few days later a fashionable gathering took place. It was held in a +beautifully situated house, having extensive grounds, fine gardens, and +magnificent views of the surrounding seaboard. Everyone of any local +importance was there. Amongst the guests was an Englishman. Five +minutes' intercourse with him would have been amply sufficient to have +based the conclusion that he was one of those effeminate, lisping, soft, +silly slackers, who hang round tea-tables and curates' meetings, and who +have a horror of all things manly. + +He was dressed in a neat suit of blue serge. Every speck of dust coming +to it was at once flicked off with a silk handkerchief. His trousers +were of the permanent turned-up cut, carefully pressed and creased. He +sported bright yellow wash-leather gloves and spent most of his time +toying with a rimmed eyeglass. That he was shy, reticent, and retiring +was at once obvious, but in spite of a vacuous, far-away look, his eyes +seemed to travel over most of the company, and whenever any serious +conversation took place he appeared to be wandering aimlessly about, but +well within earshot. + +One lady in the crowd seemed to take a more than ordinary interest in +this personage. She was a bright-eyed, vivacious, sweet-faced woman of +between twenty and thirty years of age. She was also a clever and +far-seeing individual--one who watches, listens, and observes to +advantage. The stranger's face attracted her. She felt somehow that it +was familiar. She was sure that she had seen it before; but when, or +where, puzzled her. + +An introduction was an easy matter. Soon she was sipping tea and +exchanging views on every-day frivolities with the object which for the +moment so attracted her curiosity. I can assure those who read these +lines that the object in question wished himself anywhere but where he +was. + +"It is most unusual to meet an Englishman who speaks our language, even +badly. How is it that you seem to know it so well?" she suddenly asked; +experience having apparently taught her that questions leading up to the +point desired merely forewarned the interrogated. + +"No, no. You flatter me. I'm positively wrotten on the grammar. I only +know a number of words. You see, I had to learn those because I come to +your delightful country so much on business, also for sport," I replied. + +"Business? What kind of business?" she asked. + +"Well, you see, I'm rather interwested in wood and in herwings." + +"Oh yes! And sport?" + +"Well, you see, I come here every year for fishing." + +For some moments the lady maintained an ominous silence, whilst her eyes +focussed the horizon of some distant islands lying far out upon the +smooth and sunlit sea. She smiled to herself, as though she had caught a +delusive object of great worth; then, turning her fair head--and she +really was pretty--so that she could look me full in the eyes, she +asked: + +"Is it your business or your sport which gives you so much fascination +for the sea?" + +"Fascination for the sea?" I exclaimed doubtingly. "Now, weally you are +quite wrong. I never go on the sea unless I'm weally forced to do so. In +fact, I hate it. It's so beastly wrestless when it might be quiet and +let everybody else be quiet too." I lisped painfully. + +"I think you said it was herrings that interested you," she replied, +following up a point she seemed determined to push home. "Are you sure +it's not a larger species of fish?" + +"Yes, quite sure," I hastened to add. "I have no interwests in your +extensive cod fisherwies; nor in the oil which I am told is such good +business." + +"I did not mean codfish," she said. "I meant a much larger sort of +fish--a big fish closely related to the whale family!" Whilst as she +uttered the sentence her bright eyes looked laughingly at me with a keen +glance that seemed to wish it could penetrate my very soul. + +"Whales! Whales! I've never touched a whaling share in my life, and I'm +quite certain I don't mean to in these times," I muttered. + +Again the lady favoured silence, but her eyes never left my face a +second. She studied every line, every flicker of the eyelid or twitch of +the mouth, to try and read what thoughts were passing through my brain; +but fortunately for me an assumed innocent expression of countenance +successfully concealed the tumult within. + +I dared not attempt to change the conversation. I merely followed +whatever topic my enchanting _vis-à-vis_ chose to select. I answered her +questions quietly and without hesitation, but still she persisted. + +"I mean those large whales which have been so frequently seen along our +coast ever since the first week of August, 1914. Those great big whales +_with iron skins_." + +It was a sudden, bold, frontal attack, which, however, failed entirely. +In spite of her many self-satisfied smiles, gentle head-noddings and +knowing side-glances, it elicited nothing but a hearty peal of laughter. +This was repeated twice, and the diplomatic lady joined in to hide the +chagrin she undoubtedly felt. + +"My dear good lady, if you take me for a spy, you flatter me. You do +indeed. I'm neither clever enough nor bold enough, nor energetic enough, +ever to be selected for such a business. Even if I had the chance +offered me I should never know what I ought to do, or how I could or +ought to do it; and if I met a clever person--like yourself, for +instance--you would be able to twist me wound your little finger and I +could not help myself. Spy, indeed! You are funny! You know you are. +Yes, you know you weally are." And I continued to laugh softly, as +though the idea suggested was the most humorous thing I had ever heard, +although I admit I was perspiring all over. + +"Then what were you doing on board that trading boat in which we +crossed from ---- to ---- last Monday? And why were you disguised as a +common sailorman, all dirt and grease?" + +"Me?" + +"Yes, you. I recognised you the moment I saw you here to-day. So it is +useless to deny it. Besides, I wish to be your friend." And sinking her +voice to a whisper she added, "I can be of great assistance to you if I +like. I am related to several members of the Government. They will tell +me anything I want to wheedle out of them--anything it may interest you +to know. I love England; I hate the Germans and I adore the English. I +think you are very clever indeed, but you are not clever enough to +deceive me; so it's utterly useless trying to do so any longer. Am I not +right, sir?" Saying which she tapped me playfully on the arm, +accompanied by many languishing smiles. + +It was a mighty awkward moment, a very trying situation. My only hope +was boldness. + +At the first words of her last sentence I had raised my face to hers, +looking her full in the eyes until its conclusion, and assuming to the +best of my ability an amazed expression of absolute astonishment. Then, +after a long pause, suitable to the part I was enforced to play, I +blurted out: "My dear madam! What on earth are you driving at? Last +Monday I was in Copenhagen, miles away from here! Disguised as a common +sailor-man! All dirt and grease! What can you mean? Is it another joke, +like the whales _with iron skins, or the spy_? Or has someone been +telling you fairy tales?" + +In vain she continued to pound me with straight, searching, direct +questions. In vain she coaxed and cooed to me to confide in her and make +her a friend and an ally. In vain she cast amorous glances, full of deep +meaning, with those wondrous eyes of hers, which she knew so well how to +use; glances which were calculated to move a heart of stone, and, I +could not help thinking at the time, would have been sufficient to tempt +St. Anthony himself from his lonely cell. + +I, however, merely continued to stare at her with an insipid, +incredulous, vacant look, until at last she petulantly stamped her tiny +foot. Her patience was evidently quite exhausted. + +"You must be an imbecile, a bigger fool than I would have believed it +possible to find anywhere. My favours are not lightly distributed, nor +have they ever before been refused." + +As a woman scorned she hissed this sentence into my ear, and tossing her +pretty head like an alarmed deer in the wilds of a great forest she +trotted away and left me gazing silently after her. + +What would be her next step? I wondered. Did she really take me for a +blithering idiot, or did she entertain doubts on the matter? Would she +remain silent, or would she make further inquiry? To what lengths would +she be likely to go if she so decided? + +It sent a cold stream of collected perspiration trickling down my back +to think of what trouble that pretty creature could create if she really +did make up her mind to follow up my trail. + +It was terribly bad luck to happen just at that particular time, because +I had wanted so much to remain at least a week or ten days in that +particular locality; now I had to debate with myself whether I dare risk +a stay over, and what it might lead to if I so decided and acted on that +decision. + +Then I remembered my hands. Good heavens! If she had not got so angry, +if she had only kept cool, and had challenged me to remove my gloves. +What a give-away it would have been! Whew! + +I was finding the atmosphere much too warm for my liking. I began to +imagine that bright-eyed, vivacious, sweet-faced lady sitting in her +boudoir at home in a dainty kimono, with a winsome hand-maiden brushing +the silken tresses of her crowning glory; whilst she surveyed her +captivating features in the mirror and contracted her pretty forehead +into ugly wrinkles as she mentally reviewed the day's proceedings. + + * * * * * + +That night at an hotel in the town not so many kilomètres away from my +lady's chamber a very wide-awake Englishman lay stretched at full length +upon a very short bed. His legs protruded some two feet over the +backboard. He was partly undressed, and he sucked vigorously at a strong +black cigar. He also frowned in serious disapproval at the mental review +of the day's proceedings, at an irrepressible, annoying thought which +would repeat itself again and again, a conviction that if he did not +clear out of that immediate neighbourhood at once that "confounded +demnition woman" was certain to make trouble somewhere. Quit he must and +quit he would. + +That man was myself. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +WILD-FOWLING EXTRAORDINARY AND TRAWLING FOR SUBMARINES IN NEUTRAL WATERS + + GERMANY'S WESTERN COAST--SHOOTING WILD-FOWL AND BEING SHOT AT--AN + INTREPID SPORTSMAN--COLLAPSED ZEPPELIN--ESCAPING WAR + PRISONERS--CARELESS LANDSTURMERS--A SUPPOSED-TO-BE NORWEGIAN + SKIPPER--NATIVE CURIOSITY--DARE-DEVIL CHRISTIAN--A MYSTERIOUS + SHIP--GOOSE-STALKING OVER A LAND MINE--TOO NEAR DEATH TO BE + PLEASANT--THE NOCTURNAL SUBMARINE RAIDER--NIGHT TRAWLING FOR + STRANGE FISH--ENEMY'S SECRET RECONNOITRING EXPOSED AND THWARTED. + + +A few years previous to the declaration of war several Englishmen took +rather an unusual interest in the western coast of Germany, particularly +in the islands lying near to Heligoland. + +Some of these Englishmen were watched and arrested on the grounds of +espionage. Some were tried and imprisoned for varying terms of years in +German fortresses. Some were never caught, although they were closely +chased, and were very much wanted indeed. + +Maybe I was one of them. Maybe the Germans took little, if any, interest +whatever in so insignificant a mortal. But the fact remains that for +many years prior to 1914 I had annually visited the Danish and +Schleswig-Holstein coasts on wild-fowling expeditions and for wild-goose +shooting. + +To those who are ignorant of the nature of the western coast of Germany +and would learn concerning it, a perusal of that most interesting little +volume, "The Riddle of the Sands," is recommended. No cliffs are to be +found there, with the exception of some upon the islands of Heligoland +and the hillsides which adorn the northern side of the Elbe on the way +up to Hamburg. A low sandy shore running in places far out into the +North Sea stretches the entire length of coastline from Holland to +Denmark. The changes, additions, and developments along this forbidden +strip of land, which during past years has been so jealously guarded by +the Germans, have always been a source of deep interest to John Bull's +Watchdogs who have the welfare of the British Empire at heart. At no +time has this interest been deeper or more absorbing than since August +4th, 1914. + +I knew them well. One of my wild-fowling companions had been a +Frenchman, about my own age, who lived in Copenhagen. He spoke half a +dozen languages, and was a very keen sportsman, and wild geese were his +speciality. + +Cruising in the depths of winter along the vast extent of mud-flats, +oozes, shallows, and islands, which guard the west coast of +Schleswig-Holstein, is no child's play. It requires bold and hardy +navigators; men who are not frightened at the horrors of ice-floes, or +of breakers on the bar; who can stand a temperature below zero; who can +live on the coarsest of rations; and who can sleep anyhow and anywhere. + +The _Nordfriesische Inseln_ tract, lying south of the island of Fano, +the natural buffer to the Esbjerg fjord, was a favourite hunting-ground, +but it had its drawbacks. Many a fine shot into big flocks of geese and +ducks was, to the sportsman's annoyance, spoilt by the unwelcome +interference of German sentries or soldiers stationed at all kinds of +unexpected and outlandish points among the islands. Sometimes those +interlopers would put out in boats and give chase, but we knew within a +little where they were generally stationed and by taking advantage of +the ground managed to avoid being captured. More than once we had been +hailed and warned and ordered to keep within Danish waters or we would +be shot--which, however, was nothing out of the common. There are many +good fishermen residing at Nordby and Ribe (in Denmark) who have netted +flat fish in these waters for years; also intermittently throughout the +war, in spite of rifle bullets perpetually being fired at them. + +Soon after the date particularly referred to above, the Germans mined +the area fairly heavily and no channel was safe. But a local fisherman +located the mines and started marking their positions, much to the +annoyance of the Huns. One man in particular would insist on fishing +wherever the mines were thickest. His argument was that, although the +work was dangerous, the mines kept others away, to the protection of the +fish, therefore the fishing must be the better for it. The Germans +warned him often enough, whilst they shot at him so frequently that he +became heedless of their threats and he appeared to entirely disregard +their rifle fire. One day he was caught and taken before an officer, who +impressed upon him that if he came there any more they would use him as +a practice target for small cannon. Nevertheless he returned, and found +them as good as their word. Luckily he escaped being hit, but after the +experience he sold his boat, nets, and belongings, and emigrated to +America. + +I happened to arrive at Ribe just too late. I had travelled far to meet +this man, as I was anxious for a _little more wild-fowling_; and no one +knew the creeks, the channels, and the local geography of that shifting, +dangerous coast more thoroughly than this bold and careless fisherman. +He was, however, by no means the only pebble on the beach. I found +others. + +My arrival on the frontier between the two countries coincided with +certain marked events--the collapse of an airship at Sonderho, and the +escape of some Russian and English prisoners of war from the compound +outside Hamburg. The airship became a total wreck, and the prisoners of +war succeeded in reaching Danish territory. Thence they travelled to +Copenhagen, where they were well and humanely looked after. + +During the autumn of 1914, and the spring of 1915, the west coast of +Denmark and the extensive mileage of flats running south therefrom was +not the happy hunting-ground it had been in the past. There seemed to be +too many Landsturmer aimlessly wandering around carrying guns loaded +with ball ammunition, which they were nothing loth to use at any target +within sight that might appear above the horizon. Ducks and geese were +scarce and very, very wild. They seemed to object to rifle shots even +more than wild-fowlers. They were kept constantly on the move. It is +true there was a regular "flight" of Zeppelins and aircraft of various +shapes and make along the coast every twilight; yet these only appeared +in fine weather, when it is known to all wild-fowlers that flighting +birds fly too high to encourage heavy bags; whilst it must not be +forgotten that so far as the country of Denmark was concerned, these +foul (this pun is surely permissible) were not then lawfully in season. +Their close time, or period of protection, still remained covered. To +violate it would have created much too serious an offence to be treated +lightly. But to observe the movements and habits of _these unfeathered +birds_ with as much secrecy and security as possible was another matter. +In due course I moved camp to the Kleiner Belt and sought sport and +entertainment among the islands of the Southern Baltic, where, in the +air above and in the waters beneath, there was much activity. + +For sometimes a fisherman's hut sheltered a supposed-to-be Norwegian +skipper, whose ship held cargo of a contraband nature which was caught +by the war and thus temporarily detained. He was taking a little +shooting trip by way of diversion from the monotony of waiting an +opportunity to get away. That man was myself. It was a thin story, but +it lasted out with local natives for the necessary time required. In +harbours or bays near by were about a thousand vessels laid up in +consequence of the dangers of navigation; whilst round neighbouring +islands, on the Danish side, fleets of ships of varied nationality could +be seen at anchor in many sheltered nooks, all too frightened to venture +further on the high seas. + +The natives of Northern Europe are extraordinarily inquisitive, and +unless one is willing to divulge family secrets it is necessary to draw +vividly upon the imagination when interrogated as to antecedents, home, +and calling. It would have been dangerous in the instance in question +not to have humoured this characteristic peculiarity, or to have +declined to satisfy such searching curiosity. The only thing to do to +ensure some degree of safety was to blow "hot air" in volumes around; to +answer all questions; and, above all, to remember every detail of the +untruths thus unfolded. It is a true adage that "a good liar must +possess a good memory." + +This seemingly annoying inconvenience had, however, its redeeming +feature. The almost daily bombardment of leading questions opened up +excellent opportunities for return sallies of a reciprocating nature. It +was an easy step to lead from home and domestic particulars to the +all-absorbing topic of the hour--the mighty overshadowing cloud of +national troubles. I therefore encouraged rather than narrowed any +disposition to talk, whilst I was never backward in attending any +meetings of the natives in the confined and fuggy dwellings in which +they congregated and resided, despite the most objectionable atmosphere. + +A free hand with tobacco and a few drops (sweets) to the children added +to one's popularity; and "the captain," as I was familiarly called, soon +ingratiated himself far beyond all doubt or suspicion. This was as it +should be. + +Now the Kiel fjord was within an easy sail. Its entrance was an object +of interest; whilst the Kiela Bay was used as a patrolling or exercising +ground for various designs of aircraft and warships. Amongst the crowd +of men out of a job was one, a mate, whose life had been passed sailing +in foreign seas. He was a devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky individual, +ready to join any venture that came along. Of course he drank when he +was ashore; at sea he was a total abstainer--by compulsion. Whiskey was +his weakness, wild-fowling his hobby. + +He knew the haunts and habits of both short and long-winged fowl, which, +in his company, I often sought, and it is a wonder we came back alive. + +Every channel that was navigable round those northern islands seemed to +hold German or Danish mines. Every storm broke quantities of these mines +from their moorings; and every day floating mines could be seen, washed +up somewhere, or reported. Many vessels were lost by unfortunate +contact with them, and the sea was dotted with the mastheads of the +sunken craft. Christian--that was the venturesome mate's name--thought +little of this. One danger was quite equal to another with him. He +argued that if fate had ordained he should be blown up by a mine, +instead of being drowned, what did it matter? Call-day must come sooner +or later, and after all, perhaps a quick blow-up was preferable to the +prolonged suffocation of drowning. The former at least would not be a +cold or a lingering death, but all over in a second, with no trouble +about funerals and that kind of thing. The latter caused a shudder to +think about. + +At first one was inclined to believe Christian was boastful in his talk, +but the following venturesome exploits prove that such was not the case. + +Indented into a certain island in the Southern Baltic is a certain bay, +which has always been a favourite haunt of wild geese. They visit it in +thousands during the spring and autumn migrations, whilst a sprinkling +of them seems to be ever present. A low promontory of sand and +sand-dunes circles part of this bay, which is so washed by the sea that +it is difficult to tell where the low-water mark really begins. From one +point of the promontory a long spit of sand and mud projects far out +into the sea. It is a peculiar formation and is much sought by waterfowl +for resting and toilet purposes. During the opening months of 1915 geese +made a habit of congregating here in unusual numbers. + +Out at sea, in the fairway, was moored an ugly, evil-looking craft, with +huge uprising bows. She was fitted with wireless, and although she had +been anchored there since the outbreak of war, a head of steam was +always kept up. Her official name and number was G. No. 53. She was +supposed and alleged to be lying outside the Danish seaboard limit. +That, however, to the casual observer looked to be open to grave doubt. +She flew no flag and showed no outward sign of life on board, but she +was known to be a German vessel, well crewed, victualled and provided. +Those on board could command the sand-spit before mentioned with their +binoculars, as well as with other human inventions. Apparently they did +not neglect to make full use of what they had to hand. + +On two occasions, within a period of ten days, a couple of ardent +wild-fowlers might have been observed (history seems to point to the +fact that they were observed) at early dawn, crawling along the said +sand-spit, close to the water's edge, on its lee-side. Very slowly +indeed they worked their way along until they were within range of a +small gaggle of geese which habitually rested there. On each occasion a +successful shot had been recorded. Fable tells us that the pitcher can +go too often to the well. These intrepid sportsmen attempted to repeat +their previous successes. + +It was in the gloaming of eventide. About a dozen or fifteen black +(brent) geese were preening their feathers at the end of the sand-spit, +apparently well satisfied with their lot and the world in general. Just +under the uneven line of washed-up seaweed and other refuse two dark +forms crawled along. They seemed to be hours covering the space +intervening between themselves and the birds--their evident quarry. +Between decks on the gloomy vessel this minor tragedy in life and death +was probably an object of equal interest. The crew could watch and +observe without themselves being seen. They could gloat over the +spilling of blood, and the death-dealing power of well-placed +explosives, without the outside world ever knowing that they had any +knowledge of such events happening. How keenly they must have +anticipated. + +As the sun sank deeper and deeper in the west, and the shades of night +crept up from the east, the two wild-fowl hunters drew nearer and nearer +to their objective. At least they began to think it time to prepare for +a serenade. They were in the act of unlocking their guns when suddenly +the ground immediately in front of them rose, like an active volcano, +into the air and a mighty explosion shook the earth. What a shock! It +raised their caps and, as Christian remarked, so singed the hair on his +head and face that he would not be likely to want the attentions of a +barber for a fortnight. His companion was glad enough to escape whole +in body and limb, whilst he cursed the cowardly Huns under his breath +for their death-dealing intentions. Christian seemed to emulate the +immortal Mark Tapley. He was infernally happy and grateful to somebody +to think they had helped him kill geese, which he would probably never +have bagged without such assistance; and he joyfully rushed forward to +pick up the dead and wounded before they could recover from the +concussion consequent upon the shock of the explosion. + +Natives who heard the report put it down to a floating mine which had +been washed up on the beach and exploded when brought into contact with +the shore. Had one of them visited the place where the upheaval occurred +he could have seen at a glance that the depth of water was such that a +mine could not have floated within half a mile. + +How disappointed must have been the crew of G. No. 53. + +Christian was a born sportsman. He was one of those who would have +willingly exchanged a year's earnings for a red-letter day at sport. If +the sport was such that danger was coupled with it, the greater the +danger, the greater the excitement, and the greater his consequent +enjoyment. For one reason only he was constantly lamenting that his +country had not been brought into the struggle, so that he could have +seized the opportunity to join actively in the fray. At heart, of +course, he did not really desire that his country or his countrymen +should have inflicted upon them all the horrors of war; but when a scrap +was in progress he longed with his whole soul to be in the thick of it. + +Now it so happened that certain people had declared that the Germans +were violating the neutrality of Denmark, or at least jeopardising her +position and welfare, by certain nocturnal submarine visitations in +certain waters--not so very far from the Great Belt. German officialdom +replied that these complaints and protests were mythical and without +foundation. Christian thought otherwise. + +It was a strange coincidence that at this particular time Christian +should take a violent fancy for trawling. It was perhaps strange that +his particular friend should argue that the best and heaviest fish +always frequented the deepest channels which ran between the islands. +Christian agreed, and supported the contention by quoting his +experiences of fishing in far-off foreign seas. + +He was not interrogated as to where, and when, and how, and for how long +he had abandoned the forecastle for the trawl-net; nor did he give much +opening for any such questions. He knew. Others might think they knew, +but he knew he was right; that, according to him, was incontrovertible. + +Christian's enthusiasm carried all and everything with it. A small +vessel suitable for trawling purposes was secured and fitted out with +the necessary gear and equipment. A chosen crew was selected. Fish were +very scarce and consequently were very dear; the fortunes of all were to +be made in a miraculously short space of time. The skipper was a +heavy-bearded individual who knew his job, but nothing beyond it. He was +easily persuaded, whilst his crew followed the lead blindly, thinking +only of easily-earned shekels to come. In due course the party put to +sea, with Christian & Co. acting in the capacity of spare hands. + +For several nights results were precarious. The mighty draughts of +promised fishes did not come along, and Christian had to use all his +persuasive powers, backed up with innumerable excuses and explanations, +to prove why it was his theories had not produced practical solid +results. + +The spirits of the once optimistic crew had sunk to zero, but they were +over-persuaded to venture forth yet again. It was a dark night, but the +moon was due to rise at 11.30. The sails of the little vessel had been +trimmed, and the trawl dropped in a well-known channel, picked off from +the chart by the ever enthusiastic Christian. For a few hours nothing +out of the common occurred. Towards midnight the wind freshened slightly +and the moon, peeping out from occasional obscuring clouds, cast pale, +fitful lights over the cold, dark waters. + +Presently the watch on deck became alarmed. An extraordinary phenomenon +appeared to take place. The fishing-boat gradually began to go +backwards--actually into the eye of the wind, although her sails were +properly set and full. The watchman rubbed his eyes and pinched himself +to see whether he was properly awake, or dreaming. He looked at the +trawl warp to see whether it was slackening, as he reasoned that if some +current sufficiently strong to counteract the force of the wind was +flowing there, however unusual or from whatsoever unknown but possible +cause it might have originated, then surely the trawl warp would show +it. + +No. The trawl warp was tight. It was strained to its utmost. He looked +at the far-off land and took bearings. He was not mistaken. _The boat +was going backwards._ Her speed was easily perceptible. + +He rushed to the hatchway and yelled at the top of his voice to the +sleeping crew to come on deck; to which alarming summons it responded +quickly enough. + +Wildly gesticulating and with much waving of arms the thoroughly +frightened and superstitious fisherman explained matters as best he +could. Others sprang to various positions in the boat to investigate for +themselves. The story was indeed too true, and consternation at the +unknown plainly showed itself on the countenances of all--except perhaps +the imperturbable Christian and the other spare hand. Whilst the crew +was debating with its skipper what was best to be done under the +circumstances, another phase of the phenomenon developed. A huge, +unwieldy shape gradually rose from the sea abaft the taffrail. It had a +smooth, polished skin, which shone and glistened in the moonlight like +the back of a whale. But on looking farther along to gauge as accurately +as could be the whole length of this mysterious leviathan of the deep, a +break in the smoothness of its form was apparent, together with an +excrescence which the skipper of the trawler was not long in recognising +as the conning tower of a submarine. + +Ye gods above! How frightened they all were. How the skipper swore, and +raved, and shrieked for a hatchet to cut away. How he sawed at the trawl +rope with his belt knife before it arrived, and how he hacked the warp +in two when he did get it. What a commotion there was to pack on sail in +order to get clear before the Germans could get out of their steel shell +and make things unpleasant for them. How everyone flew about and gave +orders to everyone else. Yes! All seemed to lose their heads entirely, +except the two spare hands whose whole attention seemed attracted aft. +They gazed, with looks which might have been mistaken for gleams of +triumph, at that huge, ugly monster, now bumping the stern of the little +fishing-boat. They noted every detail open to visional observation, +while their unusual coolness was not noticed in the general alarm of the +crew, who thought only of their individual escape and safety. + +A close, impartial observer might almost have been led to the belief +that the expression on the countenance of Christian betrayed the +realisation of an all-too-long delayed event which had at last +crystallised and fully justified his anticipations. + +In due course it was reported that the propellers of a believed-to-be +German submarine, which, it could be said, had got out of her course in +the dark, had fouled the fishing-nets belonging to some unknown boat. +The local press was furious. Officialdom was stirred from its lethargy, +much red tape and sealing-wax were expended, many politely worded notes +passed between two Governments, and the event was soon forgotten by the +Powers-that-be. But the fishermen concerned remembered all too vividly +every detail and the horrible scare they had had, whilst they loudly +lamented their lost gear. However, a Danish gunboat appeared a little +more frequently round that particular part of the coast; mines, and yet +more mines, were laid out; whilst the waters in question, which had so +many times rippled round the boat of mystery, knew the activities of the +conscienceless Hun no more. Meanwhile the Golden Argosy of unlimited +profits from deep-channel trawling by night, as exploited by Messrs. +Christian & Co., proved a ghastly financial failure. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE MYSTERIOUS HARBOUR + + FRONTIER PROWLING--STARTLING RUMOURS--TERRIBLE WEATHER--EVADING + SENTRIES--MAPPING THE WORKS--REFUGE WITH SMUGGLER--CONFIDENCES ON + SUPER-SUBMARINES AND ZEPPELINS--A COUNTRY INN--PREPARING + DESPATCHES--FORCIBLE INTRUSION--ARRESTED FOR A GERMAN SPY--SEARCH + AND INTERROGATION--SUMMARY TRIAL--TRICKING THE SEARCHERS--COMMITTED + FOR TRIAL--ESCAPE. + + +Whilst prowling along the northern frontier of Germany in the early +spring of 1915, with a companion whom I would have trusted with my life, +we quite unwittingly got caught in a manner least expected. + +I had been over the frontier more than once, but never far into the +interior. I had neither occasion nor object in so doing. I was at the +time on the lookout for some Danish workmen who I knew had been employed +on some of the important and secret war material of Germany. If I could +meet them on German soil, so much the better; they would then be much +more likely to open out and talk more freely than they would do if met +elsewhere. I had had experience of this and was at the time most anxious +to get corroborative evidence of some rather startling rumours which I +had recently heard regarding the (later on called) Paris Big Gun. + +Whilst so prowling, as before mentioned, we heard speak of a certain +harbour. The mysterious harbour, it was called, which no one might +visit, which was jealously guarded, and which the Germans had every +intention of occupying at an early date. Wild, speculative talk, +perhaps, but it was enough to determine me to go and see for myself and +so learn the truth and judge the possibilities from the facts gathered. + +Not so many miles from the Island of Femern, where the German warship +_Gazelle_ was torpedoed by an English submarine in the spring of 1915, +although the fact was never communicated to the English Press, it was +said to be situated. A small, exceedingly convenient harbour, with at +least eighteen feet depth of water at all tides, and it was said to be +capable of great developments. + +Its existence was not chronicled in ordinary guide-books nor on the maps +in general circulation. Visitors were not welcomed and the local +inhabitants were fearful lest their neighbourhood should be seized and +overrun by undesirable foreigners. + +During the period with which we are concerned frost at night was +intense. All open marshland was frozen as solidly as if encased in iron, +whilst the ice-bound ditches, canals, and drains were levelled to the +headland with drifted snow. Storms, of varying magnitude, were of daily +occurrence. Cruel winds swept the bleak area visited, cutting through +the thickest of garments till the marrow in one's very bones seemed +congealed. No one at the time, acting from his own free will, would have +appreciated either a business or a pleasure trip to the harbour in +question. Yet early one eventful morning, when the weather was at its +worst and everyone else had sought shelter, we braved the elements and +attempted to lay a course through the maze of marshland roads, dams and +banks, which would not have been an easy task to many of the natives. +Our struggle to win through these and other unseen difficulties seemed +hopeless. But our minds were made up. We were both determined, +obstinate, persistent. Many times we were blown flat by the violence of +the storm. Many times we fell, sunk to our necks, in a snowdrift. Many +times we lost our way and had to retrace our steps or correct our +course. But all the while we proceeded forward, with lips compressed and +faces set in grim determination, to accomplish the task we had in hand; +to view, to inspect, and to survey roughly the harbour and its works. + +Not a soul was observable upon all that vast flat area stretching away +uninterruptedly to the horizon as far as the eye could command on either +hand. The distant, dull, booming, angry roar of the sea upon the +breakwaters and the shrieking wind made conversation impossible. No +cover was available until the great embankment was attained. It guarded +some tens of thousands of acres of reclaimed land. What a relief it was +to us poor wayfarers to reach this comparative haven of peace, an oasis +in the desert of howling storm! We had traversed many, many weary miles +of most awful walking, under most exhausting circumstances, and a long +rest was indeed welcome. Having reached the embankment unobserved, the +remainder of the venture was, comparatively speaking, an easy matter. + +With such a gale in progress no vessel was likely to brave the mines +laid out under the Admiralty administration of several nations and to +attempt a passage from the sea. On the land side, the temporary railway +and all roads concentrated upon a point where a cluster of new houses +had sprung up, which at the moment in question were full of +individuals--refugees from the storm and others. The windows of these +houses commanded every road within miles. Was it likely, the sentries +undoubtedly argued within themselves, or to be suspected for a moment, +that anyone in sane senses would attempt to avoid these solid paths and +risk an approach to the harbour through the swamps (although they were +frozen) and by way of the embankments thus reached, to the east and +west? If there were such rash and foolish people about then they ran a +good chance of being lost and frozen to death. + +So it was that even the sentries were under cover, making life as +pleasant as could be, drinking coffee heavily strengthened with brandy, +and playing cards for small stakes. + +Having rested and eaten and drunk from a thermos flask, we proceeded +along the sea side of the embankment with as much caution as though +travelling in an enemy's country. Somewhat to our surprise we +encountered not a living being, not even a stray dog to exercise his +lungs at strangers. On arrival at the harbour, which was concealed from +view of the houses by the height of the embankment before mentioned, we +quickly and dexterously got to work, free from observation or +interruption. My companion kept watch on the main entrances whilst I +overran the works, mapped and thoroughly investigated them, sounded and +checked water depths, accommodation calculated, and the quay head-room, +and roughly surveyed and noted to the minutest detail all the +surroundings, in a very short space of time. + +As soon as this work was accomplished we left the danger zone. It was +unwise to linger a moment longer than was necessary in such a situation. +Retracing our steps until we were quite convinced there was no chance of +trouble from possible prying followers, we paused on the outskirts of a +small wood. It was the first rest since our objective had been left, it +was the first opportunity we had had to exchange a sentence. + +"Why not look in and see old Pedersen, the smuggler? He may know +something." + +"Good; let us go then." This was all I had to say. + +In a lonely hut, in still more lonely and uninviting surroundings, +resided the interesting individual sought. He was a friend of long +standing with my companion, whom he received with every outward sign of +cordiality and pleasure. But how deceptive can be the ways of men time +will show. Coffee was at once put on the hob to boil, and a liberal +supply of potato-brandy and eatables forthcoming. The glow of the fire +and warm food after long exposure caused my blood to tingle in my veins, +down to toe- and finger-tips. The sensation was glorious, and a quiet +smoke crowned the extreme bliss of the moment. + +In due course ordinary generalities of conversation broadened further +afield. The grey-haired, bright-eyed old deluder of Revenue officers +dilated upon the war pickings and opportunities which seemed to be +bringing him a rich harvest. It appeared he had many relations living +and working in Germany. They helped him not a little. Custom officials +on that side also knew him well. They winked at most things now which +before the war would have been suppressed with an iron hand. His goings +and comings were of more frequent occurrence. His business proceeded +almost openly, and he was accumulating money as he had never done in +his life before. + +No, he did not fear the mines. It was true there were plenty of them. +Danish, German, Russian, and English. He knew exactly where each group +was laid; thus he avoided them. + +Yes, he believed the English had laid out some mines. He could not say +for certain, but he had seen English submarines in the Femern Belt. He +had spoken them and he knew English when he heard it. Of course they +must have laid out some mines. + +Everyone knew of the existence and whereabouts of the Danish and of the +German mines. Fishermen who were daily at sea, fishing or cruising +around after one thing and another, had seen and heard quite enough +about them; but the Russian mines were another proposition. He believed +most of the Russian mines were floating ones, either from design or +accident. Anyway, there were plenty of them about. The more the merrier +so far as he was concerned. They kept a lot of people away and they did +not frighten him. It was all good for business. + +For some time the old man ran on with the utmost freedom of speech, +which tended to disarm any suspicions we might have entertained against +him. We, however, gave no hint of our doings. We preferred to pose as +good listeners. + +When he turned his conversation to the building of new submarines and +airships, and events and happenings in the interior of Germany, I drew +into deeper reticence and avoided asking questions which might have +raised possible suspicions of the deep absorbing interest such knowledge +carried. The veteran smuggler apparently had two brothers working on war +machines in German territory, and they had told him---- + +Here he broke off in the middle of a sentence to ask his long-lost +friend who I was, where I came from, and all about me. + +It appeared that overcome by the strong wind, coupled with perhaps the +stronger alcoholic libations, I had fallen asleep. + +"Oh, you need not trouble about him. He's a Norwegian ship's captain, +whose ship is stranded up at Marstal. He is visiting a few friends +hereabouts and doing a little duck-shooting with me. He's a real good +sort and quite all right." "Of course," replied the smuggler, "I knew if +he was with you he must be all right. But in these times you never know, +so you'll have to excuse my asking"; and he continued to describe all he +had heard and knew concerning the building of the new improved German +submarines, which were claimed to be able to run at great speed on the +surface and to traverse a distance of some thousands of miles +independent of base reliance for resupplies. + +When the subject had been exhausted he switched off to the 1915 +Zeppelins, upon which another brother had been for some time employed. +These engines of destruction, he stated, would be a wonderful +improvement on all former known airships of their kind. They would be +very much larger; have their cars covered in; there would be more of +them; their speed would be materially increased and their capacity for +weight-carrying considerably augmented. There were many other minor yet +important details which the old man, in his enthusiasm, enlarged upon in +garrulous volubility. + +At last there seemed nothing more to tell and a renewal of the journey +was suggested, but so soundly did the pseudo Norwegian captain sleep +that it took the combined efforts of both of them, with much prodding +and shaking, before he could be aroused from his lethargy. When +apparently I was only half awake we left the hut, cursing the +belligerents generally for upsetting everybody's livelihood, instead of +thanking our late host for the friendly shelter and hospitality; nor did +I offer any apology for having slept throughout his most interesting +discourse upon these unknown things. + +The old smuggler audibly expressed an unsought opinion that the liquor +had got the better of my senses. I was gratified by that. + +Later in the afternoon we found ourselves in the neighbourhood of a +small township. We made our way to an inn in the main street, where we +ordered something substantial to eat. + +To specially prepare a meal anywhere on the Continent takes time. At a +remote country inn where nothing is kept in readiness it takes much more +time than elsewhere. An hour is the minimum. I sought my bedroom with an +excuse for forty winks, giving orders to be awakened as soon as the soup +was on the table. + +Every hostelry bedroom in the north of Europe is provided with a table, +pens, ink and writing materials. A few minutes after the door had been +locked I might have been seen seated at table preparing a despatch and +puzzling deeply over certain sprawled hieroglyphics which had apparently +been made on rough paper, _possibly inside my pocket with a pencil stump +when perhaps reclining in an awkward position and unable or unwilling to +see to guide the fingers which gripped the active stump of lead_. Be +that as it may, the writing was awfully bad and very difficult indeed to +make out. I studied it with the greatest of care all ways, upside down, +and at every angle; whilst the smiles on my face may have portrayed +evident satisfaction at the result. + +Suddenly a heavy tread caused the solid stairs to creak, and loud +knocking, equivalent to peremptory demands, upon the door of my room +caused me to jump in my chair as though a guilty conscience plagued my +peace of mind. Quick as lightning I removed and concealed certain +precious belongings, doubled up the sheet of paper upon which I was +working, and started to scribble silly messages upon some picture +postcards I had purchased at the village store to people of no +importance who lived at no great distance away. + +Again the knocking was repeated, this time louder and more emphatic than +before. "All right, my friend, no hurry. Take all things quietly and all +things will be well." But the impatient visitor would not and did not +wait. He placed so much force behind the lock that it yielded, and he +nearly fell on to his nose as the door gave way. + +Recovering himself he came quickly forward, and I rose to meet him half +way. + +"You know who we are?" he said to me. + +"My dear sir, I exceedingly regret to say that I have not that +pleasure," I replied. + +"We are police officers." As he spoke, another burly individual appeared +in the opening of the doorway, who, without sign of interest in the +preliminary conversation, proceeded to prop up the broken door to some +semblance of its former state. "You have just landed from Femern and we +arrest you as a German spy." + +At these words my eyes glittered, I clenched my hands in a way which did +not augur well for the visitors. + +"My good sir," I muttered through compressed lips, "you may do what you +please, and you may assign me to any nationality in the wide, wide +world, except that one. I am not in any way related to the barbarians, +nor will I permit you to take me for one. If you repeat such an +insulting accusation again I shall throw you out." + +"You forget, sir, you are under arrest," he snapped. + +"I do not forget that, if I am anything at all, I am an Englishman, and +that I am in a private apartment. If the door is guarded, the window is +not; you will observe that it is an unpleasant height from the ground to +fall." + +"Anyway, you pass yourself off as a Norwegian, now you say you are +English, but we know you are German. Search his belongings, sergeant, +and search thoroughly." Saying which the senior officer coolly proceeded +to take up and to read the postcards on the table. + +It was not a pleasant position to be in, and well I knew it. The new law +was very elastic. It made it an offence to use the telegraph, the +telephone or the postal facilities, or to enlist directly or indirectly +any assistance from any native for the purpose of conveying any +information which could be considered likely to be of use to any +belligerent power; whilst the only literature which had recently found +favour in the eyes of the reading public seemed to relate to spies and +espionage, whether in fact or in fiction. Hence every local junior or +senior police or other officer seemed to imagine himself a born Sherlock +Holmes. In vain I indignantly protested against the intrusion. It +merely seemed to whet their appetite for investigation. Every belonging +I had with me was turned inside out, even to the lining of my raiment. +Hats and boots were separately and collectively opened up, whilst the +marks on my linen, off and on, were compared and commented upon. + +"Perhaps a cigar would cool you down a bit?" I remarked somewhat +sarcastically, but the suggestion was refused with an indignant snort. + +"Well, I presume there is no objection to my smoking, even if _you_ +don't care about it," I added, as I bit the end off a big black cigar +and hunted round for matches. Blindly ignoring a box on the table, I +eventually extracted some from the pocket of my greatcoat, which was +hanging on a peg. In doing so I pulled out a glove which fell to the +floor. + +Of course my every action was watched. But I did not appear to notice +this until I had twice paced the floor smoking. Then, seeing the glove +lying there, I picked it up and sarcastically offered it for +examination, after which I placed it in my side pocket. Quite a natural +thing to do. + +Meanwhile, it should have been recorded that I had purposely left the +folded piece of paper containing the partly-written message lying on the +table and in sight during the whole interview. When the officer had +advanced to read the postcards I had taken care to be there first. I had +carelessly picked up the aforesaid paper and played with it; twisting it +round my fingers as though it were a piece of string. When the officer +was out of reach of the table I threw it down again. If he came closer I +annexed it and played with it as before. + +After the glove incident, the officer, evidently in command, made a dash +to secure it. I reached and picked it up just a second before him and +proceeded to twist it with even greater vehemence than before round my +fingers, as though my nerves were somewhat strained. + +The officer held out his hand for it. Instead of giving it to him direct +I first passed the paper from one hand to the other. A very simple thing +indeed in itself to the uninitiated, but that little act covered an +operation which if bungled might have provided me with solitary +confinement for a period of many years. As the officer unrolled the +twisted paper I had handed over it proved to be utterly devoid of +interest or utility; it was, in fact, a piece of blank paper, in size +about the thickness of a man's thumb. By way of explanation to the +reader I must add that in years gone by I had been an adept in the art +of legerdemain, thus it was easy for me to deceive him and also to +dexterously convey the original document into the thumb of the glove +which lay conveniently for such purpose in my right-hand coat pocket. + +After an hour and a half of search and interrogation the two officers +engaged in whispered conversation and the venue was changed. + +In due course I was arraigned before the head magistrate of the +district, a stern but just man who appeared to carry much weight and +influence in local affairs. He was the equivalent to our lord lieutenant +of a county in England, and probably to a State governor in the U.S.A. + +His first step embraced a bodily search to the skin in which I, the +prisoner, helped by turning out my pockets and opening up my clothes, +and giving all seemingly possible assistance. + +After three and a half hours' interrogation I was dismissed, but +informed I must not leave the inn without a permit. Meanwhile my +travelling companion was also thoroughly overhauled and examined apart +from me and _in camera_. + +Whilst this second act of the drama was in progress I was chuckling in +my room. With most satisfactory smiles I extracted my various treasures. +From the roll of my collar I drew forth a document of value. It looked +uncommonly like a rough sketch plan, as indeed it was--quite a good map +of the mysterious harbour which had so suddenly sprung into existence. +My handkerchief was not without a crumpled paper within its folds; +whilst my glove was sought and relieved of its twisted draft despatch. +But what amused me most of all was a book entitled _King Alcohol_, a +discourse on the curse of drink. I had called special attention to this +book, a Danish edition of Jack London, and it had been indignantly cast +upon the table both by the magistrate and the officers.[9] It had lain +there with my glove, pocket-handkerchief, pipe and tobacco-pouch as +uninteresting and neglected throughout the proceedings. This book was +bound in a paper cover, but even an ordinary paper cover can hide more +than some people would give credence to. In this it concealed +blocked-out silhouettes on very thin paper of every fighting vessel in +the German Navy. I had been using them--oh, so recently! + +Laughing softly to myself, I reflected on the deception; the very +openness of which was its greatest safety. The repacking of my disturbed +belongings was necessary, and then I wondered how my companion was +faring at the hands of the authorities, whose exasperation and +disappointment at not finding any of the evidence they had expected with +such seeming certainty upon me was badly concealed. + +One reflection led to another. How, when, and where had the local police +or the military been led to suspect us, to hit our trail? Who had given +information and what did they really know? The more I turned the matter +over in my mind the more puzzled I became. Could the old smuggler have +communicated possible suspicions? Could we have been seen at work on the +harbour? Was my companion everything I believed him to be? It was one of +those riddles which Secret Service agents are constantly being called +upon to face, but if they seriously trouble themselves trying to solve +them they are apt to fall early victims of brain fever. + +The examinations had been severe as to past movements, intentions, +motives, and present occupation or pastime. The mention of wild-fowling +had been received with ridicule until an argument convinced the +magistrate that I knew far more about that sport than he did; whilst +addresses of certain local fowlers, which had been given him with +seeming reluctance, were at once tested by telephone with results not +unfavourable to his temporary prisoners. + +Our interrogators either knew, or had assumed a knowledge, that the +harbour had been visited; whilst they had searched diligently and +persistently for any trace of a plan or particulars relating to it. + +When the magistrate returned from his second search he announced his +final decision to send us both as prisoners under an escort to +Copenhagen to be tried by the higher tribunal which handled these +affairs. This sentence would have been acted upon forthwith had I not +questioned the authority and the wisdom of carrying any further so +delicate a matter as interference with our personal liberty when there +was no evidence whatever for him to go upon. My criticisms were +pleasantly and playfully worded, but they were also concise and crushing +in their logic; besides which they carried throughout a quiet +threatening undertone that portended possible international trouble, +with severe punishment upon unauthorised officials who tampered +unlawfully with the freedom of a loyal subject of His Gracious Majesty, +King George the Fifth of England. + +Thus it came about that the informal court adjourned until the morrow, +and our long-deferred meal was the more appreciated. + +Discussing an after-dinner smoke, my companion unanimously agreed with +me that wild-fowling in that particular neighbourhood hardly augured +well, nor did it hold out promise or comfortable prospects; that +although the suspicions which had been aroused had been checkmated for +the moment, there seemed every probability that further trouble was +likely to develop. Perhaps it would be better far to solve the +difficulty and ease the minds of all parties concerned if a rapid, +mysterious departure, which left no traceable trail behind, was taken. + + * * * * * + +Later in the day, as the twilight darkened into night, two shadows might +have been seen for a moment as they angled the corner of the inn in +that southernmost Danish township and disappeared in the surrounding +gloom; travellers once more amidst the flotsam and jetsam of life's +highway; travelling they knew not whither, with but one mind and one +paradoxical thought--to seek for, and at the same time to avoid, the +unknown. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[9] The Danes being a race of notoriously hard drinkers resent any +literature savouring of Prohibition. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MAD GAMBLING AND A BIG BRIBE + + KALEIDOSCOPIC CHANGES IN SECRET SERVICE AGENT'S LIFE--CALLED TO + NORWEGIAN CAPITAL FOR ORDERS--ENFORCED IDLENESS--A WAR + GAMBLER--HUGE CREDITS--TWISTING THE TAIL OF THE BRITISH + LION--AVERTING POSSIBLE WAR--FRENZIED FINANCE--A COLOSSAL + BRIBE--TOPHEAVY ARGUMENT--NEWSPAPER INFLUENCE--A GOOD BARGAIN FOR + ENGLAND--MILLIONAIRE IN THREE DAYS. + + +The life of a Foreign Secret Service agent in wartime is one of +kaleidoscopic changes. He never knows where he is likely to be from one +day to another, nor the class of company it may be his lot in life to +associate with. + +One day it may elevate him to be a guest of Royalty, the next may find +him in company with the very scum of the earth. _Pro Bono Patriæ_ is his +motto. His life and everything he possesses on earth is thrown for the +time being into the melting-pot. His sole aim, object, and ambition is +to make good. To shoulder successfully and carry through his little bit +whereby something may be accomplished, something done, for the +furtherance of his country's cause. + +All through that hard-fought fight the British played the game. They +conducted themselves as gentlemen and they never forgot that they were +sportsmen as well. We in the Secret Service prided ourselves that we +never knowingly abused the hospitality of the neutral nations whose land +we were compelled _nolens volens_ to operate in, we never interfered in +any way with their politics or their national affairs. Our work lay with +the Hun, the enemy; we strictly confined our attentions to him, and to +him alone. + +Yet we were constantly being tempted to be drawn into side issues which +it was at times really difficult to avoid. + +In the early spring of 1915, whilst I was cruising in the Baltic, +amidst ice-floes and storms frequent enough to chill the ardour of any +patriot, I received an innocent and simple-worded note, the +interpretation of which meant I must hasten to Christiania for orders. + +On my arrival there I met my old friend N. P., who had been similarly +recalled from Sweden, with others who have not figured in these pages. +Days passed in listless idleness. No orders arrived. There seemed to be +nothing doing. But it was heart-breaking to see the constant stream of +the necessities of life--cotton, copper, foodstuffs and metals--going to +Germany, which the feeble remonstrances of our Ministers, both at home +and abroad, seemed utterly powerless to stop or to diminish. + +For some weeks all members of the Foreign Secret Service operating round +the Baltic were kept at the Norwegian capital in daily anticipation of +something important turning up. The expected, however, never happened, +yet we were still kept there, in spite of repeated remonstrances and +urgent appeals to be released in order that we might attend to our +respective interests in other spheres. + +One evening I had been dining with a friend at the Grand Hotel. Whilst I +was in the vestibule about 2 a.m., putting on my snow-boots preparatory +to the short walk home, a middle-aged man, with hands clenched, face as +pale and clammy as a corpse, and teeth set hard, rushed up to me in such +an alarming manner that I fondled the butt of a revolver lying in the +outside pocket of my overcoat by way of precaution against possible +contingencies. + +"My God, sir, you are the one man I've been praying to find! I believe I +should have committed suicide to-night or by to-morrow morning had it +not have been for this chance meeting. I must see you, now, this moment. +You must save me. I have millions, yet I am a ruined man. I dare not +face it a second time. You must either come to my room, or I must visit +yours. I have not slept for nights. It will take hours to explain +matters. You must save me. Save me! Yes, only promise me you will save +me!" + +Thinking I had a madman to deal with, I humoured him. I promised any +reasonable assistance that lay in my power, and fixed an appointment for +the afternoon of the following day. + +The twelve hours intervening made little improvement upon the nerves or +excitement of the stranger. It was some time after my arrival before he +could articulate a connected story; whilst it took considerable +interlocution and some cross-examination before I could draw forth the +main facts of his case. + +Shortly, it was as follows: + +He was a merchant from the West Coast. He had gambled in fish oil some +years previously and lost his all. Financial difficulties had since +embarrassed him. When the country was thrown into panic by the +declaration of war he had seen his opportunity and plunged once again +into an enormous speculation. By promising large sums of money for +direct financial assistance, and by offering brokerage remuneration far +in excess of what was either necessary or reasonable, he had become +enabled to buy on credit practically every barrel of fish oil held in +the country. It was a special kind of oil which could not be replaced +until next season's harvest was gathered in. He was therefore in a +position to control the market and to regulate prices, provided he could +only finance the deal uninterruptedly and his movements were not +hampered by new laws--particularly prohibition of export. + +Terribly anxious on both these points, he had approached the British +Minister and pressed upon him the acceptance of his whole purchase at a +price more than double its initial cost. In addition he had hinted +rather too strongly that Germany was a certain buyer should the English +Government not care to accept his preferential offer. + +It amounted in fact to a threat: "If you don't buy this oil at once, the +whole lot goes off to your enemies." + +The Minister had promised his answer in five days. But when the +merchant's financier heard what he had done, that gentleman was so irate +he had threatened to cancel his credit, because, as he argued, he had +tried to threaten England; which meant that the oil in question would +promptly be made contraband, whilst the English Government would call +upon the Norwegian Government to cause its export to be prohibited. +There was admittedly no sale for such large quantities as he had bought +in the home markets, hence he became quite convinced that he was a +ruined man, although, according to market prices, he was a millionaire. + +When recounting his folly in thus putting his head into the lion's +mouth, to which he metaphorically likened his visit to the Ministry, the +poor unnerved merchant worked himself up into a tremendous pitch of +excitement. He perspired so freely that all the starch was exuded from +his linen. He drank bottle after bottle of lager beer in a vain +endeavour to keep his lips moist, whilst his eyes at times assumed an +unnatural appearance, rolling round in their sockets in a manner +alarming to behold. + +I knew simply nothing of the subject put so vehemently before me, but +the idea of any goods of any value being permitted to go into Germany +was so distasteful to me that I listened with the greatest patience and +until my visitor could say no more. Then I inquired where and how I +could be expected to be of assistance. + +"Why, you're a newspaper man. You represent the best and most +influential periodical in London, the greatest city of the world. I know +what tremendous power and influence the English papers hold. Your +Minister would certainly listen to what you said, if you would only +interview him on my behalf; if you would only intercede against any +prohibition being put on my oil." + +"Why should I interfere?" I said. "As an Englishman, I certainly object +to your selling any goods to Germany. If I thought you intended sending +a single barrel there I should do all I could to get the prohibition put +on it, not to help you to keep it off." + +"But that would bring Norway into the war." + +"I don't agree," I snapped. + +"Yes, it would. A prohibition on oil or fish would mean the throwing out +of employment of many thousands upon thousands of Norwegian fishermen +and workmen. They would revolt and march on the Storthings-Bygning" +(House of Parliament) "and compel its members to take the prohibition +off in spite of the British Government. Your Minister might say that +England had been slighted, which would lead to war. One of our own +Ministers himself told me this only yesterday, so I know I'm right in +what I'm talking about." + +In vain I poo-poohed the idea; the perspiring merchant was insistent. + +Having delivered himself of these troubles, he walked up and down the +confines of the room in a frenzy of nervous excitement. Banging his +fists one into the other, alternately running his fingers through his +hair, which was absolutely wringing wet from perspiration, he, literally +speaking, groaned out his mental agony. + +I watched him in silence. Suddenly he steadied himself somewhat, then +stopped short, and, looking me straight in the face, he exclaimed: "I +feel, I know, I am positively certain sure you can save this situation +if you will. I am paying the man who is putting up my money 40,000 +kroner as a private honorarium over and above the usual interest of five +per cent. It's worth it. But neither he nor I shall see a cent in return +if it's to be prohibition. Now, I'll make a square deal with you. I'll +give you 100,000 kroner" (about £5,500) "if you'll interview your +Minister for me and you can successfully guarantee me no prohibition for +six or even three months. If you can only stop it for three months, then +I shall be safe, and I shall have more than enough to pay my late +creditors and everybody else everything I owe, and to spare." At this +point he positively gasped for breath and more beer, whilst he re-mopped +his streaming neck and face. + +During this scene my thoughts had not been idle. They had conceived, +turned over, and evolved a scheme which I believed would work out to the +advantage of all concerned, excepting only the Germans. + +I would promise him the assistance he desired; to intercede and do my +best to pacify the British Minister's wrath, which I was given to +understand was burning at white heat against the unfortunate merchant +for his presumption and impudence in daring to suggest a twist of the +lion's tail for so large an amount as the £100,000 profit he had +suggested. It was well known that the Legation had given out, and wished +it to be understood, that England would not look favourably upon any +business relationships whatsoever, directly or indirectly, with Germany. +Furthermore, that such a flouting of England's goodwill would not be to +the future advantage of any such transgressors. Some merchants made a +joke of this, others expressed their feelings in withering scorn, a few +took notice. The idea that their trade should be allowed to continue +with England whilst its continuance with Germany was to be looked upon +as an unpardonable offence seemed a top-heavy argument. They did not +view the proposition through similarly tinted glasses. And as soon as +the Minister began to voice his objections, so soon did trouble begin. + +The position of the merchant from the West Coast, however, was hardly on +all fours with other traders in the country. He was particularly anxious +to keep in the good graces of the British Minister. At the same time, +the earning of money seemed dearer to him than most other worldly +considerations. + +I knew he held an appointment which he was desirous to retain--an +appointment which the British Minister could influence considerably. He, +the British Minister, could easily keep him in it or he could scorch him +out of it, whichever he desired. I also knew that the British Minister, +generally speaking, was not too popular; whilst it was said that he was +a man who would never understand the Norwegian race any more than it +would ever understand him. I could read what had passed in the minds of +both of these individuals of such opposite temperaments at that +memorable interview. I could imagine the grim, determined, waiting +watchfulness with which the one man weighed up the weaknesses, the +failings, and the awful nerve-racking sensations of realised blunders, +abandoned hopes and fears, and despair probably revealed on the face of +the other. + +It was all as plain to me as though the drama had been re-enacted in my +presence. I felt a contempt I did not express at the sordid details of +such vast credits being bought and risks run with other people's money, +at bribery prices over and above the usual business rates; at the +exorbitant brokerages which were being exacted from this rash and +hazardous speculator; and more particularly at the heavy sum which was +pressed upon me for a service that the eager donor had seemingly never +seriously weighed or considered with an evenly-balanced mind. Thus I +delivered myself: + +"My good sir, you seem to have put your foot into it very badly indeed. +It looks as though you, and all those involved with you, will crash +through the very thin ice you are skating upon. It looks to me an +odds-on chance that you will all be drowned in the financial vortex +beneath. I don't for the life of me see how a poor insignificant +journalist like myself can be of any real service to you. So you need +not worry about your 100,000 kroner or any other sum. What fragment of +weight do you suppose that so great a personage as our Minister would +attach to either my words or to my presence--to me, a stranger and an +ordinary civilian?" + +In a tense, hoarse voice he replied: "You forget you are English, an +English journalist, representing the most powerful newspaper in London. +Everyone is afraid of newspapers. They can uproot a throne. I know. I +have lived in London. I have seen what a newspaper can do. You are cool. +Your nerves are strong. You are a man of the world. You can state my +case as it would be impossible for me to state it myself. Let the +English Government buy my oil at its own price. I don't want an +exorbitant profit. I will leave the negotiation to your absolute +discretion. Prohibition would ruin me. You can save me if you will only +try. I will willingly pay you any sum you like to name. If you stave off +the threatened prohibition you will earn it ten times over. You may even +save our country from war. I have not slept for nights. I cannot eat +properly. Unless this strain on me is relieved I feel my brain will give +way and I shall go mad, or I shall kill myself." + +He sat down heavily upon a chair, and, burying his head in his hands, +wept aloud. + +Allowing a reasonable time for the unhappy merchant to settle down to a +more even frame of mind, I placed my hand upon his shoulder, not +unkindly, and said in a soft voice: "Well, I'm afraid I shall not carry +much weight, and I don't want your money, but I will go and see him. One +thing is quite certain. You can rest assured that England would never +knowingly permit an injustice to be done; but if you're trading with the +Germans, then of course you'll have to paddle your own canoe." + +Further inquiries from the now subservient speculator elicited the +existence of a contract made with German merchants by which a by-product +of the oil passing through his hands in the ordinary course of business, +amounting to about five per cent. of the whole, had to be delivered to +them periodically for some few months to follow. + +In due course I carried out the promise I had made, and as a result I +conveyed certain proposals to the merchant, whereby that gentleman gave +a written undertaking that not a barrel of his oil should be sold to +Germany, directly or indirectly, excepting the by-product before +referred to, which was considered a bagatelle, he receiving assurances +that so long as his undertaking was faithfully carried out no steps +would be taken without fair and reasonable notice to press for a +prohibition of the particular oil in question. + +To say that the gentleman most interested in this matter was effusive in +his expressions of overwhelming gratitude would be a gross exaggeration +of mild description. If permitted he would have fallen on my neck and +almost drowned me in a flood of tears of relief and joy. He produced a +pocket-book bulging with paper money and attempted to force a handful of +notes for large amounts upon me, which I firmly and emphatically refused +to accept. But I did agree to lunch with him, and the late dejected one +ate what he described as his first decent meal for a prolonged period. + +During the following week we occasionally met. The merchant was now all +smiles and enjoying life consequent upon a successful venture and an +undisturbed peace of mind. Prices continued to rise in his favour, and +ten days later he declared himself a millionaire in Norwegian kroner. He +vainly continued to press me every time we were alone to accept +something substantial for the service rendered, whilst he was +extravagant in his sentiments of eternal gratitude. He also proposed +that I should abandon my journalistic career and accept a position as +one of the foreign representatives of his firm, which offer I likewise +politely declined. Then he hinted at the bestowal of a high Norwegian +decoration, which made me smile still more. + +Whether the unlimited ambitions of this wild speculator followed usual +precedent and tumbled from the height of success to the abysmal depth of +failure by reason of too oft-repeated temptations of Providence; +whether, and if so, how the assurances given and the guarantee obtained +were carried out, the ultimate turn of events, and how all these things +developed, progressed and fructified, remain, as Rudyard Kipling says, +another story. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SHADOWED BY POLICE + + POSING AS A JOURNALIST--CREDENTIALS--SUBTLE + SUGGESTIONS--SUSPICIONS--A FALLEN STAR--SOLD TO THE + POLICE--INSTINCTIVE WARNINGS--TEMPTATIONS--INTERCEPTED + ADULATIONS--A SERIOUS BLOW--TESTS--DANGER SIGNALS--FLIGHT--HERR + SCHMIDT--DOUBLE TRACKING--ARREST WARRANT POSTPONED. + + +Most people who interest themselves in the detailed working of Secret +Service show greatest curiosity regarding the actual characters assumed +by its members when in foreign countries. + +A Secret Service agent should never assume a character he is not +absolutely familiar with, both inside and out. It is possible to act up +to a certain pitch, which will carry a certain distance, but +artificiality is never safe. The stunt that is most in favour with the +Intelligence Departments of all nations is journalism; thus it has been +worked threadbare. Every foreign newspaper man on the Continent in +recent years has been suspected, marked, and watched from the start, +simply because he is what he is and for no other reason. I was never +warned of this, but it did not take me long to find it out. I fell into +the _rôle_ on my second trip out and adopted it naturally. I had been a +free-lance journalist for upwards of twenty years, and I concluded that +I could assume the character of special correspondent without any +anxiety, and that I would be received for what I was. I had previously +posed in many characters which were not so aptly fitted, and I believed +I had carried them through successfully. This would be child's play to +an old hand; besides, it had been part of my livelihood and was no +assumed _rôle_, it was merely acting as one's self. One of the best, +most influential and respected newspapers in London was therefore +approached. I was no stranger to its editor, who received me with +cordiality and gave me the necessary credentials. + +In order to supplement my London references I sought for and easily +obtained a further commission from the head editor of a series of +country daily and weekly issues. A passport carried the announcement +that I was a journalist, and everything appeared to be in order. + +On arrival abroad, in the first country to which my work was allotted, +as a special journalist I made application to the head Transmission +Department to bespeak a legitimation card, which added an additional +official stamp to my papers. + +No one could have been more helpful or sympathetic than the Transmission +Department officials, but in this particular instance it subsequently +transpired they took copies of my credentials, which they handed over to +the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department. Of course, I knew +nothing of this at the time, although it would not in any way have +disturbed my equanimity or peace of mind if I had. + +A chief superintendent, whom I had to interview, was exceptionally kind. +He strictly adhered to his duty to his country, but the leaning of his +sympathies he appeared absolutely unable to restrain. "Your paper," he +said, "is a power in Europe. It is always fair, impartial, and reliable. +Many of my countrymen read it, and we know that it does not exaggerate +the true facts. I respect it, my colleagues respect it, although they +might not say so, and you may rely upon all the help I can give you. You +must remember, however, the position we are placed in. You must be +careful not to offend against our recently passed laws or you will not +get your messages through. Also, you may be misunderstood." I thanked +him and sought further enlightenment. I guessed what he was hinting at, +but I wished to draw out of the man all he was willing to disclose. + +"You know," the superintendent continued, "that you must not use our +wires, either telephone or telegraph, to report movement of any ships of +foreign nations which are at war. Our instructions are very strict upon +this point. We must carry out our duties to the utmost. But these +Germans! They are not men, they are mad dogs. Their idea of war seems to +be extermination without regard to the law of nations. They murder women +and children; they seem to have no feelings. They would overrun our +small country to-morrow if they thought any advantage could be gained +thereby. Alas, poor innocent, unoffending Belgium, whom they undertook +by honourable treaty to protect and uphold! How they have ruined her, +burned her towns, ravaged her entire country, raped her daughters, +robbed her churches and treasures; and, on top of all, fined her +inhabitants for not returning to be made slaves to oppressors and brutal +taskmasters. 'Vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord. If they do not suffer +for all this, then there is no justice on earth or in heaven above." We +were alone in his private office. Before speaking he had carefully +closed the door, having first looked anxiously into the outer office. +Now he turned to me and, extending both hands, added: "Reading these +things, hearing of them from eye-witnesses, hearing even worse in detail +which made my flesh creep, can you wonder that we, a peace-loving +people, who never did like those overbearing Germans, pray for the day +when they will find their level in the world and when they will be +compelled to behave like decent-minded people?" + +I cordially agreed, and inquired what my loquacious friend was leading +up to. + +"You have a Press Censor in your country, I presume?"--"Yes." "If he saw +in the course of his duties anything which he thought might be of +advantage to your Government, or to its naval administrators, to know, I +suppose he would at once cause it to be sent along?" "Really, my dear +sir," I interjected, "I have no knowledge of what our Censor does. I +know he's an awful nuisance to us newspaper men; he holds up our copy +for indefinite periods. But I, like yourself, assume he is an +Englishman." And I looked him square in the face and wondered whether he +would guess what I certainly had no intention of admitting. "Good!" he +exclaimed. "Now, in this country our newspaper men get round our +regulations by using simple little codes, which in their wording refer +to things domestic, but in reality can be translated into something +very, very different. For example, 'Mrs. Jones of ---- has just had +twins; one is strong, the other very weak and not expected to live,' +might easily be arranged to convey the interpretation that a couple of +German submarines had entered the port of ----, one of which was a +damaged condition. I expect your paper would like to have such items of +news? Even if it were not allowed to publish it, your Censor might like +to have the news to hand along. Such a message, worded as I suggest, +would not offend against our rules and regulations. We should accept it, +not knowing or caring for any possible hidden meaning. Do you +understand, my dear sir, what I want to convey?" + +Wondering at the back of my mind whether he was just sounding me, or +whether he was so truly sympathetic with the Allies that he was really +anxious to help stop the war as soon as possible, I followed the wise +course of terminating the interview. After thanking the superintendent +for his kind assistance and sympathy I left. + +It is an unwritten rule of the Secret Service never to give anything +away unless it is imperative so to do, or a more than commensurate +advantage is gained thereby. + +It is an unwritten rule of the same Service to keep away from all +Government officials, irrespective of nationality, in so far as one +reasonably can. + +In spite of the deadly earnestness of the gentleman I had just left, I +felt puzzled. I did not understand his voluntary and unnecessary +outburst of outraged sentiment. Instinct told me that somewhere there +was something moving which I must guard against. What it was, or from +which quarter I was to expect it, I had no idea. + +In the Secret Service one must paddle one's own canoe, alone and +unassisted; always up-stream; always through dangerous rapids, wherein +at every yard are hidden rocks and snags ready to tear the frail craft +asunder; always through countries overrun with enemies armed with +poisonous arrows which are fired singly and in volleys whenever the +smallest opportunity is given; always hunted and stalked both day and +night by the most persevering, cunning, and desperate huntsmen in the +world; always on the move, with never a sure, safe, or secure +resting-place for one's weary limbs; and always on the _qui vive_ +against a thousand and one unseen, unknown, and unsuspected dangers. No +wonder that members of this Service so soon become fatalists. + +A few days later I was closeted with a local journalist out of collar. +He wanted a job. He spoke six languages, had had smooth and rough +experiences in America, and was a man of great ability. His weak spot +was alcohol. He had had chances innumerable. Friends had helped him +until their patience had been exhausted. Now that his domestic ship was +badly on the rocks, the whole family half-starved, and himself a total +abstainer--by force of circumstances--another last chance seemed to his +unfortunate wife to fall as the blessed manna from heaven in the +wilderness. I treated him generously and trusted him--as far as I could +have trusted any ordinary person--but he, an ordinary mortal of this +proverbially ungrateful world, at once sold his benefactor to a higher +bidder, in so far as it was possible for him so to do. It happened +thus-wise. + +Not satisfied with the liberal terms I had agreed to give him, which +covered full travelling expenses, living expenses and remuneration +separately assessed, he approached various carrying firms and tried to +wheedle from them free passes. Meeting with no sympathy--probably they +knew him by former experience--he visited the police and sold me over to +them as an alleged spy. Naturally the police wanted evidence. This the +man undertook to get. He made excuse after excuse to delay his departure +on my business. He visited me daily with a long list of questions; he +suggested the obtaining of information concerning local naval and +military intelligence which did not interest me in the least; he pressed +for written instructions, special codes, and complicated arrangements +regulating the sending and receiving of correspondence--anything, in +fact, which would gain him time and which might prove my undoing--all +of which, however, I suggested he should prepare himself if he wanted +them. + +The man's testimonials were excellent upon all points excepting the one +weakness before referred to, and I treated him quite unsuspectingly. +Little did I know that when he made notes in shorthand they were in fact +literal and verbatim reports of our entire conversation, made at the +suggestion of the police and for their special benefit. I afterwards +heard that detectives had helped to prepare the very code he brought to +me and which he was so eager for me to substitute for one I had +suggested. + +Had I been indiscreet, and had I given anything at all away, or had I +trusted this man with any facts relating to or concerning those +connected with my real employment, I would have been arrested on the +spot. As it was, the police learned nothing which did not appear to them +legitimate, in order, and most flattering to their country, to their +countrymen, and to themselves. + +Remarkable as it may appear, it was, however, a fact that I was restless +and uneasy. Instinct seemed to whisper in my ears, continually day and +night, messages of warning that all was not well. The air seemed +overcharged with electricity. It felt heavy, like an ominous calm +preceding a violent storm. Yet, rack my brain as I would, I could not +for the life of me fathom the depth of the mystery, nor could I trace +its origin to any fountain-head. + +Meanwhile my new assistant entered upon his undertaking. In a few days +he sent to me by code a detailed description of a sea engagement between +German and English warships. It was the fight off the Dogger Bank in the +North Sea, in April, 1915. + +In the course of the next six weeks, in addition to his proper work, +arranging with outpost correspondent agents, he collected and forwarded +at regular intervals a mass of interesting matter, all good newspaper +copy, with many little tit-bits of special news which were most +acceptable. But he would rub in items of local naval and military +intelligence in spite of my repeated instructions to the contrary. + +Not only was I a staunch fatalist, but I believed in a Divine +Providence which directed one's actions and destinies, which shaped +one's ends, rough-hew them how one might. In this instance it probably +saved my liberty from being suddenly and inconveniently disturbed. +Before I received any of these reports before mentioned they were all (I +have since ascertained) intercepted and carefully studied by the +Criminal Investigation Department. Naturally, my replies were +anticipated by them with still greater pleasure. Dame Providence, +however, directed the pen when I upbraided my assistant, reminding him +he was engaged in journalism, not espionage; that he was representing a +great newspaper and for the time being I was a guest in an hospitable, +generous country; further, that I would at once dispense with his +services if he offended against that country's laws; and that, when he +sent information concerning German spies, such was wrongly addressed--he +should have sent it direct to the local police, whom, I added, were _the +most intelligent, fair-minded and smartest crowd of their kind anywhere +in Europe_. + +I cannot help smiling to myself now when I think of this. It seems so +ridiculous to think that I should have penned such flattering words +regarding those who were attempting to catch me, _flagrante delicto_, as +the law puts it! It probably puzzled them not a little, whilst it must +have caused them to suspect their wily journalistic friend as running +with the hare and at the same time hunting with the hounds. + +About this period something else occurred which added to my uneasiness. +Naturally my most closely-guarded secret was my main line of +communication with London. No one held the secret of this but the most +trusted in the Service. One day an intercepted message was brought to +me. It contained a sign by which one of my messages could be identified. +I tested this message by a dozen different ways; the result was rubbish +in each instance. I knew by this that nothing of any importance was +known; but why should the message have been floated into channels +wherein it seemed to be known that I had nets? Who had floated it? How +had the sign even come to be used? I puzzled for hours in a dark room +smoking my customary strong black cigars furiously all the time, and I +left off more puzzled than when I began. I put on an agent to follow and +to watch myself from a distance, to try and see if anyone, and if so +whom, were then amusing themselves with that interesting pastime. + +I put on another agent to "smear," or to attempt to, a volunteer agent +whom I relied upon to a certain extent for local correspondence. I had +long entertained strong suspicions concerning the latter, but I could +never find any tangible proof against him. I wrote spoof letters to +myself and I caused other similar missives to be sent to myself from +various quarters, upon which I was sure my interceptor would take +action, and his movement would probably be thereby detected. I tried and +tested various simple and ingenious dodges to trap my tormentor, but +everything proved in vain. + +Exactly three days after intercepting the first message a repeat +followed through the same channels. It was a lengthy document and bore +the outward visible signs of genuineness, but inwardly it read nothing +but nonsense. The object my enemies aimed at had failed. I had provided +for that. But whether the police, or the naval or military authorities, +were behind the attempt, or whether it was an experiment of Hun origin, +I never could unravel. + +Several quaint experiences following one another in rapid succession +made me wish I could carry through the work I had in hand to a rapid +conclusion in order that I could shift to a more congenial atmosphere. I +had received warning before starting on this particular business that my +lot was not likely to be enviable; and that I would probably have to put +my head into the lion's mouth. I had also been warned that the place to +which I had been sent to stay and to direct certain operations was known +to be infested with German agents, whose jealousy and zeal in watching +over certain vitally important secrets amounted to a mania. My +visitation might find a good comparison in likening it to a police +officer being sent to sit in the entrance hall of an illicit West End +gambling hell. He knew every effort would be strained to tempt him away +from the main issue or to shift him. My Commanding Officer had intimated +that if I survived ten days he would consider I had done well. As a +matter of fact, I stuck it six weeks. I had arranged what was wanted. I +had fixed other matters towards a promising and satisfactory conclusion +when I received a picture postcard. The illustration represented a +motor-boat going at full speed. Underneath it was written: "Skip-per +ahoy!" + +In the ordinary way this would seem to convey nothing beyond a casual +salutation. But the hyphen! It was evidently intentional. I read it as a +hint to get quickly away--to skip, in fact--whilst the motor-boat +suggested that a private rapid departure would probably not be to my +disadvantage. + +The weather was much too tempestuous to venture to sea in such small +craft as might have been available. No other possible road of retreat, +except by sea, was open, so I had to study ways and means. I informed +those who waited on me that I should be leaving three days later for a +well-known town lying fifty or sixty miles to the southward. Meanwhile +the few remaining details necessary to complete the objective of my +visit were arranged, and the local time-sheets of every known route +touching at the island were studied. I noted with some satisfaction that +early in the morning two boats crossed each other's passage at given +hours, arriving at the same quay and departing at the same time. + +The next day, before six in the morning, I appeared on the quay and +booked a ticket for the southern journey. No one appeared to be +watching, and when the boats arrived I made the mistake of boarding the +boat which sailed north, although I hardly considered it necessary to +inform the purser of the fact when he demanded the wherewithal to cover +passage on his ship. + +No one in the town knew I had left, but I had sent a secret message to +headquarters advising of my intentions. + +At the next port of call a letter came aboard addressed to Herr Schmidt, +which I claimed. It was a transcribed telephone message. Reading between +the lines the writing conveyed only one interpretation. Reduced to +simple English, it meant: "Eruption--quit." + +I promptly left the boat I was on and changed my route by going inland +over a peninsula to a small fishing station, where a portion of luck +added to a large portion of whiskey secured a berth on a small +cargo-boat running direct to another country. + +The false agent who had sold his benefactor but was unable to deliver +the brand of goods he had promised, then finding that certain monetary +demands were not provided for by telegram, although not in accordance +with his agreed arrangements, fell a victim to his besetting sin. He +indulged in a prolonged debauch during which he divulged the full depths +of his iniquity. His confessions were in due course reported to me, and +they brought him the order of the boot. + +The deep-laid schemes of the perhaps too-muchly-lauded police, like +those of mice and men, ganged agley; action on their warrant to arrest +had perforce to be postponed _sine die_; whilst the elusive Herr +Schmidt, the pivot round which this little teacup drama gyrated, +vanished _pro tem_. from the affairs and haunts of the disciples of +Kultur and goulashes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DODGING FRONTIER GUARDS AND SEARCHING FOR ONE'S SELF + + FRONTIER GUARDS--SMUGGLERS--RIGOROUS SEARCHES--UNEARTHING VALUABLE + GERMAN SECRETS REGARDING SUPER ZEPPELINS, SUBMARINES AND THE PARIS + BIG CANNON--A LOQUACIOUS WAITER--HEADMONEY FOR MY CAPTURE--25,000 + MARKS, DEAD OR ALIVE--LOOKING FOR ONE'S SELF--A CAPTURE--CROSSING + THE SCHLESWIG FRONTIER--A FRIEND IN NEED--DANGEROUS + ENTERPRISE--KIEL HARBOUR--SAFE RETURN. + + +Crossing the northern frontiers of Germany during the war was by no +means so difficult a task as it apparently was to do the same thing +further south. Landstürmers were on guard during most of the time. Men +about forty years of age who took much more interest in food and drink +than they did in fighting. They were on very friendly terms with the +Danes, particularly with those who lived near to the frontier; whilst a +great many marriages had been consummated from time immemorial between +Germans and Danes, and Danes and Germans, all along the northern +boundaries. + +In spite of the vast amount of commodities and necessities of all sorts +that poured into the northern ports of Germany during the whole period +of the war, until America came in and in a great measure stopped the +absurdity, yet the Germans were short of many things which their souls +hankered for, whilst many of them, with a thought to the unknown future, +were anxious to hoard up all supplies that could by any means be +obtained. + +Small fishermen, and those who picked up a precarious livelihood from +any odd job or from varied and promiscuous dabblings in trading deals of +any nature, were not slow to take advantage of these favourable +circumstances. Hence a host of smugglers of small operation sprang into +being like mushrooms in a night. Those men mostly owned, in part or in +whole, a light boat used for fishing or carrying purposes. The majority +of these boats were fitted with paraffin motors which propelled them +about six to nine knots an hour. The coast of Germany was not more than +twenty-five miles away from any part of the southern islands of Denmark +and could be made in three hours, even under adverse conditions. + +Soap, tobacco, matches, aquavit, and such like were cheap in Denmark, +and very dear, if not at times almost unprocurable, in Germany. Rich +harvests were thus to be had almost for the asking. In addition to this, +the Germans themselves used a great many small boats from their side of +the water. They were assiduous fishers for flounders and other luxuries +provided by the Baltic, and they were friendly disposed to all Danish +fishermen, more particularly so towards those whose boats were known to +carry other cargoes besides fish. + +Ports like Kiel, Lübeck, and Rostock were naturally avoided by these men +as being too active and too lively; but they did not hesitate to mingle +with the German fishing-boats and land as near as they could without +raising any undue notice or attraction. The coast almost all the way +along is low-lying, with shallow water extending out some distance, and +consists of vast shoals of sand and mud. There are, however, numerous +landing-places for small boats, and many Danish smugglers made the +crossing as often as two or three times a week. + +At ports like Swinemunde, Stettin, Lübeck, and Kiel, if a traveller of +any nationality attempted to pass through on a passport in the usual +manner, he or she was subjected to unbelievable indignities and searches +which in most instances amounted to insult and violation of the actual +person. No wonder that many Danish workmen, who in some instances had +actually been employed upon private, even secret, war material for +Germany, and who had obtained permission to visit their homes for a +spell, preferred any means of making the home passage across the +southern Baltic rather than take the regular ferry-boat routes. Thus it +was that quite a few of them came across with the smugglers, whereby +they avoided the severe investigations and saved considerable money on +their passage. + +I was not slow at ascertaining these facts and I made several voyages +with the Danish smugglers, which were interesting in themselves, whilst +they brought me in contact with some of the very workmen who had been +employed upon war-work in Germany which was at that time of the very +greatest interest to Englishmen engaged in attempting to anticipate and +to thwart the wily Hun. I ascertained by this means valuable +corroboration of preliminary particulars concerning the +super-submarines, the super-Zeppelins, and the preliminary trials of the +super-cannon afterwards used on Paris. + +In the early spring of 1915 I had returned from one of these little +cruises where business and pleasure had been combined. I had landed +safely upon one of the southern islands of Denmark and entered a _kro_, +or small licensed inn, to obtain a decent meal with a good long drink of +the famous Jacob Jacobsen's Gamle Karlsberg porter, which can be +obtained everywhere throughout Denmark and is every bit as good as it is +famous, when the very dirty waiter whispered in my ear that there was a +heap of good money offered for a very little work. + +Perhaps I should apologise to the aforesaid waiter for disparaging his +personal appearance. Because it might have been possible that at the +time in question my outward appearance equalled or surpassed his own in +filth and slovenliness. But be that as it may, I naturally inquired +further regarding this hinted El Dorado. + +"Well," he said, rubbing his chin and gazing at me with great +earnestness, "there are a couple of Germans hunting round this town" +(every cluster of houses in Denmark is called a town) "looking for an +English spy who has been jumping over the frontier a time or two, and +they say that they can get ten thousand marks for him, dead or alive, if +they can only put their hands on him." + +I was on the point of quaffing a most delicious draught of the +far-famed porter, but somehow I seemed to lose my thirst. The news was +of absorbing interest to me, if not actually startling in its purport. + +The waiter was obviously avaricious, and the mention of so much money +made his fingers itch and his mouth water at the thought of the glorious +times he could secure with such vast wealth. + +Whilst I was watching the various changes of his face as these ideas +chased one another through his narrow brain, it flashed upon me how easy +it would be for anyone to capture me and to take me back across that +narrow little strip of sea-water whence I had so recently come. A pinch +of some drug in one's food or in one's drink. A slight tap on the head. +A little chloroform on a pocket-handkerchief. All simple applications, +so easy to administer, and so easy to explain away: that one's friend or +brother had merely taken a little more alcohol than was good for him, or +had been unexpectedly taken ill and now a little help was necessary to +get him aboard his ship or boat, so he could be taken home to the dear +old Fatherland, where he could be well and properly attended to! + +These lightning-like reflections sent a cold shiver down the very marrow +in my spine. I drained my mug of porter at a gulp and hastened the +waiter away for more. + +Whilst he was so occupied I decided what to do. On his return I told +him, with all seriousness, that I had seen a strange-looking dude on the +quay less than an hour ago whom I was certain was English, and if he +could find and present me to the two Germans and I got the reward I +would give him a share of it for telling me all about it. To show him I +was in earnest I treated him to a bottle of porter. After consuming our +drinks he arranged matters, and we left to hunt up the would-be German +scalp-hunters. + +About an hour afterwards we found them hanging round a very primitive +moving-picture show which seemed to thrive on free films supplied by the +Hun propagandists. We all four adjourned to another _kro_ for drinks and +important conference. + +The description they gave me of the man wanted tallied exactly with the +man I said I had seen. Now that was quite an extraordinary coincidence, +and I impressed it on them. Only my waiter friend had sense enough to +cross-examine further into my statement, so I had to order more drinks +to stop the possibility of still deeper inquiries. Before I agreed to +make a move I wanted to have a bargain in writing giving me half the +reward. This the Germans would not agree to. They suggested one-third, +and my friend the waiter hinted at a possible fourth share for himself. +When I said I would not be satisfied with three thousand marks on the +risks run they explained that a third share would exceed eight thousand +marks. "It had been ten thousand," they said, "but quite recently the +reward had been increased to twenty-five thousand marks," which had made +them very active and anxious to try and secure it. + +I, however, still argued that if I found the man I should get half the +reward, whatever sum it was. They disagreed; meanwhile the waiter got +intoxicated. Leaving him where he was, we commenced our search and +continued it with vigour and persistence for the remainder of that day +and all the next. I assure you, gentle reader, I never had such an +interesting hunt before, and I have hunted big game in many lands under +extraordinary conditions. That trail, however, was the trail of my life. + +About noon next day we ran a suspect to earth in a lonely spot and put +him through the mill with a vengeance. But he conclusively proved his +identity and we were very lucky to escape trouble over the episode. I +think our salvation was that we so frightened the unfortunate captive +that he was glad to be able to leave the town as quickly as possible and +get away from us back home to his little farm inland. + +Towards the afternoon of our second day's man-hunt my Hun colleagues +began to hint their suspicions regarding myself and as to my actions. +They had been very ungentlemanly towards me from the first on the +question of dividing the reward. They were very mean over spending money +on drinks and smokes; and, taking one consideration with another, I +thought it far wiser to lean on discretion as the better part of valour. +So as soon as the shades of night once more darkened the land I regret +to have to admit that _I borrowed_ a boat belonging to some native, +whose forgiveness I trust was granted if he ever found it again, and I +left the island, never to set foot in that township again; at least for +the duration of the war. + + * * * * * + +Entering Germany from the Schleswig frontier was not very difficult +unless one attempted to pass through the custom house, with all its +surrounding formalities and searches. In the angles of the frontier near +Ribe, and on the mainland, of course the whole line was trenched and +guarded, and any attempted passing or even approach was both difficult +and dangerous. But by skipping round either end, at sea on the east, and +between the islands on the west, no insurmountable difficulty presented +itself. + +I never attempted a landing on the immediate east side, but I did go +round on the west, and the trip was not worth the risk or the trouble. +There was nothing to learn that one did not already know from scores of +others who had been permitted to pass the lines on business or +otherwise. There was nothing to gain by going again, and I had no desire +to attempt to repeat the experience. + +Living on an island which is unnamed except upon the best maps of the +southern Baltic I had a friend--a Danish sailorman who was rarely at +home, but when he did take a holiday from his sea-going wanderings it +was invariably marked for its riotousness on shore or for its devilment +afloat. + +Dare-Devil Christian was one of the best men I ever met except for his +one great weakness. Provided that was guarded against, he was fine +company and a great sportsman. Any class of sport satisfied him, from +rat-hunting upwards, and if a spice of danger could be added it gave him +a greater zest proportionately. + +I had the great luck to bump into him twice during one winter season, +and for some time we thoroughly enjoyed life together. Just before the +New Year of 1915 I had been advised of a possible and probable naval +engagement somewhere near the North Sea entrance to the Kiel Canal. It +had been hinted to me it would be interesting to know what German +war-vessels there might be cruising in the Baltic that would or might be +recalled if such an event took place. It was also hinted that the water +defences to Kiel harbour, and the Canal entrance on the east, might be +ascertained for certain with some advantage to England's Naval +Intelligence Department. + +I was accordingly on my way down towards the island of Aero when, by +great good fortune, I met my friend Christian on the second occasion +above referred to. Needless to add, we at once joined company. + +In order to occupy our time in a manner congenial to both, and as ice +bound the streams inland and made work at sea far from pleasant, I +suggested to Christian an expedition having for its object a direct +attack upon the short-winged fowl which thronged the outer coastline. +These birds are not generally considered good eating, and in England +nobody will buy them for such purpose. But in Scandinavia the natives +soak them for twelve to twenty-four hours in vinegar and water, and by +these and other preparations eventually bring them to table as a most +appetising dish. + +The waters all around Kiel fjord are reputed as good hunting-ground for +flounders and for diving ducks. The fjord, however, is situate twenty +miles away from Danish territory, and to reach it in those times one +would have to rim the gauntlet of numerous patrol craft of various +designs and size. Yet a small fishing-boat, resembling in all outward +appearance other small boats which are used for coast-fishing along the +east of Schleswig Holstein as well as along the Danish coasts, was not +so likely to draw particular attention. + +When my scheme, embracing an expedition to these waters, was casually +brought up with Christian, as though it was a mere matter of utter +indifference whether the boat drifted there or anywhere else in Europe, +he looked at me with an incredulous expression of pained surprise upon +his genial countenance, which seemed to convey the unspoken sentiment: + +"Have you forgotten that the Germans are at war? That to go and fish or +shoot ducks anywhere near their precious, guarded harbour--about the +most sacred spot in their whole empire--could only be equalled in +sacrilege to spitting the eternal holy fire out before the Priests in +the Temple on Mount Ephesus?" + +So I hastened to attempt to assure him by saying: "Well, we need _not +shoot_ when we get in; nor, for that matter, if and when we see any +ships or people about whom we might disturb. Also, my dear friend +Christian, don't you appreciate the fact that it would indeed be +interesting really to know the truth just at the present time concerning +the much-discussed outer Kiel defences?" + +"That's all very well, but--" + +He stopped short at the "but," whilst he became more serious than I had +ever known him to be before. For a long spell he smoked in silence, then +looking up with a half-smile, exclaimed: "I don't want to know what I +ought not to know, and I don't want you to tell me what I don't suppose +you ought to tell me, but I reckon I know what you want to go to Kiel +for; _it is not flatfish and it is not ducks_." + +"My dear friend, you are totally wrong. I assure you it was merely idle +curiosity coupled with a love of the venturesome which prompted the +suggestion. But if you funk it, or do not care about the risk, then we +had better steer east." + +Christian looked up sharply at the conclusion of this sentence. He did +not reply, nor was the subject again referred to for several days. + +One eventful morning, however, we found ourselves silently inspecting a +small, well-built and compact fishing craft, just such a boat as we +would have selected had we determined upon the trip before referred to. +The boat was good and so was her gear. Christian, without a word +regarding future movements, engaged her, and she was promptly victualled +with several days' supplies. + +It was announced to the local natives that Christian had determined a +cruise around Stryno and the shores of Laaland where ducks and geese +were known to abound. In due course a start was made and the boat was +headed in that direction. But as soon as darkness set in she was veered +completely round by tacit mutual consent, and steered south, then +south-south-east. + +By daylight next morning we were fishing merrily and apparently quite +unconcerned off the land of the Hun, abreast of that particular wealthy +tract of rich soil and pasture which the Germans had robbed from Denmark +in the 'sixties. As the day wore on the little boat drew nearer in shore +and towards the afternoon she sailed boldly up the Kiel fjord. It was +much safer doing so in broad daylight than at any other time; whilst it +is true beyond all shadow of doubt that an impudence which is impudently +bold enough generally succeeds where a hesitating cautious policy would +be sure to fail. + +Christian said little, but he evidently knew the ropes. With the aid of +his timely assistance and cool assurance several dangers were passed +over, any one of which might have terminated the cruise in disaster. He +also appeared to know exactly how to disguise and mark the boat so that +she would be, and was, mistaken for a longshore boat in home waters. +There was, however, much to try the nerves, not the least strain of all +being the overshadowing knowledge that at any moment the boat and her +contents might be blown to a thousand fragments by a floating or +anchored mine; although by hugging the shore as much as possible this +danger was greatly minimised. When a warship seemed to take more than +ordinary interest in that frail craft of peace and industry Christian's +discretion rather than his valour caused him to steer direct for the +nearest hamlet on the shore as though he belonged there. He would often +anchor and down sails, but he wisely refrained from landing, apparently +because he had much too much to attend to in connection with his gear. +By creeping inshore when other craft were too near, and keeping well +away from it at other times, the boat drifted nearer and nearer to the +localities desired to be reached and seen. Observations were taken by +stealth and with the assistance of good field-glasses, their user first +invariably concealing himself under a mass of fishing net, which amused +Christian, although he refrained from making any comment upon the +peculiar eccentricity or caution of the observer. + +At night searchlights played over parts of the water and advantage was +taken of any intervening promontory, rock, or anchored craft that could +in the smallest degree hide the boat from the searching beams. Having +nosed around and observed all that one could have expected to be able to +locate in such a venture, advantage was taken of favourable breezes and +the return journey accomplished with due care and caution. Fortunately +snow-squalls were frequent. Probably the flakes acted as a mighty host +of guardian angels to the little amateur privateer; for although she was +pushed into the security of shallow waters again and again during the +exciting if somewhat risky voyage, she evaded capture, even overhauling; +and eventually returned like a migratory bird at the end of a season, to +her natal resting-place. + +Fortunately a fair supply of birds had been gathered in, both on the +outward and homeward journey, whilst the fishing had not been in vain. +Thus there was plenty to show to account for our industry. Little did +the natives reck the importance of the data and information thus +collected, under their very noses, so to speak; or that anything out of +the ordinary had taken place; or that risk of instant death had been +laughed at and ignored by the two happy-go-lucky sportsmen, who appeared +to them as mere overgrown schoolboys taking life as but a ray of +sunshine and never seeming to regard it seriously. + +Between themselves the trip was not talked about, nor was it ever +afterwards referred to beyond one interrogation, and that was when the +sweet music of the grating keel upon a Danish beach announced our safe +and successful return. + +"Now are you satisfied?" asked Christian. The laconic reply given him +back was limited to one word--"Quite." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AVOIDING COLD MURDER + + SWARMS OF BAGMEN--JESUITICAL METHODS--MYSTERIOUS + DISAPPEARANCES--UNACCOUNTABLE ACCIDENTS--AVOIDING A + DUEL--FASCINATED BY A HUNGARIAN--A LUDICROUS TRAVELLER--FRACAS AT A + THEATRE--INSULT, ASSAULT, AND CHALLENGE--CHOOSING + WEAPONS--DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME--FIXING DETAILS--EARLY + TRAVELLING--DÉNOUEMENT--"AM TAG." + + +Germans in neutral countries during the war were circumspect. They +swarmed everywhere, and never in the history of commercial enterprise +since the world began were seen so many commercial travellers as the +Fatherland provided, at such "kolossal" expense and for such little +return. + +Nearly every one of those men without exception was in the direct pay of +the German Secret Service. It was part of their work to nose into +everything, to shadow everyone believed to be foreign to the land they +visited, or who showed any sympathy for the enemies of Germany, or +antagonism towards their country. + +If they desired to or had received a direct order to stop by any means +the activities of another, those men rarely came out into the open. They +much preferred ways that are dark and tricks that are deep to achieve +their desired ends. The depths to which their cunning sank had to be +experienced to be believed. + +During the years 1914 and 1915, when I was employed in the B.F.S.S. in +Northern Europe, several most extraordinary accidents occurred, from +which I had miraculous escapes. At the time I put them down to +incidents. I think very differently now. + +Verily Prussian methods in all things seem to be Jesuitical, in that it +is believed the end justifies the means. If one of their employees in +their own, Secret Service, no matter what his station of life may be, +gets to know too much, his fate may be sealed by a secret sentence of +death passed in the Wilhelmstrasse, and the supreme penalty is inflicted +in a manner unsuspected by the unfortunate victim. + +Dr. Armgaard Karl Graves records in his book, "The Secrets of the German +War Office," how the woman Olga Bruder, whose death in an hotel on the +Russian frontier was returned to the Press as suicide, was in reality +poisoned; how young Lieutenant Zastrov was challenged to repeated duels +until he was killed in one of them; and how others suspecting trouble +avoided it by escape. Otto Diesel, we know, disappeared from the Harwich +boat when on his way to England to exploit his engines which the Germans +had bought. What happened to Frederick Krupp of Essen, no one knows. + +Presumably executive workers in the German Secret Service knew as much +about these things as Dr. Graves did himself. Perhaps it is part of +their training and instruction to attempt to involve representatives of +other nations with whom they come in contact and whose energies may be +considered prejudicial or annoying to them, in quarrels or in brawls +where a blow can be struck which it might be difficult if not impossible +to trace. It must be more than a coincidence that Secret Service agents +often find themselves in the middle of a small crowd where the +pick-pocketing fraternity are undoubtedly represented. Be as careful, +polite, and inoffensive as possible, quick-tempered, irascible +irreconcilables will at times attempt to pick a quarrel. Boats, +motor-cars, and other vehicles by which Secret Service agents travel +often meet with mysterious and altogether unaccountable accidents, +whilst a challenge to a duel, for some trifling cause, is an experience +which more than one of them has had to endure and to evade as best he +can. + +I chuckle now as I remember how I passed through one of these ordeals, +not a hundred miles from the Rathhaus of Kiel. The incident took place +very shortly before this world-war had actually begun. I have happily +only received the very doubtful honour of one challenge since, which I +insisted on treating as a practical joke, wisely absenting myself +before developments could make the situation serious and untenable. + +Both these incidents arose through polite assistance being rendered to a +lady in distress. + +The former typically exemplifies German methods, whilst its details +cannot be considered devoid of interest. + +I had for some years been prowling round on erratic wildfowling +expeditions in the Baltic and along the western coast of Schleswig +Holstein. My operations were at times based from the Esbjerg fjord, but +I was no respecter of frontiers and there had been trouble whenever I +had drifted too far south with the officious and zealous guardians of +the German coast. I had previously, when travelling on business and +pleasure combined, known trouble at both Berlin and Potsdam; later on at +and near to Hamburg. Apparently I was not popular with a certain section +of German officialdom. Perhaps I had become too well known; that might +or might not have been. Anyhow, for a long period before the war all +German officials showed nervous hysteria in relation to suspected +espionage regarding any Britisher who exhibited the smallest interest in +the Heligoland district or the western islands, Kiel Canal, and Kiel +Harbour. Yet I paid about as much attention to official fussiness as I +would have done to a pinch of salt. + +One memorable winter I had travelled north as usual, little thinking +that any adventure would befall me. + +At Osnabruck, where the lower level railway connects up with the higher, +passengers have to ascend a steep flight of steps, the only means of +communication between the two platforms. A certain young lady of +Hungarian extraction, on the occasion in question, regarding whom it had +better be stated at the outset that she was exceedingly fair to look +upon and still more attractive in her manners, was overloaded with small +hand-parcels and wraps. No porter was available, and common politeness +dictated that such assistance as one was capable of rendering should be +proffered. + +The natural sequence of events led to an informal acquaintanceship, and +the journey was continued in a jointly-occupied _coupé_. This +compartment was also shared by other travellers, including a small, +extraordinary-looking eccentric who covered his head with a kind of wire +entanglement resembling the skeleton framework of a lampshade, over +which he drew a green silk cover in order to shade his eyes from the +glare of the lamplight, so that he could sleep without any +inconvenience. The whole thing looked so ludicrous that one's risible +faculties were tickled. I laughed so much I had to retire to the gangway +in order to relieve my feelings without hurting the stranger's feelings +by outward rudeness. The aforesaid Hungarian lady found herself in +similar straits. Mutual converse naturally ensued. + +Ascertaining that Kiel happened to be our common destination, what more +natural than we should select the same hotel to stay at? After dinner, +in order to kill time as pleasantly as could be, we visited a local +place of amusement where a musical farce was being performed and the +stalls were filled with military and naval officers. My companion had +informed me that her father was the commander of a fortress on the +Baltic, that she had two brothers, one a lieutenant in the Navy and the +other in the Army. Whilst waiting between the acts a young officer of +overbearing, vulgar, swaggering type, which Zabern brought into +world-wide prominence, entered our private box and claimed +acquaintanceship. He was more or less intoxicated, and obnoxiously +effusive. He would order champagne, and plenty of it, in spite of all +protests to the contrary. He also fetched another officer, whom he +stated to be a connection by marriage with the lady, but whom she failed +to recognise or to remember. Not appreciating nor being flattered by +these attentions, an early attempt was made to cover a polite quittance +with plausible excuses, but such an escape was not permitted. In due +course, as the wine flowed, the officer's temperament changed from +gushing effusiveness to the quarrelsome stage. Instinct foretold +unpleasantness, which was not long in the coming. The two officers first +quarrelled between themselves, then one of them accused me of an +unfriendly act. Whether it was imagination or wilful design on his part +I know not, but the accusation was followed by open insult in action as +well as words. + +Wishing to do everything I could to smooth matters over and avoid as +much publicity as possible, I rapidly collected my companion's wraps and +got her out of the box. As I was doing this one of the lieutenants threw +a glass of champagne in my face accompanied by an epithet against which +even Job himself would have protested. It therefore became necessary to +administer one of those gentle little all-British reminders, which +landed home so unexpectedly and suddenly that the aggressor tripped +backwards over the chairs and collapsed on the bosom of his companion, +both falling in a mixed heap upon the floor. It was difficult to +distinguish which limbs belonged to each respectively, intermingled as +they were with the table, the chairs, the bubbling wine and broken +glass. + +I escorted my lady friend back to the hotel. + +Two hours later a couple of very serious middle-aged officers of some +rank and distinction visited me. They demanded an audience with the +foreigner and sent up their cards. They had come to arrange matters for +their friends, and they refused to listen to any explanation or +arguments relating to the true facts of the case. All they knew or would +admit was that a blow had been struck, their uniform insulted, and the +dignity of the two officers of the Imperial Forces had been rolled in +the dust. Satisfaction to both must be accorded at the first available +opportunity and in accordance with the custom of Imperial Germany. As +the principal actor in the affair happened to be a stranger in a strange +land, the hospitality of two friends of unimpeachable integrity should +be provided to his commands. Meanwhile full apologies were tendered for +the lateness of the hour of calling and for the rather informal +procedure; but the visitors seemed over-anxious to fix preliminary +arrangements, presumably as a caution against the possibility of any +sudden departure. + +Which of the usual weapons did I prefer? + +Perhaps it is needless to say that my then inclinations leaned towards +neither of them, nor to anything of a pugnacious character. I freely +said so. They replied that "a choice must be made or a difficulty would +arise which could not be easily surmounted. No; it must be in accordance +with the recognised code of military honour." + +"Very well, then," I quietly replied; "fists or single-sticks are good +enough for me." + +The look on their faces seemed to imply that insult had been added to +injury. Such a proposal was most unacceptable and preposterous. They +came back to the original weapons and insisted upon a selection being +named, which I settled by telling them to provide both. Their next +proposition caused a deadlock to further negotiations. They wanted to +fix the meeting in a named wood, some little distance from the suburbs +of the town, at the early hour of six on the following morning. + +Bowing very politely, I smiled. It was the first smile that had crossed +the countenance of anyone of the participants at that memorable +interview. "Gentlemen," I commenced, "you may like early hours; they may +agree with your constitution and methods of living, but you cannot +persuade a civilian gentleman to rise until the world has been properly +aired. We English are as regular in our habits as you may be. We go to +bed at midnight. We are called at 8 a.m., and we have breakfast--a good +substantial repast _à la fourchette_--at 9 a.m. We must read the +morning's news-sheet. After 10 a.m. we are at the disposal of our +friends. You may have your own way in any other details or particulars +of this unfortunate little misunderstanding you please, but upon this +point I remain adamant." + +Again I bowed to each of them, and although serious enough to all +outward appearances, I was chuckling inwardly, because at last I saw a +silver lining to the ominous clouds which had so suddenly and so +unexpectedly enveloped me. + +The English nation flatters itself and is justly proud of its sporting +instincts. But it looks with horror upon duelling as being little short +of murder. Our national sense of fair play and justice abhors the +thought of any expert being matched against an amateur; more +particularly in a contest where the skill of each party is unequal, or +one of them can easily overmatch the other. + +I personally would never attempt the permanent injury of a fellow-being, +unless forced into a fight and the doing of it was the only way of +saving life. I knew nothing of swordsmanship, nor had I ever practised +with the foils. As a revolver shot I was a very doubtful performer, and +they are difficult little things to use at any time. I had no quarrel +with the two unmannerly cads who had forced themselves uninvited and +unwelcomed upon my privacy. All differences had been settled and wiped +off the slate with one small wave of the arm. Why, therefore, should I +now seek their lives, or to do them some serious bodily harm? If anyone +was aggrieved, surely I was entitled to all sympathy. Why, therefore, +should they now seek to destroy me? Little did I know that "Am Tag" was +hovering so near at hand. + +On these points, however, my mind was not only quite clear but it was +quite made up. The meeting must be arranged for 11 a.m. on the morrow or +it must be postponed to some more convenient and suitable date. + +When my visitors shook their heads and demurred I became indignant. I +reminded them of the condition in which I had left those whom they +represented. I pointed out the obvious fact that the intervening time +was not sufficient for them to sleep off the fumes and effects of the +excess of alcohol which they were undoubtedly suffering from; whilst as +a final and unanswerable argument I hammered home the fact that I had +not yet been introduced to the gentlemen who would act as my friends at +this very important meeting. If not an insult to them it certainly would +be an insult to me, to be invited or even expected to meet in honourable +(?) combat, opponents who were not perfectly sober, or who might be +severely handicapped in consequence of the continuing effects of their +over-night insobriety. + +I enlarged on this, speaking in latent sarcasm which, needless to say, +was absolutely lost upon my visitors. Perhaps it was best for my +personal safety that it was so. Their highly-educated super-kultur +would prevent them from appreciating such, or understanding it. I said +that any combat in which a preponderance of advantage rested on one side +or the other could not be tolerated by any honourable gentleman, who +never minded accepting odds, providing these odds were against himself. +But he would consider it low and mean and altogether unworthy to take +advantage of an opponent unless equality and fair play could be ensured. +For my part I insisted that those whom they represented should have full +opportunities of equal combat; in other words, that they should have +time to get sober. + +These honeyed sentiments clinched the business. My visitors bowed most +politely and replied, "Having heard your explanations, we fully realise, +as gentlemen speaking for and acting on behalf of gentlemen" (God save +the mark!) "that we cannot do otherwise than accept your reasons and act +accordingly." Thus they agreed to fix the meeting by mutual consent for +eleven the following morning, and with an exchange of courtesies on all +sides we parted company. + + * * * * * + +According to the local railway time-tables, a slow train was advertised +as departing south for Hamburg at the early hour of 4 a.m. or a little +after; whilst a fast train, running between Hamburg and the north of +Denmark, stopped a few minutes at Neumunster about 7 a.m. Neumunster is +the junction station for the Kiel Canal on the main Hamburg, Altona, +Rensburg, Schleswig, Flensburg, Wogens, Vamdrup, Kolding line, and +connecting up Fredericia and Copenhagen by the boat train _via_ Esbjerg. + + * * * * * + +At 3.30 a.m., long before the hour of dawn, a silent shadow glided along +the deserted streets of Kiel. A meek voice at the palatial +railway-station in very guttural German requested a third-class ticket +by the slow train to Hamburg. This modest traveller left the train at +Neumunster, but no one appeared to notice he had broken his journey, or +that he quietly disappeared from view on the station platform until the +fast northward-bound train bustled in. In fact, he was so muffled up, +and he gripped his handbag so tightly, that he did not appear to be +worth ten pfennig in return for any railway official's attention; whilst +other travellers were far too occupied by their own concerns to trouble +about his existence. + + * * * * * + +When the world had indeed become properly aired and the morning sun had +risen far above the housetops, the landlord of a certain hotel in Kiel +might have been seen standing at the entrance of his hostelry. A +self-satisfied smile suffused his fat face, and both his hands were +dived well down into capacious trouser-pockets, wherein he kept turning +over coin after coin, whilst he puzzled his slow-working brains in vain +to find a solution to account for the mad eccentricities of all +foreigners in general; in particular those lunatics who seemed to prefer +night-travelling on any uncomfortable train to snug, warm beds; and who +left notes of unintelligible explanation, enclosing double the +remuneration necessary for the so-called luxuries supplied by his hotel. + + * * * * * + +About the same time a lattice window in an upper storey of the same +hotel was thrown open, and a sweet-faced maiden, having an Hungarian +type of beauty, leaned out upon the window-sill, permitting the full +rays of the morning sun to light up the beauties of her face, form, and +figure. She was reading a letter which she had found pushed under her +bedroom door whilst she had wandered in dreamland through the fairy +glades of fancy during her innocent girlish repose. She frowned as she +read it and stamped her foot in disappointment at the postscript, +muttering the while to herself: + +"No, we shan't meet in Paris next month, because I don't know whether I +can get there. I'll come after you now." + + * * * * * + +At twelve noon, in a small clearing on the outskirts of a wood a few +kilomètres from the town of Kiel, three carriages were drawn into the +seclusion of the tree-trunks. The horses attached thereto stamped +impatiently. Either they were very fresh or they had been waiting too +long. Further in amongst the trees was a party of men talking earnestly +to one another. They were military officers, and a doctor was with them. +They appeared to be expecting somebody to arrive, or something of +importance to happen. At last one of them, kicking furiously at a small +bush, asked his companion, a man much older than himself, "What was that +idiotic proviso you spoke about? 'You cannot persuade a civilian +gentleman to rise until the world has been properly aired'? We ought to +have spitted him when we had the chance!" + +"My dear Fritz," replied his companion, "you never did have the chance; +what is still more clear to me now is the fact that you never will. But +if he's one of those _Swinehund Engländer_--if so, then--_mein Gott! Am +Tag!_" Saying which he viciously spat upon the turf. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +ESCAPING FROM A SUBMARINE + + A SHIP OF ILL OMEN--ATTACKED--HELL LET LOOSE--PANIC--FIGHT FOR THE + BOATS--COWARDLY CONDUCT--POWERLESS TO ACT--SHRAPNEL AT + SEA--SURRENDER--TAKING CHARGE OF SHIP AND CARRYING ON--VALUE OF + SMOKE-BOXES--TERRIBLE ANTICIPATIONS--LAND AT LAST--REMINISCENCES + UNTOLD. + + +On one occasion, after I had left the British Foreign Secret Service, I +had to undertake a voyage to the outer islands of the Hebrides, situated +about one hundred miles into the Atlantic, due west of Scotland, and +well away to the north-west of Ireland. + +It was known at the time to be a place which was infested with German +submarines, which had perpetrated many atrocities whilst operating in +that region: senseless, coldblooded murder of innocent fishermen, by +blowing up their frail craft to atoms at close range with deck-guns; and +the sinking of innumerable ships irrespective of the chances of their +crew to make land in the small boats that might be left undamaged by +their shell-fire. + +It was summer time and no suggestion of a submarine attack troubled +anyone concerned on contemplating the voyage. + +"I don't like that boat. She looks like a bird of ill-omen," I remarked +to my companion as we stood on the high quay at Oban looking downwards +at a very small and very dirty steamer which was moored thereto. + +She was about one hundred and sixty feet long, with as much available +space as possible devoted to cargo and cattle transit. Her decks +seemingly had never been scrubbed since the day she was launched. Paint +had been relegated to the background if superior tar was available. The +saloon cabin, so-called, reeked with a conglomeration of ancient and +nauseous smells, whilst the two private berths matchboarded off from it +were altogether impossible to anyone holding the smallest ideas on +sanitary principles. + +"Well, my son, she's the only ship available. She is designated a +mail-boat and she carries a thirteen-pounder aft, which is some +consolation at least in these days of stress and submarines," replied my +friend. + +"Maybe, maybe; but for all that I don't like her. My prejudice is +instinctive. She's about the most repulsive, uninviting boat I ever +boarded, excepting an old coasting tub in Alaska and a pirate junk on +the Yellow Sea; but in Europe one does expect a little more in return +for even wartime passage money." + +"All the grumbling in the world, my son, won't alter or improve the +accommodation of this hulk, so come along and make the best of it." + +I was silent. I selected one of the largest of my blackest cigars and +lighting it with deliberation, proceeded aboard, and turning my back +upon the private cabin which had been retained for my special +occupation, I proceeded to make myself as comfortable as circumstances +admitted in a space which was reserved for luggage at the far end of the +saloon above the settee. + +It had the advantage of being situate immediately below the only +skylight, which, as soon as the ship had started, I prised open and +thereby obtained some few whiffs of fresh air during the long night. + +The following day brought about an improvement to the comfort of the +travellers. The sun shone brilliantly, the sea was as smooth as a lake, +and one could bask on the poop with some degree of comfort, although +such things as deck-chairs or cushions were conspicuous by their +absence. + +I, however, had a thick ulster, which, spread over part of the tarpaulin +covering the mails, made an efficient couch, and after a coarse yet +satisfactory meal I sunned myself to my heart's content and whiled away +the time smoking and reading a book, which I was compelled from time to +time to characterise as rotten reading, much to the amusement of my +companion de voyage. + +According to regulations, a notice was hung over the main companion that +the ship carried two lifeboats with capacity for thirty-three persons, +eleven floating apparatus capable of sustaining one hundred and +seventy-six persons, and her passenger allowance was stated to be one +hundred and ninety-nine in all. How or where they could have slept did +not seem to have occurred to the authorities. + +A merciful Providence ordained that on this eventful voyage not more +than one hundred people all told happened to come aboard at any one +time. + +A few calls were made along the rock-bound coast. Cargo was unshipped +and more cargo taken in. Travellers disembarked, others took their +places. + +About midday all vestiges of land disappeared below the horizon and a +course was steered for the open sea. + +Although during the earlier part of the voyage many wrecks were passed +and many a gallant ship of noble proportions could be seen piled upon +the rocks, the result of German outrages, and the zone was known to be a +particularly dangerous one, no one anticipated or thought of danger; +least of all from the much-dreaded submarine. + +Had not this obsolete and wretched apology for a mail-boat ploughed a +weary course along this familiar route for many, many months during the +war, whilst her engines wheezed and coughed and leaked in every pore, +and her rusty plates collected weed and barnacles week by week, without +molestation? Was she worth a torpedo? She was hardly worth a shell! Why +should she be noticed now, even by the most amateur belligerent, or by +the freshest novice at the game? Yet to the Hun who dreams of the +glories of an Iron Cross, or other coveted decoration, a ship sunk is a +ship to his credit, however insignificant that craft may be. + +Suddenly and all-unexpectedly a low, resounding boom echoed across the +waters, followed almost immediately by a whizz and a bang which made +the ship's company jump and quake in their shoes. + +What was it? + +Where did it come from? + +Eyes were strained and the horizon searched in vain, whilst some of the +women-folk sent up a premature wail of fear of the unknown. + +Doubts were soon dispelled. From the sea about fifty yards away from the +starboard quarter of the ship a column of water rose into the air, +towering far higher than her masts. It was followed within a few seconds +by a second boom, whizz, bang, and another column of similar dimensions +rose equi-distant from her port quarter. + +"My God! It's a submarine," exclaimed my friend. + +"Well, let her sub," I lazily replied, and I continued to read my +much-abused book. I should explain to the reader that I had for quite a +long time previously experienced attacks from bombs and shells, and I +was not unduly disturbed by what I believed to be a mere casual +temporary attention. + +"You can't lie there, man. Get up!" And suiting his action to his words, +he kicked me into activity, although according to him I was very slow to +rise. + +"The book cannot be as bad as you say it is, if you can continue reading +it like this," he added. + +"I know all about that," I replied, "but one must finish a paragraph." + +As I rose from my recumbent position the ship's gunner rushed up on to +the poop, and climbing on the mails, searched the sea for the +whereabouts of the enemy. + +"There she is!" he excitedly exclaimed, as he pointed to the horizon on +the port quarter. "She's about two miles away. Look out!" and he ducked +as another whizz-bang sounded all too close overhead. + +We followed the direction he had indicated and observed, well below the +horizon, a long, low-lying craft, upon the deck of which men were +distinctly visible working the gun. + +Shot followed shot in rapid succession and all around us great columns +of water sprang into the air, the descending spray from which in some +instances splashed our decks. + +Our own gun, however, was soon in action and it plugged away merrily, +seemingly giving as good as we received. + +The fourth or fifth shell from the submarine landed just short of our +vessel's stern. The explosion jerked it upwards and knocked both our +gunners off their feet. This was followed by a shrapnel shell which +exploded a little higher than our masts in the air above and hissed into +the sea all around. The glass in the saloon skylight was splintered to +atoms, the din of the constant explosions seemed like hell let loose and +the fear of God was located in almost everyone aboard. + +It was too much for the rough element--about sixty or more Hebrideans, +some of whom spoke little English. They made an ugly rush for the boats, +shouting that the ship was doomed and every man must save himself. + +Fortunately there happened to be three military officers aboard who had +recently returned from the trenches in France. They tried to control the +crowd, and acted with a quiet heroism worthy of much praise. + +All their efforts, however, were in vain. Men pushed women aside or +knocked them over, and fought like beasts of prey for places in the +boats. + +By the efforts of the mate, who threatened the maddest of the crowd and +fought strenuously for some discipline, an extra small boat was launched +first, but about half a dozen frantic passengers jumped into her and +without waiting for her complement pushed off from the ship. The two +other boats left in the davits were filled with a fighting, snarling, +swearing mass of individuals, some of whom hacked away with knives and a +hatchet at the falls, whilst the great strain in weight put upon the +davits bent them down like twisted wire. As the strands of the falls +parted, the boats fell into the sea, shipping much water, whilst some of +those left aboard jumped into them. Some fell out of the boats, whilst +others jumped into the sea and were pulled into them as they left the +vessel's side all too dangerously crowded. + +It was a revolting sight; a memory that, however hard one may try to +forget, must yet forever live; an act unworthy of all form of manliness, +which can only remain a lasting shame to those whose selfish cowardice +impelled their madness. + +With my friend, I stood near the funnel looking on. What could we do? +Had we, or had the officers had a revolver, the rush might have been +checked, or possibly a life or so might have been sacrificed to try to +save others. + +The man handling the axe probably might have suffered first. I did +attempt one small effort. I approached the fighting mass and tapped a +man, who was struggling ineffectually to get through, on the shoulder. +When he turned round I asked him why he was forgetting the women and +children. The man swore at me, adding, "Women be damned! the boats are +the only thing for us." Then I asked him if he had a match. "What for?" +he demanded. + +"To light a cigarette with, of course." + +"To hell with you and your cigarettes!" he yelled, and springing on the +backs of those in front of him he crawled over their heads and jumped +for the boat below as it was falling from the davits. I was gratified to +see him miss the boat and plunge headlong into the sea. + +When all three boats were well away from the ship, those left behind, +who could think at all, expressed their thankfulness that the rough +element had departed. It gave the much-needed opportunity to talk +quietly to many who were demented with fear, and to attempt to soothe +others whose quiet weeping and wailing was heartbreaking to listen to. + +Meanwhile the small thirteen-pounder aft and the submarine exchanged +shots with ceaseless regularity. But the attacking craft appeared to +have two guns in action. Her shells came faster and the high explosive +was from time to time varied with shrapnel. + +Shrapnel is much more unpleasant at sea than on land. One sees it hiss +down on the surface of the water like spray from a water-cart. Whilst I +was forward taking stock of the hatchway battens for possible floating +purposes, I had two fragments pass all too close to either cheek--so +close that I actually felt them. I put my hand up to my left cheek +expecting to find it laid open, but the skin had not even been broken. A +fortunate and most lucky escape. It was the nearest approach to an +individual casualty throughout the scrap. When the panic crews in the +boats appeared to be about a mile away a high explosive shell from the +submarine actually scraped along the whole of the port side of our ship, +bursting just in front of her fore-foot. I was forward again at the time +getting some lifebelts from the fore-hatch. The explosion knocked me off +my feet. + +Everyone aboard felt the shock. The side of the ship seemed to be stove +in, and the captain commanded a member of his crew to see what water the +vessel was making. + +"You damn well go yourself, mister," was the reply he got; which showed +the state of nerves aboard. Being almost next to the man in question I +volunteered to go, which seemed to somewhat shame the mutinous seaman, +as he went below at once. Then the captain did an extraordinary thing. +He stopped his ship, hoisted a flag (the W) half-mast high, blew three +long blasts on the siren, and came down from the bridge on deck. + +I met him as he descended the companion and asked him what he was +playing at? + +"I mean to save what lives I can," he said. "The ship is holed and it is +useless to carry on." + +"That's the way to sacrifice the lot," I told him. "You don't suppose +those pirates will spare either ship or us." + +Whilst we were slanging each other, a wild-eyed woman whose hair was all +down her back clutched the captain and demanded him to surrender at +once. "Save us, save us!" she wailed. Her embrace had to be forcibly +removed. + +None of us aboard who took interest in life were agreeable to a stoppage +of the ship or to a surrender in any form. We bluntly said so. But the +captain claimed he was master aboard his own ship and should do as he +thought fit. Having thus delivered himself he proceeded aft and cut away +the lashing of three small rafts, each about ten feet by four, which +appeared to be the only hope of safety left for the forty or more people +aboard. + +The engineers had stuck to their posts--all credit to their +bravery!--but the ship, having lost way, was drifting broadside on to +the submarine, which would soon have made her an easier mark to hit. +Whereupon one of the three military officers, a second lieutenant of +infantry, as arranged quickly between ourselves, mounted the bridge and +rang up the engine-room for full speed ahead. + +He managed to heave her round and got her going again; and very, very +slowly she was made to steal further and further away. As soon as the +captain realised his vessel was moving he went back to the bridge, +reassumed command, and remained there. + +For emergencies there is no school of learning to equal that of +wide-world travel. In a search for more floating accommodation my friend +and myself went forward and released the heavy coverings of the +fore-hold, which provided ten or a dozen good planks quite equal to surf +boards, such as we had seen used by Kanakas of the Sandwich Islands, and +where we had participated with them in the joys of surf-riding on the +Pacific breakers rolling in over the coral reefs. It was undoubtedly a +wise forethought. + +Although the fighting lasted, from first shot to last, forty-two +minutes, it but seemed a few seconds to those whose minds were occupied +with the safety of the ship and the lives of all aboard her. We had +quite a lot to do and we were kept busy. Lifebelts had to be handed out +and correctly put on, cigarettes obtained from below and supplied to all +who cared for that form of nerve tonic, a great proportion of the +terrified women pacified, and the rafts arranged on deck with a captain +to each and fresh-water supplies provided. + +As soon as necessary matters had been completed I got hold of my friend, +who was taking matters quite philosophically, and we ascended the poop +together to help take observation of our shell fire. Then we noticed +that our gun-layer was serving the gun alone, so I slipped down to him +to help get out more shells and to hand them up to his platform. + +After a few rounds someone shouted, "Smoke boxes." At the moment I was +struggling to the gun with a live shell, but I received a push from the +all-too-energetic originator of the idea which sent me sprawling over a +coil of rope and a pile of empty shell-cases. + +Picking myself up as quickly as I could, I returned to the main deck in +time to see the first of these useful and ingenious devices brought into +practical utility. It was an oblong box, about three feet long and one +foot deep, which was lighted at the end by a fuse, then thrown overboard +to windward. Others followed in quick succession. + +The smoke formed a light brown haze which with the help of a +broadside-on breeze drifted across our wake and in a very short time +obliterated our hull from the view of the deserting boats as well as +those on board the submarine; which latter did not seem too desirous of +following on, nor of decreasing the distance separating us. + +From statements made by those in the boats (one of which was not +recovered until some five days afterwards), the flag hoisted to +half-mast, the three blasts on the whistle, and the obliterated hull +gave every appearance of the foundering of the ship. If they formed this +impression, _a fortiori_, the Germans, who were more than a mile behind +them, must have been still more convinced that their shell-fire had done +its dastardly work. This would also be strengthened by the sight of the +three boats crowded with refugees rowing frantically away in the +foreground; they must have appeared like rats (as they indeed were), +deserting what they believed to be a doomed vessel. + +Be it as it may be, after this the submarine ceased fire and submerged. +Our gun-layer also ceased fire because he could see nothing further to +shoot at. + +Those on board, although relieved of the horrible din of bursting shells +and continuous gun-fire, were not happy. They were haunted by a +deeply-rooted idea that the submarine had only submerged with the +intention of concealing her course so that she could head off the ship +and attack her again from another quarter. Some were quite unable to +conceal their anxieties. However, after the cessation of active +hostilities a more hopeful and cheerful tone prevailed throughout. Some +of the engineers came on deck for a breath of fresh air, whilst those +below redoubled their efforts to pack on every ounce of steam the +overstrained boilers would stand. With much wheezing and groaning, jerks +and spasms, the machinery ground away and the battered old tub really +did appear to make an effort to get along. What her speed actually was +is not likely to be known, but if the log had been used and had recorded +anything over eight knots an hour her passengers would have doubted its +accuracy. + +After sunset the elements favoured those of us on board who had +certainly endeavoured to help ourselves. A rain-squall dropped from +above, mists rolled up from the surface of the ocean which had hitherto +been so calm and tranquil, and soon it became rough and unpleasant. +Womenfolk who had been sick beyond belief through fear and shell-shock +now became genuinely sea-sick. Perhaps it was a counter-irritant +ordained for the best. + +As soon as firing ceased and the enemy had disappeared from view, I +sneaked away alone to a coal-bunker, where I carefully buried deep under +the black nuggets a small packet of precious documents which would +undoubtedly have proved of absorbing interest to the Hun. I thought this +would probably be the last place anyone would be likely to look for +anything of the kind, even if a boarding had become actual. + +On returning to my friend, I much amused that gentleman by reason of a +rather argumentative dispute I was drawn into with a Reverend raft +captain regarding the salvage of certain fishing gear which I suggested +would be the best help to kill the monotony whilst drifting and waiting +to be picked up; assuming naturally that we were shortly to be sunk by +the submarine. + +But by degrees twilight gave place to gloaming. Sturdily the engines +throbbed and the vessel pushed steadily ahead; whilst every eye that +could, searched the sea around for any sign of periscopes. + +What a relief it was to all when the faint outline of land gradually +showed up far ahead! Greater still some hours afterwards when a bay was +entered and the vessel reached safe anchorage. This, however, was far +from the destination we had had in view, and however beautiful the +scenery might be said to be, my companion and myself had no desire to +linger there for an indefinite period. + +How we fared eventually; how the soul of one of our small coterie +collected on a rock-bound island, a General recently returned from +Gallipoli, passed over the Great Beyond in a storm; how ships that +passed and repassed were attacked by submarines and sunk or escaped; how +wreckage, empty lifeboats galore and dead bodies daily piled up in the +alcoves and on the rare sand-patches of the shore; how a wireless, with +plant and adjacent buildings, was blown sky-high; how we were all burnt +out of house and home, and other passing episodes of that short but +adventurous trip, do not concern the subject-heading of this narrative. +They remain another story. + +Suffice it, therefore, to say that after a meal of sorts ashore a +bargain was struck with some rough but honest island fisherfolk, whose +knowledge of English was limited, although they knew well the value of a +"John Bradbury;" and an hour after entering that peaceful haven of +refuge a small fishing-craft stealthily crept out to sea, steering +northwards over the scene of our recent fight, where she was soon lost +in the silences and the shadows of the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CASEMENT AFFAIR + + IMPUTATIONS--NORWEGIAN CHARACTERISTICS--CASEMENT'S LETTER TO SIR + EDWARD GREY--IRISH INTERESTS--SURREPTITIOUS VISITS TO THE + EMBASSY--ENVOYÉ EXTRAORDINAIRE--£10,000 FOR CASEMENT'S + SERVANT--CASEMENT'S EXPLANATIONS, COMMENTS, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER + ALLEGATIONS--SIR F. E. SMITH ON CASEMENT'S LIFE AND ACTIONS--A BAD + MISTAKE. + + +In February, 1915, a veritable bombshell was burst in the diplomatic +circles of Northern Europe. + +A letter had appeared in the German newspapers containing very grave +allegations against a British Minister, extracts from which had +apparently been sent round broadcast to the Press of neutral countries. + +On Wednesday, February 17th, the _Aftenposten_ of Christiania published +the document in its entirety. Other papers may have copied it, but the +demand for copies immediately became so great it was difficult to secure +them. Those which were purchased were read aloud in public places and +discussed and commented upon until excitement reached fever-heat. + +The general public in Scandinavian countries knew little or nothing +concerning the writer of the letter--Sir Roger Casement. + +The _Norske Argus_ described him as "a man who had held positions; a +British Consul in various places in the Colonies; Consul-General in Rio +de Janeiro; the exposer of the Putumayo affair." + +In Norway British Consulships are most eagerly sought after, and +considered enviable positions carrying high honour. + +The _Norske Argus_ stated that "Sir Roger Casement belonged to the +faction in Ireland which had opposed the war and recruiting; that he had +been to Berlin to intercede with the Germans for better treatment +towards Ireland if it came to an invasion of the British Islands; and +that he felt satisfied with the answer he had obtained from the highest +quarters, that 'in such case Ireland should obtain her full freedom'; +and because of this visit the English were very bitter against him and +in many places he was stamped as a traitor." + +Now Norway is a country infused with a very strong Socialistic element. +It holds deep sympathies with the Irish, and believes them to be much +abused and a much ill-used race. It knows nothing of the wildly absurd, +headstrong obstinacy of certain Irishmen who make it their business to +stir up dissent and to oppose their best interests; or that they +apparently do this out of sheer "cussedness." Rightly or wrongly, Norway +believes that Ireland is a poor, downtrodden country which during the +past hundred years has received nothing but harsh and unsympathetic +treatment at the hands of the English. Hence Norwegians, not being fully +advised of facts, looked upon this bogus hero, who had voluntarily taken +upon himself such great risks as his action and journey involved, in the +light of a modern Garibaldi, rather than as a traitor to his country, +which he had and since has fully proved himself.[10] + +In his letter Sir Roger Casement stated that he landed from America on +October 29th, 1914, and that within a few hours of his arrival his +abduction or murder was planned by the British Minister personally. Some +Norwegians looked upon this allegation almost as a breach of good faith +with them and their country. They somewhat doubted that the +representative of King George of England, the brother of their beloved +and popular Queen Maud, could stoop so low as to be a party to such acts +as were alleged against him in this letter. But they wanted and waited +for a denial direct. + +There was no evidence whatever before them that this man (Sir Roger +Casement) had done anything contrary to the interests of England, or +that he could well have done anything between the outbreak of war and +the dates quoted. If he was a traitor or a criminal their own Ministers +and police should have been informed thereof and the man arrested and +extradited for a fair trial. The alleged revelations thus came as a +shock to the country, and consternation filled the faces of many +thinking persons. + + +TRANSLATION OF SIR ROGER CASEMENT'S LETTER TO SIR EDWARD GREY, AS +PUBLISHED IN THE _Aftenposten_ ON THE 17TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1915[11] + +"SIR EDWARD GREY, + +"I understand that my pension has been the subject of an interpellation +in the House of Lords.[12] I have already renounced my claim to the same +upon going to Germany to ascertain the German Government's intentions +towards Ireland. In the course of the discussion, according to what I +hear, Lord Crewe said that 'Sir Roger Casement's behaviour deserves a +severe punishment.' + +"This gives me an opportunity of clearing up once and for all the +question under discussion, especially as I now am in possession of +incontestable proof of the kind of punishment secretly meted out to me. +I acknowledge that from the first day three months ago when I first set +foot on Norwegian soil, I was aware of your intentions, but it has taken +me some time to get your diplomatic agent to give me written evidence of +the assault that His Majesty's Government planned against me. + +"Allow me first to show my own method of proceeding before comparing it +with yours. Between the British Government and myself there has never, +as far as I am aware, been any talk of a pension, reward, or order. I +have served the British Government truly and loyally as long as I +possibly could. I resigned as soon as I found it no longer possible. As +it also became impossible for me to enjoy the pension legally due to me +I have also renounced it voluntarily, as I had previously given up the +position which entitled me to it and as I now give up all orders and +distinctions that have at different times been awarded me by His +Majesty's Government. + +"I came last October from America to Europe to see that my Fatherland +Ireland should suffer as little as possible from the results of this +luckless war, however it may end. + +"My point of view I have sufficiently clearly published in an open +letter from New York dated September 17th,[13] and which I sent to +Ireland for distribution amongst my countrymen. I have the honour to +enclose a printed copy of this letter. It gives exactly my views which I +still hold to and the duties which an Irishman owes his Fatherland +during this crisis. + +"Shortly after having written this letter, I left for Europe. + +"The possibility of my being able to assist Ireland to escape some of +the horrors of war was in my opinion worth the loss of outward honour +and my pension, as well as the committing the act of high treason in the +technical meaning of the word. I had naturally reckoned on taking all +personal risk and any punishment which the law could possibly threaten +my actions with. I had, however, not considered that I should be sought +after with means in excess of the law in spite of my action being +without the moral limits. In other words, I reckoned with English +Justice and legal punishment and the sacrifice of name, position, and +income, and willingly agreed to pay this price, but had not reckoned +with the present Government. I was ready to face a legal tribunal but I +was not prepared against being shadowed, kidnapped by force, my servant +being bribed, and that I, in short, might be struck down; I was, in +fact, not prepared for the precautions your representative took upon +hearing that I was stopping in this country. + +"The criminal attack which M. de C. Findlay, the British Ambassador, +planned on the 30th in the British Embassy, together with a Norwegian +subject named Adler Christensen, included all this and more. The plan +included not only an illegal attack upon my person for the execution of +which the British Ambassador promised my servant £5,000 sterling, but +also included an infringement of international law and common justice, +and the Norwegian was guaranteed by the English Ambassador in Norway +that he should go free of punishment. + +"I landed from America on October 29th. A few hours after my landing a +Secret Agent of the British Ambassador approached the man I had taken +into my service and whom I fully trusted, and conducted him in a private +motor-car to the English Embassy, where the first attempt was made to +induce him to commit an act of treachery against me. + +"Your agent at the Embassy pretended not to know me and said he only +wanted to identify me and get to know my plans. + +"As this attempt did not succeed, Adler Christensen the next day, +October 30th, was accosted by a new agent and requested to go to the +Embassy, where he would hear of something to his advantage. The next +meeting was conducted by the Ambassador himself. Mr. Findlay went +straight to the point. His assumed or real ignorance of my identity, as +shown the day before, he now abandoned. Findlay acknowledged that he +knew me but declared that he did not know where I was going, what I was +going to do, and what my intentions were. It was enough for him that I +was an Irish Nationalist. He confessed that the British Government had +no proof that I had done, or intended to do, anything wrong which could +give him right, either moral or legal, to interfere with my freedom. All +the same, he was determined to do so. He therefore boldly and without +further consideration used illegal means and gave my servant to +understand that if I 'disappeared' it would be a very good thing for +whoever managed it. He specially emphasised that nothing should happen +to the perpetrator, as my presence in Christiania was known to the +British Government, and that that Government would protect and be +responsible for those who effected my 'disappearance.' He suggested +clearly the means that could be used, intimating to Adler Christensen +that the man who 'knocked him on the head' would not need to do any more +work for the rest of his life, saying, 'I presume that you would have no +objection to taking it easy for the rest of your days?' My faithful +servant hid the indignation he felt at this proposal and continued the +conversation so as to become more fully acquainted with details of the +assault being planned on my person. He remarked not only that I had been +good to him, but that 'I absolutely relied on him.' + +"Upon this absolute confidence Mr. Findlay built his whole plot against +my freedom, Norway's common justice, and the well-being of this young +man, whom he tried to bribe with a large amount to commit a cowardly +crime upon his well-doer. If I could be seized or disappear, no one +would know it, and no question could be raised, as no one outside the +British Government knew of my presence in Norway, and there was no +authority from whom I could get help as the one authority would protect +the accused and care for his future. Thus, according to my information, +spoke Mr. Findlay, the British Minister, to the young man who was +tempted into the Embassy for this purpose. That this young man was +faithful to me and to the law of his land is a triumph of Norwegian +straightforwardness over the vile manner in which the richest and +mightiest Government in the world tried to tempt him to treachery +against both. + +"After thus having sketched out his plan, Mr. Findlay asked Christensen +to 'think it over' and 'come again at three o'clock if you agree.' + +"He gave him twenty-five kroner, just to pay the automobile with, and +let him go. As I naturally was interested to hear how they proposed to +get rid of me, I gave the man whom they had tried to bribe orders to +return to the Embassy at three o'clock and pretend to agree with the +wishes of your envoyé extraordinaire. I advised him to 'sell me dearly' +and demand a respectable sum for such a dirty job. Christensen, who had +been a seaman and naturally seen many strange people, assured me that he +felt quite at home with His Majesty's representative. He returned to the +Legation at three o'clock and remained alone with Mr. Findlay until +nearly five o'clock. An exact account of the conversation will duly be +sent to you and others. My servant pretended to agree to the British +Minister's plans and only demanded a moderate sum for his treachery. Mr. +Findlay promised on his word of honour (this strange phrase was used to +guarantee the transaction) that Christensen should have £5,000 on his +handing me over to the British authorities. + +"If by this abduction any harm should happen to me, or any personal +injury be inflicted upon me, no question would be raised and full +impunity would be guaranteed to the abductor. + +"My servant emphasised that I should travel in the afternoon to +Copenhagen, and he had already reserved my place in the train, unless he +had some immediate opportunity to carry out the commission. + +"Mr. Findlay admitted that it would be necessary to defer the attempt +until there appeared a favourable opportunity to lure me to the coast, +to one or other place by the Skagerak or North Sea where there would be +an English warship which waited to catch me. + +"He confided further in my servant the commission to steal my +correspondence with my supposed colleagues in America and Ireland, +particularly in Ireland, so that they could be made a party to the +'sympathetic punishment' which was intended for me. + +"He explained a system for secret correspondence with him which +Christensen should use and write through a confidential address in +Christiania, to which he should communicate the results of his +endeavours to steal my papers and report my plans. + +"This address in Christiania was written down in block letter capitals +by Mr. Findlay on a half-sheet of the Ambassador's letter-paper. This +precaution, said he, would prevent the handwriting from being +identified. + +"This document, besides 100 kroner in Norwegian notes which Mr. Findlay +had given him as earnest money, with more to follow later, was +immediately brought to me, together with a full account of what has +already been told. + +"As I was obviously in a dangerous position I changed my plans, and +instead of travelling to Copenhagen I resolved to change the method of +travelling and the route. + +"Thus it was that I, with secret knowledge concerning the full extent of +the crime which was planned by your representative in Norway, left +Christiania on October 30th. + +"The remainder of the history is soon told. + +"You are doubtless apprised of all that happens, as you are both by +telegraph and by letter in constant communication with your +representative. + +"You also know the Imperial German Government's declaration which was +published on November 20th last year in answer to my question. + +"The British Government had, both through Press correspondents as well +as through special agents, allowed to be spread over the whole of +Ireland the lie that the Germans began the most abominable crimes in +Belgium, and they had also pointed out that a similar fate awaited the +Irish people if Germany came victorious out of this war. + +"Your Government's intention was to excite the Irish to apprehend a +predatory attack by a people who never had done them any harm and by +false reports make them believe that this was their plight. It was my +intention not only to obtain a binding benevolent assurance from the +German Government, but also to free my countrymen from the false +position which this lying exciting campaign would develop; finally, as +far as it stood in my power, I would prevent them from entering into an +immoral conflict against a people who had never done Ireland an +injustice. + +"This declaration from the German Government, which, as far as I know, +was delivered in full sincerity, forms a justification for my +'treason.' I leave it to you, sir, to find justification for the British +Government's and the Minister's criminal plan, which was fully prepared +before I had even set foot on German soil and, furthermore, in a land +where I had perfect right to remain, this plan, which was attempted to +be carried out by the miserable means of bribery and corruption. + +"You will not find justification in the many conversations which Mr. +Findlay in November and in December last year had after his own wish +with my faithful servant. The correspondence between them couched in the +Ambassador's arranged cypher speaks for itself. These conversations have +brought one thing to the light of day which I later on will make public. + +"It is certainly correct to say concerning all this, which passed +between your representative and mine, with these opportunities, that you +during the constant negotiations had half the thread in your own hand. + +"Your object was, as Mr. Findlay openly has confessed before the man +whom he believed he had bought, to get me out of the way in the most +disgraceful manner. My object is to expose your plans to the whole +world, and by the help of the agent whom you yourself have selected for +your plans and whom you have attempted to bribe in order to get him to +perpetrate an exceptionally vile crime. + +"Once, when my man pretended that he was not satisfied with the sum +which was bid him for the treachery, your agent ventured to raise the +amount to £10,000. I have a precise inventory of the negotiations put +forward and the promises which were given in your name. + +"Your Ambassador has twice given A. Christensen large money +rewards--once 500 kroner in Norwegian money, another time a like sum +partly in Norwegian money and partly in English gold. On one of these +occasions, in order to be precise, December 7th, Mr. Findlay handed to +Adler Christensen the key to a back door in the English Ministry so that +he could come and go unobserved. This key I intend to return personally +to the owner, together with the various money rewards which he has +forced upon my servant. + +"The tales which Mr. Findlay told in these conversations would not +deceive a schoolboy. All mentioned proofs of my plans and intentions +which Adler Christensen produced, the mentioned letters, the fingered +land and sea maps, etc., I must put together for my own defence to +expose your criminal plan and thus come into possession of the +indisputable proof which I now have. + +"First.--On January 3rd Mr. Findlay exposed himself thus, that he, in +the English Government's name, gave my betrayer a safe undertaking from +himself in which he promised him reward and impunity from any punishment +if he committed the arranged crime. This piece of writing is in my +hands. I have the honour to enclose a photograph of it. + +"Then, the English Ambassador in Norway obviously is in a position to +give secret guarantees and safe impunity from punishment for crime, so I +reserve myself for a time when I am not exposed to his persecutions to +place before the Norwegian authorities the original letters and the +whole of the proofs which are in my possession and as glaring +illuminations of the British Government's methods. + +"I now permit myself, through you, Sir, to surrender to this Government +my Order of St. Michael, the King George the Fifth's Coronation Medal, +and all the other distinctions which the British Government has given +me. + +"I am, your obedient and humble servant, + +"ROGER CASEMENT." + + +Englishmen in Norway, or indeed throughout the whole of Scandinavia, who +could have given the true history of Sir Roger Casement at that time +might have been counted on the fingers of one hand.[14] + +Norwegians naturally argued that one side of a story was good until the +other was told. Meanwhile the newspapers did a remarkably fine business, +as most editions were greedily bought up day after day and week after +week, in the expectation of finding the reply of His Britannic Majesty's +Minister to the scathing indictment propounded against him. + +According to the _Berliner Tageblatt_, and other German newspapers, this +letter was sent to Sir Edward Grey on February 1st, but no answer had +been received up to February 15th, when some of the most material +allegations were being quoted in the Press. Nor did any answer ever +appear, to the writer's knowledge, from Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Mansfeldt +de Cardonnel Findlay, or any other person; even after the letter had +been re-published in full by the _Aftenposten_ in Christiania, and +commented upon by other papers, and discussed from one end of +Scandinavia to the other by men and women in every station of life. + +That omission was publicly and privately stated to be a colossal +mistake which would cost England, and the countries fighting by her +side, very dearly indeed. + +One would have thought that Mr. M. de C. Findlay would instantly have +sent a short explanation in reply to every newspaper in Norway which +reproduced any part of this fatal letter. He, however, remained in the +seclusion of his castle on the hill of _Drammensvei_ and observed a +prolonged and unbroken silence. + +The honest, open-minded, and clean-thinking Norwegian people were +disgusted beyond words. They looked to him for an explanation as of +right. They waited long, but they did not see, neither did they hear, a +word of denial. Sorrowfully but very naturally they actually began to +believe these extraordinary accusations to be true in substance and in +fact. + +Now, references are made in this letter to "secret agents of the British +Ambassador approaching the man whom Sir Roger Casement refers to as his +servant." Therefore the writer takes this, his first opportunity, of +most clearly and emphatically denying that any member of the British +Secret Service was in any way employed or engaged in this affair. Such +Secret Service agents as were then working in Scandinavia were known to +him (the writer), also their locations; not one of them was within +hundreds of miles of Christiania at the time of the alleged transaction. +It should also be obvious that if any person exhibited such an +amateurish display of incompetence and bungling as the accusations +allege, that person would be more than useless for any Secret Service +work, however simple it might be. + +It seems quite impossible to believe that any man could have acted as +Mr. M. de C. Findlay is said to have done. + +What use was block letter-writing to conceal identity if it was cyphered +on Ambassadorial note-paper? + +Why use English gold when Norwegian money was available? + +Why permit such a man to come near the Embassy at all? + +Why see such a man personally? + +Why give a key to a gate, or a door, which could be left open? + +Why give a scrap of writing or paper of any sort? + +Why offer such ridiculous sums of money to a stranger, who, if he were +such a man as suggested, would have accepted a fraction of the amount +for such work? + +If an investigation of the alleged proofs could show there was any +semblance of truth in this story, then, indeed, "it certainly would not +have _deceived a schoolboy_," as the letter quotes. + +Assuming, for the sake of argument, that an alien to a neutral country +(whosoever that person might be or in whatsoever walk of life he might +happen to be placed) had made himself a danger to the realm; that it +might have been considered an advantage to the Allies if he were +kidnapped and taken to a place of safe keeping so that he could be +looked after until peace was declared. What more simple and inexpensive +than to bring about a consummation of such wishes? Our friend Nixie +Pixie, or Jim, or another of that ilk, any one of those individuals +could have acted secretly and absolutely independently. + +What could have been easier or more inexpensive than a +quickly-cultivated acquaintanceship by a Secret Service agent with a +person so named? A little dinner or light refreshment at a café, or a +hall; drugged food or drink, followed by the natural announcement that +one's companion was temporarily indisposed or suffering from a slight +excess of alcohol; assistance to a cab or other vehicle, nominally to +convey him home but actually a quick journey to the docks and quay side, +with rapid transport to a friendly ship! Thus such a job could have been +accomplished for a few pounds without fuss, inconvenience, or publicity. + +It would probably not be wide of the mark to venture the statement that +many a man has been, perhaps even now is being, temporarily detained in +the seclusion of some lonely lodging upon far less pretexts than the +alleged revelations of Sir Roger Casement, until this tangled European +skein be fully and completely unravelled. The annals of that grim +fortress of Peter and Paul, the dungeon walls of which are washed by +the turbid waters of the Neva (wherein the author has had personal +experience of his own), could perhaps add histories of some interest, +but if they are to be told they must form the pages of another chapter. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] Roger Casement was hanged as a traitor at Pentonville Prison on +August 3rd, 1916, after having been landed from a German submarine on +the west coast of Ireland. + +[11] This letter was circulated in the Berlin Press on February 13th, +and most of its material parts appeared in the London _Times_ on +February 15th, 1915, having been officially circulated through German +wireless stations and received by the Marconi Company. + +[12] The interpellation above referred to is probably the following: On +January 8th, during a debate in the House of Lords on the national +responsibility with regard to voluntary recruiting or compulsory +service, Earl Curzon said: + +"I should like to mention the case of Sir Roger Casement, which is one +in which I take a personal interest, for in the old days at the Foreign +Office I was his official superior. This gentleman went to Germany after +the outbreak of war, where he has been accused of disgraceful and +disloyal acts. His friends wrote to the papers that not too much +attention should be paid to those acts, as they were doubtful about his +mental condition. Since then his proceedings seem to me to have been +characterised by perfect possession of his faculties. The last thing of +which we have read is that he has prepared a pamphlet which has been +printed by the German Government and circulated by the German Foreign +Office pleading for an alliance between Germany and Ireland. I do not +desire to comment upon it; it is unworthy of comment, but I wish to ask +if this official who has received a title is to continue in the +enjoyment of his pension." + +The Marquis of Crewe, on behalf of the Government replied: + +"I have no particular information in regard to Sir Roger Casement. Even +if he is still entitled to a pension it is evident, from what we have +heard of his whereabouts, that he is not in a position to draw it, nor +is he likely to become so; but I agree that such action as he is +reported to have taken ought to be followed, as far as possible, with +the infliction of the severest penalties. With that I couple the +melancholy reflection that a man who has done such good services in the +past, assuming that he is still in possession of all his faculties, +should have fallen so low as he appears to have done." + +[13] No copy or trace of this letter can be found.--_Author._ + +[14] The following extract from the _Daily Telegraph_ lifts the veil as +to the English position to October 7th, 1914. Sir F. E. Smith, K.C. +(Attorney-General) was appearing for the Crown at the trial of Sir Roger +Casement in opening the case for the prosecution, on June 26th, 1916, +before the Lord Chief Justice of England and other judges, the charge +being one of High Treason without the Realm contrary to the Treason Act, +1851, and the account goes on: + +"After stating that prisoner was born in County Dublin in 1864, the +Attorney-General proceeded to recite the various offices he had filled +as Consul at Rio de Janeiro, Lorenzo Marques, West Africa, the Gaboon, +Congo Free State, Santos and Para. During the South African War he was +employed on special service at Cape Town, and when hostilities ended he +did not refuse the Queen's South African Medal, although that was a war +of which many Irishmen profoundly disapproved. They might perhaps +therefore assume that at the age of thirty-six the crimes and +delinquencies of this Empire had not engaged prisoner's attention or +affected his intelligence. On June 20th, 1911 he was made a knight, and +the same year he received the Coronation Medal. In August, 1913, he +retired on a pension. That pension had been honourably earned, and it +would have been neither necessary nor proper to refer to it were it not +for the sinister and wicked activities of prisoner which ensued. +Government pensions were paid quarterly, and on each occasion must be +formally claimed by a statutory declaration setting forth the services +for which the pension was awarded and the amount claimed. Prisoner made +five such declarations, the first on October 2nd, 1913, and the last on +October 7th, 1914. + +"When notification was sent to prisoner by Sir Edward Grey of the +intention to bestow a knighthood upon him, this enemy of England, this +friend of Germany, this extreme and irreconcilable patriot, replied in +the following terms: + +"'Dear Sir Edward Grey.--I find it very hard to choose words in which to +make acknowledgment of the honour done me by the King. I am much moved +by this proof of confidence and appreciation of my service in Putumayo +conveyed to me by your letter, wherein you tell me the King has been +graciously pleased, upon your recommendation, to confer upon me the +honour of knighthood. I am indeed grateful to you for this signal +assurance of your personal esteem and support. I am very deeply sensible +of the honour done me by His Majesty, and would beg that my humble duty +might be presented to His Majesty, when you might do me the honour to +convey to him my deep appreciation of the honour he has been graciously +pleased to confer upon me.' + +"What happened to affect and corrupt prisoner's mind he did not know." + +Sir F. E. Smith then went on to describe Sir Roger Casement's visits to +the internment camps in Germany, etc., which was after October, 1914. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PERTAINING TO MYSTERY SHIPS + + "YOU BRITISH WILL ALWAYS BE FOOLS AND WE GERMANS SHALL NEVER BE + GENTLEMEN"--SILHOUETTE LIFEBOAT FOR GUN COVERING--A SECRET OF THE + WAR EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED--MORE IDEAS FOR MYSTERY SHIPS + DESCRIBED--SECRET THANKS--SUCCESSFUL RESULTS FROM CAMOUFLAGE AT + SEA--THE GRATITUDE OF THE ADMIRALTY. + + +The year 1915 saw much havoc at sea from the ravages of German +submarines. I was located in the midst of it. I saw many a noble craft +torpedoed direct or sunk by gunfire or mines. Such is a sight which +leaves impressions and gives much to reflect upon. + +The Germans, I knew, adopted subterfuges to lure their victims to +destruction. The British apparently scorned to descend to such levels. +Bitterly I remembered the words of the captured officer: "You British +will always be fools and we Germans shall never be gentlemen." It was +maddening to know that all our acts of chivalry and knightly conduct +throughout the war only provoked the mirth and contempt of our +adversaries. + +Something should be done to meet blow with blow, subterfuge with +subterfuge, and violence with equal retaliatory force. + +The outcome of my reflections on this subject are hereinafter divulged. + + + "_To_ + "THE ADMIRALTY, + "WHITEHALL, + "LONDON. "_June 15th, 1915._ + + "SIR, + + "I would, with all deference, submit to your consideration a + suggestion which has occurred to me as possibly worthy of trial. It + is as follows: + + "In the Port of ---- I observed trawling vessels fitted with guns + conspicuously mounted upon a platform raised just abaft the funnel + and over the engine-room, obviously for patrol purposes. + + "I assume that a German submarine could not but at once observe the + gun and at a considerable distance, as it is raised well above + deck-levels. She would naturally resort to the torpedo without + coming to the surface and without warning. But if the submarine + could be deceived that these trawlers were fishing vessels, or + mine-sweepers, she would hardly waste an expensive torpedo when she + could sink such insignificant craft by gunfire or bombs, and she + might come to the surface to warn the crew to take to the boats, or + to hail the vessel, thus giving a chance for our men to get a bit + of their own back. + + "In my humble opinion the guns which are now mounted + (twelve-pounders, I believe) on these trawlers could be concealed + with the greatest of ease in more ways than one; and as the vessels + are in all other respects unaltered in their ordinary appearance, I + see no reason why the experiment should not be tried. Also + remembering that submarines as a rule attack at dawn or gloaming. + + "If I may be so presumptuous as to go further and outline one of + the means of concealment foreshadowed, I would construct in light + framework covered with painted canvas the sides of a small row-boat + or lifeboat in two silhouettes, which I would place on each side of + the gun, whereby it would be completely covered up. The stanchions + erected round the gun platform I would unship, or if their + continuance is essential I would mount imitation davits of painted + steam-bent wood, which could easily ship or be jointed with hinge + and hook fastenings, so that they could be unshipped at a moment's + notice. To these davits I would add light blocks and tackles, so + that in a few seconds the whole dummy show could be swept on one + side and the gun brought into play. + + "I have carefully examined the platform and gun on one of these + vessels and firmly believe that the idea is practical and feasible + and would act effectively and to advantage. + + "When I was cruising in the Baltic opposite Kiel and Femern + (December-February) I was successful with somewhat similar devices + of a simple nature, fitted to small boats, and calculated to + deceive as to distances and in other ways, which originated the + present ideas as soon as I saw our trawlers. + + "If you consider the idea worthy of a moment's further + consideration, I would, if you so desired, at once set to work and + have a working model made. + + I remain, your obedient servant, + + "NICHOLAS EVERITT, + + "('JIM' of the B.F.S.S.)" + + * * * * * + +Intermediary correspondence and actions would not perhaps interest the +reader. Suffice it to say that my ideas found favour in the eyes of the +Powers-that-be, and I was given _carte blanche_ to carry my designs into +effect. + +It may now be divulged that many weeks prior to the writing of the +letter mentioned above I had confided an outline of my invention to a +certain naval officer, a friend of mine in charge of a patrol-boat. We +had between us manufactured a rough model from such materials as could +be collected, which had been fitted to a vessel, and it had been +effectively and successfully used in action at sea, although not +officially known or recognised. + +Now that I had free access to, and full authority to make use of, +several Admiralty yards for material and assistance, it was an easy +matter to improve on former ideas and to produce a complete efficient +and creditable result. + + * * * * * + + "_To_ + "THE ADMIRALTY, + "WHITEHALL, + "LONDON. "_July 14th, 1915._ + + EXTRACTS FROM MY REPORT + + "The completion of the model was pushed along as quickly as + circumstances would permit, and the first week in July, 1915, was + fitted to a completed gun platform on the steam trawler ---- then + lying in ---- Harbour. + + "The silhouette boat and chocks which support it on the gun-deck + are made all in one piece, the deception being brought about simply + by shading in the painting. + + "The boat is held in position by the dummy blocks and falls above, + and to the gun-deck below by short iron clips at the foot of the + chocks, which slip into small iron sockets screwed on the gun-deck + and so slightly raised that they are not noticeable. The two + silhouette boats are kept firm by two iron connecting rods. + + "_To clear the gun-deck._--Two men are required to handle the gun, + which gives one man at each end of the boats. + + "To clear the gun-deck for action each man would simultaneously + push up the iron connecting-rod between the silhouettes and at the + same time instantly kick clear the clip at the foot of the chock + from its socket. A slight push to the swinging boats releases the + hinged davits, which fall backwards, pulling each dummy boat clear + over the top of the lifeline stanchions, whilst they automatically + drop into the bend of the davits, which holds them there until + wanted for further deception purposes. + + "The boats can be pulled back and fixed into their original + positions in about a minute, or even less time if necessary. + + "Both sides of the dummy silhouette boats are covered with canvas + and painted white with gunwhale streak brown, so both sides match + each other. The gun should be laid pointing towards the stem of the + vessel and the gun itself, mounting and pedestal, painted white. + + "Then in whatever position (whether the ends are covered with + canvas or not) the dummy boats are viewed, within ten yards or + further away the deception is complete. + + "A very close observer, viewing the apparatus end-on, might assume + that a couple of collapsible lifeboats were being carried aboard + over the engine-room." + + * * * * * + +Immediately after the official inspection (July 10th), which was said to +be quite satisfactory, the vessel so fitted was ordered to sea, and in +due course I received a registered letter marked "Personal and Private." +The envelope covered an inner envelope also marked "Private." The inner +envelope contained a short note conveying the thanks of the Lords of the +Admiralty to me, the inventor. + +[Illustration: _Sketch No. 1_ (taken at 25 feet) shows the dummy boat in +position ready to go to sea.] + +[Illustration: _Sketch No. 2_ (taken at 25 feet) shows the dummy davits +down, the boat gone and the gun deck cleared for action _within three +seconds_ from the word of command having been given.] + +To what further uses, or with what results the design was utilised, +remained as closely guarded a secret as the inner letter of thanks. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile I was more than anxious for active service which would give me +a chance of getting at short grips with the dastardly submarines which I +had hunted in the frozen north so long but never fairly and squarely +behind a gun. + +Further reflections caused the following letter to be written: + + + "_To_ + "THE ADMIRALTY, + "WHITEHALL, + "LONDON. "_August 17th, 1915._ + + "SIR, + + "Since I wrote you with completed report on my gun-screen-dummy + boat, submarines have continued to favour these waters in + particular. Three large steamers have quite recently been + torpedoed. + + "They have sunk in this neighbourhood alone over fifty sailing + trawlers, _every one_ bombed or sunk by gunfire, and _from the + surface_, but not a mine-sweeper nor a patrol-boat seems to have + been attacked! + + "There are plenty of sailing trawlers lying idle in ports. + + "I therefore humbly venture to suggest to the Admiralty that if + half a dozen of these were mounted with guns, covered by the + dummy-boat-screen and manned by a small, smart crew, dressed in + _ordinary fishermen's_ clothes (not the naval uniforms with gold + braid and _white-topped_ ornamental caps, so much in vogue at + present), those submarine pests would be caught napping without + much difficulty; whilst the fishermen, who are mostly ruined, would + at least feel that we had got a little of our own back with every + pirate so sunk. + + "It would also be easy to place a motor and propeller in the vessel + so employed which would help manoeuvring in no small measure; + whilst as to manning them, there is plenty of material of the very + best to select from for such a job--men who have been patrolling in + gunboats and trawlers for a year without a smell of powder which + their nostrils hunger for. I personally know plenty who would + willingly abandon good positions and hail such an opportunity with + eagerness; whilst, if the chance was given, I myself would + willingly and gladly volunteer my services with them in the first + boat sent out, or under them in any capacity, from the lowly cook + or cabin-boy upwards. + + "If this seeming presumption on my part should be acted upon you + may rely upon my wholehearted service for any assistance that I may + be able to give in the fitting-out, etc., or otherwise, and it will + be my pleasure to execute your smallest commands. + + "I remain, your obedient servant, + "NICHOLAS EVERITT. + "('JIM' of the B.F.S.S.)" + + * * * * * + +This letter only produced further "secret" thanks. The suggestion for +active service was not responded to! + +Cold comfort to one burning with such unquenchable desires. Poor +gratitude for services rendered. Depressing recognition for future +effort. + +But what could a mere civilian expect! It was the same in both Services +at that period of the war. Civilians were as nothing; merely to be used +as conveniences--if they had to be used at all. Or as stepping-stones +for Service men to trample upon towards their own immediate advantage, +utterly regardless of position, ability and status, and whether they had +voluntarily or compulsorily sacrificed position, property, or dearer +belongings. + +Had any such ideas as these originated with a junior in the Service he +would have had to have taken them at once to his superior officer. That +dignified individual would in all probability have personally commended +him in private, then put forward the ideas to those above him with much +weight, but at the same time conveniently neglecting to couple the name +of the real originator. + +The secret annals of the Service could many such a tale unfold. + +Should a junior officer have dared to presume to have sent in his +original ideas direct to Whitehall, woe betide the day for his +immediate future and his chances for early promotion. + +The above opinions are no flights of imagination; they are founded +solely on many bitter complaints which have come direct to the ears of +the writer from junior officers in both arms of the Service, whose +inventive ideas have either been summarily squashed by superior +officers, or who have been compelled in their own future interests to +stand aside, silent and disgusted, whilst they have observed others far +above them taking what credit was to be bestowed for ideas or +suggestions which were never their own, and often followed by decoration +without any patent special service. + + * * * * * + +Shortly before this book went to press the author happened to meet a +naval gunner who had served for a prolonged period aboard mystery ships. +He was most enthusiastic on the subject of camouflage, and he related +how he had served in 1915 in a ship which had one gun only, placed +amidships, which was concealed by a dummy silhouette boat. + +According to his account the stunt was great. He narrated in detail the +completeness of the deception, the instantaneous manner in which the gun +was brought into action, and the success which had attended the +introduction of the idea. He affirmed that no less than ten submarines +had been sunk during the first few weeks this invention had been first +introduced. But, as he explained, one day a vessel so fitted was +attacked by two submarines at the same time, one being on each quarter, +and the secret became exposed. After that, he added, the Germans became +much more suspicious how they approached and attacked fishing vessels, +and successes fell off considerably. + +It had been an Admiralty regulation that when a submarine was sunk and +its loss proved, the successful crew was awarded £1,000 for each +submarine recorded, which was divided proportionately according to rank. +Submarines claimed to have been sunk run to over two hundred. Many and +various were the methods by which they were sent to the bottom of the +sea; but so far as a number of inventors or the originators of +ingenuity were or are concerned, it would appear that virtue alone +remains their sole reward. + + * * * * * + +Since this book was accepted for press my attention has been called, in +the February number, 1920, of _Pearson's Magazine_, to an article by +Admiral Sims of the U.S.A. Navy, entitled "How the Mystery Ships +Fought," in which he says: + + + "Every submarine that was sent to the bottom, it was estimated, + amounted in 1917 to a saving of about 40,000 tons per year of + merchant shipping; that was the amount of shipping, in other words, + which the average U-boat would sink, if left unhindered to pursue + its course. + + "This type of vessel (Q-boats) was a regular ship of His Majesty's + Navy, yet there was little about it that suggested warfare. _Just + who invented this grimy enemy of the submarine is, like many other + devices developed by the war, unknown._ It was, however, the + natural outcome of a close study of German naval methods. The man + who first had the idea well understood the peculiar mentality of + the U-boat commanders." + + +Extracting further paragraphs from Admiral Sims' article: + + + "There is hardly anything in warfare which is more vulnerable than + a submarine on the surface within a few hundred yards of a + four-inch gun. A single well-aimed shot will frequently send it to + the bottom. Indeed, a U-boat caught in such a predicament has only + one chance of escape; that is represented by the number of seconds + which it takes to get under water. + + "Clearly the obvious thing for the Allies to do was to send + merchant ships armed with hidden guns along the great highways of + commerce. The crews of these ships should be naval officers and men + disguised as merchants, masters, and sailors." + + +At p. 104 of the magazine Admiral Sims refers directly to my invention +as described and illustrated: + + + "Platforms were erected on which guns were emplaced; a covering of + tarpaulin completely hid them; yet a lever pulled by the gun crews + would cause the sides of the hatchway covers to fall + instantaneously. _Other guns were placed under lifeboats, which, by + a similar mechanism, would fall apart_ or rise in the air exposing + the gun. + + "From the greater part of 1917 from twenty to thirty of these ships + (Q-boats) sailed back and forth in the Atlantic." + + +The February number of the _Wide World Magazine_, p. 361, also contained +a most interesting article by Captain Frank H. Shaw entitled, A "Q," and +a "U," in which he describes how he personally helped to sink a +submarine with the aid of a camouflage apparatus on the lines of my +invention as illustrated: + + + "Meanwhile the fitters were making most of their opportunities + aboard the _Penshurst_ (the Q-boat in question). A useful + twelve-pounder gun--one of the best bits of ordnance ever devised + for short range work--was mounted on the fore-deck. A steel ship's + lifeboat was cut in two through the keel, and so faked that on + pulling a bolt, the two halves would fall clear away. This dummy + boat was then put in place over the twelve-pounder and effectively + concealed its presence. + + "So far as the outward evidence was concerned, the _Penshurst_ was + simply carrying a spare lifeboat on deck--a not unnecessary + precaution, considering the activity of the enemy submarines." + + +Captain Shaw describes in stirring narrative and vivid detail how a +submarine held up his ship, how part of their crew abandoned the ship, +and how the Hun boat was lured well within easy gun-fire range, and how +my ideas worked in practice: + + + "_The foredeck boat opened beautifully like a lily and the gun came + up, with its crew gathered round it._ The twelve-pounder was not a + second behind its smaller relative. Her gunlayer, too, was a useful + man. He planted a yellow-rigged shell immediately at the base of + Fritz's conning-tower. It exploded there with deafening report and + great gouts of water flew upwards with dark patches amongst the + foam." + + * * * * * + +By my friends I was disparaged for foolishness in not putting forward a +claim for compensation in connection with these ideas, followed by an +accepted invention of recognised utility. In the U.S.A. in the spring of +1919 I heard this invention considerably lauded; in New York, Boston, +and Washington. It was also described and illustrated in certain +American periodicals. + +If the figures given by Admiral Sims are true estimates, and, say, only +twenty-five submarines were sunk by the direct assistance of this simple +contrivance, then it follows that about 1,000,000 tons of shipping were +saved each year it was in active use. + +Eventually I communicated with Admiral W. R. Hall, C.B., through whom I +had submitted my suggestions in the first instance. From him I received +a charming letter in which he regretted the matter had passed beyond his +department. Therefore on January 26th, 1920, I wrote to the Secretary of +the Admiralty referring by number to previous letters conveying the +_secret_ thanks of the Lords of the Admiralty to me in 1915 and asking +him whether (now that the war was over) I was entitled to any +recognition for this invention, and if so, how and to whom I should +apply. + +I wrote again on April 29th, asking for a reply to my previous letter, +but being only a civilian, I suppose he did not consider either myself +or the subject matter I enquired about worthy even of simple +acknowledgment. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SINKING OF THE "LUSITANIA" BY GERMAN TREACHERY + + HOW THE DASTARDLY DEED WAS PLANNED--COMMEMORATION MEDAL PREMATURELY + DATED--SINKING ANNOUNCED IN BERLIN BEFORE THE VESSEL WAS + ATTACKED--GERMAN JOY AT THE OUTRAGE--BRITISH SECRET CODE + STOLEN--VIOLATIONS OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY--FALSE + MESSAGES--AUTHORITY FOR THE FACTS. + + +So long as the memory of mortal man endures, this dastardly act of +German treachery will never be forgotten. + +On May 7th, 1915, the SS. _Lusitania_, a passenger ship of 32,000 tons +of the Cunard Line, was sunk by torpedoes, fired at short range from a +German submarine off Kinsale. She carried on board 1,265 passengers and +a crew of about 694 hands. From this number 1,198 were drowned, +including 113 Americans and a large number of women and children. + +It is no exaggeration to say that the event staggered the humanity of +the world, yet the _Kölnische Volkeszeitung_ on May 10th, 1915, stated: +"With joyful pride we contemplate this latest deed of our Navy," etc. +The commander of the submarine which struck the fatal blow was +decorated, and a special medal was struck in the Fatherland +commemorating the event, and dated May 5th--_two days before she was +actually attacked and sunk_. + +A copy of it is now before the writer. + +It was struck with the object of keeping alive in German hearts the +recollection of the German Navy in deliberately destroying an unarmed +passenger-ship together with 1,198 non-combatants, men, women, and +children. + +On the obverse, under the legend "No Contraband" (_Keine Banvare_), +there is a representation of the _Lusitania_ sinking. The designer has +put in guns and aeroplanes, which (as certified by United States +Government officials after inspection) the _Lusitania_ did _not_ carry, +but he has conveniently omitted to put in the women and children, which +the whole world knows she did carry. + +On the reverse, under the legend "Business above all" (_Geschäft über +alles_), the figure of death sits at the booking-office of the Cunard +Line, and gives out tickets to passengers who refuse to attend to the +warning against submarines given by a German. + +This picture seeks apparently to propound the theory that if a murderer +warns his victim of his intention, the guilt of the crime will rest with +the victim, not with the murderer. + +How the foul deed was plotted and accomplished is told in concise and +simple language by Mr. John Price Jones in his book entitled, "The +German Spy in America," which has an able introduction by Mr. Rogers B. +Wood, ex-United States Assistant Attorney at New York; also a foreword +by Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. + +Summarising detail and extracting bare facts from Mr. Price Jones' work, +it is shown that Germany had made her preparations long before war was +declared. She had erected a wireless station at Sayville with +thirty-five Kilowatt transmitters and had obtained special privileges +which the U.S. Government never dreamed would be so vilely abused. + +Soon after the declaration of war, Germany sent over machinery for +tripling the efficiency of the plant, _via_ Holland, and the +transmitters were increased to a hundred Kilowatts. The whole plant was +in the hands of experts drawn from the German Navy. + +On April 22nd, 1915, the German Ambassador at Washington, by direction +of Baron von Bernstorff, inserted notices by way of advertisement +warning travellers not to go in ships flying the British flag or that of +her Allies, whilst many of the ill-fated passengers received personally +private warnings; for example, Mr. A. G. Vanderbilt had one signed +"Morte." + +It is also stated than one of the German spies who had helped to +conceive this diabolical scheme actually dined, the same evening the +vessel sailed, at the home of one of his American victims. + +The sinking of the vessel was also published in the Berlin newspapers +before she had actually been attacked. + +On reaching the edge of the war-zone, Captain Turner, who was in charge +of the _Lusitania_, sent out a wireless message for instructions in +accordance with his special orders. + +By some means unknown the German Government had stolen a copy of the +secret code used by the British Admiralty. + +A copy of this had been supplied to Sayville, which used it (_inter +alia_) to warn Captain Turner against submarines off the Irish +coast--which evidence was revealed at the inquest. + +Sayville was very much on the alert, looking out for and expecting +Captain Turner's request for orders. + +As soon as it was picked up the return answer was flashed to "proceed to +a point _ten miles_ south of Old Head of Kinsale and run into St. +George's Channel, making Liverpool bar at midnight." + +The British Admiralty also received Captain Turner's call and sent +directions "to proceed to a point _seventy to eighty miles_ south of Old +Head of Kinsale and there meet convoy." + +But the British were slow and the Germans rapid. Captain Turner received +the false message instead of the genuine one, and over a thousand +unfortunate beings were sent to their doom. + +At the inquest the two messages were produced and the treachery became +apparent. Further investigations pointed direct to Sayville, Long +Island, New York, to which place the plot was traced. + +The German witnesses who swore the _Lusitania_ had guns aboard her were +indicted in America and imprisoned for perjury. + +To use the wireless for any such cause as above described was contrary +to and in violation of neutrality laws; also of the United States of +America's statutes governing wireless stations. + +In many chapters full of vivid detail Mr. Price Jones gives +extraordinary particulars of conspiracies and plots against persons and +property. + +In scathing terms he condemns Captain Franz von Papen, von Igel and +Koenig, Captain Karl Boy-Ed, Captain Franz von Rintelen, Dr. Heinrich F. +Albert and Ambassador Dumba as spies, conspirators, or traitors; men +without conscience, whom no action, however despicable, would stop. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +MINISTERIAL, DIPLOMATIC, AND CONSULAR FAILINGS + + AMBASSADORS SELECTED BY INFLUENCE, NOT MERIT--GERMAN EMBASSIES + HEADQUARTERS OF ESPIONAGE--HOW ENGLISH EMBASSIES HAMPERED SECRET + SERVICE WORK--BERNHARDI ON THE BLOCKADE--ENGLAND'S OPEN DOORS--A + MINISTER'S FAILINGS--BRITISH VICE-CONSUL'S SCANDALOUS + REMUNERATION--ALIEN CONSULS--HOW ITALY WAS BROUGHT INTO THE + WAR--HOW THE SYMPATHIES OF TURKEY AND GREECE WERE LOST--THE FAILURE + OF SIR EDWARD GREY--ASQUITH'S PROCRASTINATION. + + +The Press, it will be remembered, was during the first few years of the +war periodically almost unanimous in its outcry against the Government, +particularly the Foreign Office. Having regard to the facts quoted, well +might it be so. But the Foreign Office is somewhat in the hands of its +Ambassadors and Ministers abroad, who unfortunately sometimes appear to +put their personal dignity before patriotism, and threaten to resign +unless some ridiculous, possibly childish, whim is not forthwith +complied with. It seems hard to believe such things can be in war-time; +yet it was so. If our Ambassadors and Ministers were selected by merit, +and not by influence, a vast improvement would at once become apparent, +and such things as were complained of would not be likely to occur or be +repeated. + +One Press writer pointed out that "Great Britain lacked a watchful +policeman in Scandinavia." Perhaps he will be surprised to learn that +about the most active non-sleeping watchmen that could be found were +there soon after war started. But these watch-dogs smelt out much too +much, and most of them were caught and muzzled, or driven away, or +chained up at the instigation of the Embassies. The heaviest chains, +however, get broken, whilst the truth will ever out. + +Naturally one Embassy would keep in constant touch with another, and +with regard to this question of supplying the enemy all three +Scandinavian Embassies knew, or should have known to a nicety, precisely +what was doing in each country. + +We in the Secret Service had been impressively warned before leaving +England to avoid our Ambassadors abroad as we would disciples of the +devil. In so far as we possibly could we religiously remembered and +acted upon this warning. But the cruel irony of it was, our own +Ministers would not leave us alone. They seemed to hunt us down, and as +soon as one of us was located, no matter who, or where, or how, a +protest was, we were told, immediately sent to the Foreign Office, +followed by hints or threats of resignation unless the Secret Service +agent in question was instantly put out of action or recalled to +England. + +I was informed that several of my predecessors had been very unlucky in +Denmark. One had been located and pushed out of the country within a few +hours of arrival. Another I heard was imprisoned for many months. I was +further very plainly told by an English official of high degree that if +the British Minister at ---- became aware of my presence and that I was +in Secret Service employ, if I did not then leave the country within a +few hours of the request which would with certainty be made, I would be +handed over to the police to be dealt with under their newly-made +espionage legislation. + +Considering that the German legations in Scandinavia increased their +secretaries from the two or three employed before the war to twenty or +thirty each after its outbreak; considering that it was a well-known +fact, although difficult to prove, that every German Embassy was the +local headquarters of their marvellously clever organisation of Secret +Service[15] against which our Legations possessed rarely more than one +over-worked secretary, whilst the British Embassies were a menace rather +than a help to our Secret Service, it did seem to us, working on our own +in England's cause, a cruel shame that these men, who posed not only as +Englishmen but also as directly representing our own well-beloved King, +should hound us about in a manner which made difficult our attempts to +acquire the knowledge so important for the use of our country in its +agony and dire peril. Dog-in-the-manger-like, they persisted in putting +obstacles in the way of our doing work which they could not do +themselves and probably would not have done if they could. + +If unearthing the deplorable details of the leakage of supplies to +Germany evoked disgust and burning anger in the breast of Mr. Basil +Clarke, the Special Commissioner of the _Daily Mail_, surely I, and +those patriotically working in conjunction with me, always at the risk +of our liberty and often at the risk of our lives, might be permitted to +feel at least a grievance against the Foreign Office for its weakness in +listening to the protests of men like these, his Britannic Majesty's +Ministers abroad; real or imaginary aristocrats appointed to exalted +positions of great dignity and possibly pushed into office by the +influence of friends at Court, or perhaps because, as the possessors of +considerable wealth, they could be expected to entertain lavishly +although their remuneration might not be excessive. Had they remembered +the patriotism and devotion to their King and country which the immortal +Horatio Nelson showed at Copenhagen a hundred years previously, they too +could just as easily have applied the sighting glass to a blind eye, and +have ignored all knowledge of the existence of any Secret Service work +or agents; unless, of course, some unforeseen accident or circumstance +had forced an official notice upon them. + +The Foreign Office would have lost none of its efficiency or its +dignity, had it hinted as much when these protests arrived; whilst +England would to-day have saved innumerable lives and vast wealth had +some of the British Ministers in the north of Europe resigned or been +removed, and level-headed, common-sensed, patriotic business men placed +in their stead as soon after war was declared with Germany as could +possibly have been arranged. + +That the Germans themselves never believed England would be so weak as +to give her open doors for imports is expressed by General Bernhardi in +his "Germany and the Next War." He writes: "It is unbelievable that +England would not prevent Germany receiving supplies through neutral +countries." The following extract is from p. 157: + + + "It would be necessary to take further steps to secure the + importation from abroad of supplies necessary to us, since our own + communications will be completely cut off by the English. The + simplest and cheapest way would be if we obtained foreign goods + through Holland, or perhaps neutral Belgium, and could export some + part of our products through the great Dutch and Flemish + harbours.... Our own overseas commerce would remain suspended, but + such measures would prevent an absolute stagnation of trade. It is, + however, very unlikely that England would tolerate such + communications through neutral territory, since in that way the + effect of her war on our trade would be much reduced.... That + England would pay much attention to the neutrality of weaker + neighbours when such a stake was at issue is hardly credible." + + +To understand what was actually permitted to happen the reader is +referred to the succeeding chapter. What possible excuse is there which +any man, that is a man, would listen to, that could be urged in +extenuation of this deplorable state of affairs and of its having been +permitted to exist and to continue so long without drastic alteration? + +Our Foreign Office, hence presumably the Government, were fully informed +and knew throughout exactly what was going on. Every Secret Service +agent sent in almost weekly reports from October, 1914, onwards, +emphasising the feverish activity of German agents, who were everywhere +buying up supplies of war material and food at ridiculously high prices +and transferring them to Germany with indecent haste. + +Cotton[16] and copper were particularly mentioned. Imploring appeals +were sent home by our Secret Service agents for these to be placed on +the contraband list; but no Minister explained to the nation why, if it +were feasible to make them contraband a year after the war commenced, it +was not the right thing to have done so the day after war was declared. + +German buyers openly purchased practically the whole product of the +Norwegian cod fisheries _at retail prices_; also the greater part of the +herring harvests. Germany absorbed every horse worth the taking, and +never before in the history of the country had so much export trade been +done, nor so much money been made by her inhabitants. + +The same may be said of Sweden, with the addition that her trading with +Germany was even larger. + +The British Ministers in Scandinavia seemed to carry no weight with +those with whom they were brought in contact. Their prestige had been +terribly shaken by reason of the decision to ignore entirely the +Casement affair. An Ambassador of a then powerful neutral country +referred to one of them as "what you English call a damned fool." It was +only the extraordinary ability and excellent qualities of some of the +subordinates at the Chancelleries which saved the situation. + +All this had its effect in these critical times. I, who was merely a +civilian Britisher and not permanently attached to either the Army or +the Navy, and hence was not afraid to refer to a spade as a spade, was +called upon continually by others in the Service to emphasise the true +state of affairs with the Foreign Office. + +Those with whom I associated in the Secret Service agreed that if the +Ministers in Scandinavia could be removed and good business men +instated at these capitals it would make a vast amount of difference to +Germany and considerably hasten along the advent of peace. But by reason +of circumstances which cannot well be revealed in these pages, my hands +were tied until such time as I could get to London in person. + +In March, 1915, I attended Whitehall, where I in no unmeasured terms +stated hard convincing facts and explained the exact position in the +north of Europe. I strongly emphasised the vital importance of stopping +the unending stream of supplies to Germany and of making a change at the +heads of the Legations mentioned. Direct access to Sir Edward Grey was +denied me, but an official of some prominence assured me the essential +facts should be conveyed to proper quarters without delay, although the +same complaints had previously been made _ad nauseam_. + +But facts have proved that no notice whatever of these repeated warnings +was taken, and matters went from bad to worse. + +On June 21st, 1915, I had returned again to England, and I wrote direct +to Sir Edward Grey, at the Foreign Office, a letter, material extracts +from which are as follows: + + + "SIR, + + "Being now able to speak without disobedience to orders, I am + reporting a serious matter direct to you from whom my + recommendation for Government service originates. + + * * * * * + + "It is exceedingly distasteful having to speak in the semblance of + disparagement concerning anyone in His Majesty's service, and I am + only anxious to do what I believe to be right and helpful to my + country, whilst I am more than anxious to avoid any possibility of + seemingly doing the right thing in the wrong way. But it is + inconceivable that any Englishman should push forward his false + pride, or be permitted to place his personal egoism, before his + country's need; more particularly so at the present crisis, when + every atom of effort is appealed for. + + "---- now being _a centre and a key to so many channels through + which vast quantities of goods_ (as well as information) _daily + leak to Germany_, the head of our Legation has become a position of + vital importance. Much of the present leakage is indirectly due to + the present Minister, in whom England is indeed unfortunate. + + "I therefore feel that, knowing how much depends upon even little + things, it is my bounden duty to place the plain truth clearly + before you. I have often before reported on this, so far as I + possibly could, but those whom I could report to were all so + fearful of the influences or opinions of the all-too-powerful + gentleman in question, that none of them dare utter a syllable + concerning his status or his foolish actions--although in secret + they sorrowfully admit the serious effects. + + "1. Since the commencement of the war ---- has committed a series + of indiscretions and mistakes, entailing a natural aftermath of + unfortunate and far-reaching consequences. + + "2. Since February, 1915, he has stood discredited by the entire + ---- nation, and in other parts of Scandinavia. + + "3. He is bitterly opposed to the Secret Service and paralyses its + activities, although he states that his objections lie against the + department and not individuals. + + * * * * * + + "In conclusion, please understand that I am in no way related to + that hopeless individual, 'the man with a grievance,' but, being + merely a civilian and having nothing whatever to expect, nor to + seek for, beyond my country's ultimate good, I can and dare speak + out; whilst the fact that in the course of my duty I went to Kiel + Harbour (despite the German compliment of a price on my head), + should be sufficient justification of my patriotism and give some + weight to my present communication. + + "I have the honour to remain, + + "Your obedient servant, + + "NICHOLAS EVERITT. + + "('JIM' of the B.F.S.S.)" + + * * * * * + +It seems hard to believe, but this letter was passed unheeded, not even +acknowledged. + +A week later, on June 28th, I wrote again, pointing out the importance +to the State of my previous communication and emphasising further the +danger of letting matters slide. + +Both these letters were received at Whitehall or they would have been +returned through the Dead Letter Office. What possible reason could +there be behind the scenes that ordered and upheld such a creed as _Ruat +coelum supprimatur veritas_? Or can it be ascribed to the +much-talked-of mysterious Hidden Hand? + +My letters pointed only too plainly to the obvious fact that I had +information to communicate vital to the welfare of the State, which was +much too serious to commit to paper; serious information which +subservients in office dared not jeopardise their paid positions by +repeating or forwarding; information which affected the prestige of our +own King; information which might involve other countries in the war, on +one side or the other; information which it was the plain duty of the +Foreign Secretary to lose no time in making himself acquainted with. Yet +not a finger was lifted in any attempt to investigate or follow up the +grave matters which I could have unfolded, relating to the hollowness of +the Sham Blockade with its vast leakages, which the Government had taken +such pains to conceal, and to other matters equally vital which I +foreshadowed in my letter, and which might have made enormous +differences to the tide of battle and to the welfare of nations. + +No wonder the Press of all England made outcry against the Foreign +Office, as and when some of the facts relating to its dilatoriness, its +extreme leniency to all things German, and its muddle and inefficiency +in attending _in time_ to detail gradually began to become known. + +Abroad I had heard the F.O. soundly cursed in many a Consulate and +elsewhere. I had, however, hitherto looked upon Sir Edward Grey as a +strong man in a very weak Government, a man who deserved the gratitude +of all Englishmen and of the whole Empire for great acts of diplomacy; +the man who had saved England from war more than once; and the man who +had done most to strive for peace when the Germans insisted upon +bloodshed. I would have wagered my soul that Sir Edward Grey was the +last man in England, when his country was at war, who would have +neglected his duty, or who would have passed over without action or +comment such a communication as I had sent him. + +I waited a time before I inquired. Then I heard that Sir Edward Grey was +away ill, recuperating his health salmon-fishing in N.B. But there were +others. Upon them perhaps the blame should fall. + +The Foreign Office knew of, and had been fully advised, that the +so-called Blockade of Germany by our fleet was a hollow sham and a +delusion from its announced initiative. It was also fully aware that the +leakages to Germany, instead of diminishing, increased so enormously as +to create a scandal which it could hardly hope to hide from the British +public. Why, then, were these Ministers abroad allowed to remain in +office, where they had been a laughing-stock and were apparently worse +than useless? It can only be presumed that they also had been ordered to +"wait and see." + +Perhaps our Ministers, particularly at the Foreign Office, believed that +they could collect, through the medium of our Consulate abroad, +practically all the information that it was necessary for our Government +to know. In peace times this might have been probable. These +self-deluded mortals seemed to have forgotten entirely that we were at +war. Furthermore, it must be admitted to our shame that our English +Consular Service in some places abroad is the poorest paid and the least +looked-after branch of Government service of almost any nation. + +Sir George Pragnell, speaking only a few days before his lamentably +sudden and untimely end, at the great meeting called by the Lord Mayor +of London at the Guildhall on January 31st, 1916, a meeting of the +representatives of Trade and Commerce from all parts of the British +Empire, said: + + + "Our business men maintained that our Consular Service should + consist of the best educated and the most practical business men we + could turn out. Not only should these men be paid high salaries, + but I would recommend that they should be paid a commission or + bonus on the increase of British Trade in the places they had to + look after." + + +If this sound, practical wisdom had only been propounded and acted upon +years ago the benefits that England would have derived therefrom would +have been incalculable. But look at the facts regarding the countries +where efficient and effective Consular Service was most wanted during +the war. In Scandinavia there were gentlemen selected to represent us as +British _Vice-Consuls_ who received a _fixed salary of £5 per annum_, in +return for which they had to _provide office_, _clerks_, _telephone_, +and other incidentals. Although the fees paid to them by virtue of their +office and the duties they performed may have amounted to several +hundred pounds per annum, they were compelled to hand over the whole of +the fruits of their labours to the English Government, which thus made a +very handsome profit out of its favours so bestowed. Our Foreign Office +apparently considered that the honour of the title "British Vice-Consul" +was quite a sufficient recompense for the benefits it demanded in +return, the laborious duties which it required should be constantly +attended to, and the £20 to £50 or more per annum which their +representatives were certain to find themselves out of pocket at the end +of each year. Soon after the war commenced one or two members of the +service were removed from the largest centres and other men introduced, +presumably on a special rate of pay; but in almost all the +Vice-Consulates the disgracefully mean and unsatisfactory system above +mentioned seemed to have been continued without any attempt at +reformation. + +Is it to be wondered at that so many Vice-Consuls who are not Englishmen +did not feel that strong bond of sympathy either with our Ministers +abroad or with our Ministers at home, which those who have no knowledge +of the conditions of their appointment or of their service might be led +to expect existed between them? + +Further light is shown upon this rotten spot in our Governmental +diplomacy management abroad by an article entitled "Scrap our Alien +Consuls," written by T. B. Donovan and published in a London paper, +February 20th, 1916, short extracts from which read as follows: + + + "Look up in Whitaker's Almanack for 1914 our Consuls in the German + Empire before the war--and cease to wonder that we were not better + informed. Out of a total of forty old British Consuls more than + thirty bear German names! Other nations were not so blind.... + Glance through the following astounding list. In Sweden, + twenty-four out of thirty-one British Consuls and Vice-Consuls are + non-Englishmen; in Norway, twenty-six out of thirty; in Denmark, + nineteen out of twenty-six; in Holland and its Colonies, fourteen + out of twenty-four; in Switzerland nine out of fourteen--and + several of the few Englishmen are stationed at holiday resorts + where there is no trade at all. + + "And we are astonished that our blockade 'leaks at every seam'!... + + "This type of British Consul must be replaced by keen Britishers + who have the interests of their country at heart and who are at the + same time acquainted with the needs of the districts to which they + are appointed. If we could only break with red tape, we could find + numerous men, not far beyond the prime of life, but who have + retired from an active part in business, who would gladly accept + such appointments and place their knowledge at the disposal of + their fellows.... + + "The state of things in our Consular Service is such as no business + man would tolerate for a moment." + + +Turning attention to our diplomacy on the shores of the Mediterranean +and the Near East, those in the Secret Service knew that during the +early days of the war at least our Foreign Office had nothing much to +congratulate itself upon with regard to its representatives in Italy. + +For the first eight months of war an overwhelming volume of supplies and +commodities, so sought after and necessary to the Central Powers, was +permitted to be poured into and through that country from all sources. +Even the traders of the small northern neutral states became jealous of +the fortunes that were being made there. Daily almost they might be +heard saying: "Why should I not earn money by sending goods to Germany +when ten times the amount that my country supplies is being sent through +Italy?" + +The tense anxiety, the long weary months of waiting for Italy to join +the Entente, are not likely to be forgotten. When at last she was +compelled to come in, it was not British cleverness in diplomacy that +caused her so to do, but the irresistible will of her own peoples, the +men in the streets and in the fields; the popular poems of Signor +D'Annunzio, which rushed the Italian Government along, against its will, +and as an overwhelming avalanche. The popular quasi-saint-like shade of +Garibaldi precipitated matters to a crisis. + + + "It is interesting as an object lesson in the ironies of fate to + compare the fevered enthusiasm of the Sonnino of 1881 for the + cultured Germans and Austrians, and his exuberant hatred of France, + with the cold logic of the disabused Sonnino of 1915, who suddenly + acquired widespread popularity by undoing the work he had so + laboriously helped to achieve a quarter of a century before. + European history, ever since Germany began to obtain success in + moulding it, has been full of these piquant Penelopean Activities, + some of which are fast losing their humorous points in grim + tragedy." + + +Thus wrote Dr. E. J. Dillon in his book of revelations, "From the Triple +to the Quadruple Alliance, or Why Italy Went to War." From cover to +cover it is full of solid, startling facts concerning the treachery and +double-dealing of the Central Powers. It shows how Italy was flattered, +cajoled and lured on to the very edge of the precipice of ruin, disaster +and disgrace; how she had been gradually hedged in, cut off from +friendly relationships with other countries, and swathed and pinioned by +the tentacles of economic plots and scheming which rendered her +tributary to and a slave of the latter-day Conquistadores; how for over +thirty years she was compelled to play an ignominious and contemptible +part as the cat's-paw of Germany; how Prince Bulow, the most +distinguished statesman in Germany, also the most resourceful +diplomatist, who by his marriage with Princess Camporeale, and the +limitless funds at his disposal, wielded extraordinary influence with +Italian senators and officials as well as at the Vatican, dominated +Italian people from the highest to the lowest; how, in fact, the +Kaiser's was the hand that for years guided Italy's destiny. The book is +a veritable mine of information of amazing interest at the present time, +given in minutest detail, authenticated by facts, date, proof, and +argument. But it is extraordinary that in this volume of nearly 100,000 +words, written by a man who perhaps, for deep intimate knowledge of +foreign politics and the histories of secret Court intrigue, has no +equal living, not a word of commendation is devoted to the efforts made +by our own British diplomacy or to the parts played by His Britannic +Majesty's Ministers and Ambassadors. There is, however, a remote +allusion on his last page but one, as follows: "The scope for a complete +and permanent betterment of relations is great enough to attract and +satisfy the highest diplomatic ambition." This seems to be the one and +only reference. + +As quoted in other pages of this book, the reader will perhaps gather +that Dr. Dillon, who has been brought much in contact with the +Diplomatic Service and who has exceptional opportunities of seeing +behind the scenes, believes in the old maxims revised; for example: _De +vivis nil nisi bonum_. + +A brief resumé of the material parts of this book which affect the +subject matter of the present one shows that on the outbreak of the +European war Italy's resolve to remain neutral provoked a campaign of +vituperation and calumny in the Turkish Press, whilst Italians in Turkey +were arrested without cause, molested by blackmailing police, hampered +in their business and even robbed of their property. But Prince von +Bulow worked hard to suppress all this and to diffuse an atmosphere of +brotherhood around Italians and Turks in Europe. + +In Libya, however, Turkish machinations were not discontinued, although +they were carried on with greater secrecy. The Turks still despatched +officers, revolutionary proclamations, and Ottoman decorations to the +insurgents, and the Germans sent rifles in double-bottomed beer-barrels +_via_ Venice. Through an accident in transit on the railway one of +these barrels was broken and the subterfuge and treachery became +revealed. The rifles were new, and most of them bore the mark "St. +Etienne," being meant not only to arm the revolt against Italy but also +to create the belief that France was treacherously aiding and abetting +the Tripolitan insurgents. And to crown all, during the efforts of +fraternisation, in German fashion, Enver Bey's brother clandestinely +joined the Senoussi, bringing 200,000 Turkish pounds and the Caliph's +order "to purge the land of those Italian traitors." + +The never-to-be-forgotten "Scrap of Paper," the violation of neutral +Belgium, the shooting and burning of civilians there, the slaying of the +wounded, the torturing of the weak and helpless, at first chilled the +warm blood of humane sentiment, then sent it boiling to the +impressionable brain of the Latin race. Every new horror, every fresh +crime in the scientific barbarians' destructive progress intensified the +wrath and charged the emotional susceptibility of the Italian nation +with explosive elements. The shrieks of the countless victims of +demoniac fury awakened an echo in the hearts of plain men and women, who +instinctively felt that what was happening to-day to the Belgians and +the French might befall themselves to-morrow. The heinous treason +against the human race which materialised in the destruction of the +_Lusitania_ completed the gradual awakening of the Italian nation to a +sense of those impalpable and imponderable elements of the European +problem which find expression in no Green Book or Ambassadorial +dispatch. It kindled a blaze of wrath and pity and heroic enthusiasm +which consumed the cobwebs of official tradition and made short work of +diplomatic fiction. + +Rome at the moment was absorbed by rumours and discussions about +Germany's supreme efforts to coax Italy into an attitude of quiescence. +But these machinations were suddenly forgotten in the fiery wrath and +withering contempt which the foul misdeeds and culmination of crimes of +the scientific assassins evoked, and in pity for the victims and their +relatives. + +The effect upon public sentiment and opinion in Italy, where emotions +are tensely strong, and sympathy with suffering is more flexible and +diffusive than it is even among the other Latin races, was +instantaneous. One statesman who is, or recently was, a partisan of +neutrality, remarked to Dr. Dillon that "German Kultur, as revealed +during the present war, is dissociated from every sense of duty, +obligation, chivalry, honour, and is become a potent poison, which the +remainder of humanity must endeavour by all efficacious methods to +banish from the International system. This," he went on, "is no longer +war; it is organised slaughter, perpetrated by a race suffering from +dog-madness. I tremble at the thought that our own civilised and +chivalrous people may at any moment be confronted with this lava flood +of savagery and destructiveness. Now, if ever, the opportune moment has +come for all civilised nations to join in protest, stiffened with a +unanimous threat, against the continuance of such crimes against the +human race. Europe ought surely to have the line drawn at the poisoning +of wells, the persecution of prisoners, and the massacre of women and +children." + +The real cause of the transformation of Italian opinion was no mere +mechanical action; it was the inner promptings of the nation's soul. + +The tide of patriotic passion was imperceptibly rising, and the cry of +completion of Italian unity was voiced in unison which culminated on the +day of the festivities arranged in commemoration of the immortal +Garibaldi. Signor D'Annunzio, the Poet Laureate of Italian Unity, was +the popular hero who set the torch to the mine of the peoples which, +when it exploded, instantly erupted parliamentary power, Ministers' +dictation, and the influences of the throne itself. It shattered the +foul system of political intrigue built up by the false Giolitti and +developed the overwhelming sentiment of an articulate nation burst into +bellicose action against the scientific barbarians; by which spontaneous +ebullition Italy took her place among the civilised and civilising +nations of Europe. + +Most people who have followed events closely are convinced that Turkey +could, with judicious diplomacy, have been kept neutral throughout the +war. It was whispered in Secret Service circles that a very few millions +of money, lent or judiciously expended, would easily have acquired her +active support on the side of the Entente. + +One need not probe further back in history than to the autumn of 1914 to +ascertain the blundering fiasco that was made in that sphere of our +alleged activities. + +Sir Edwin Pears, who has spent a lifetime in the Turkish capital and who +can hardly be designated a censorious critic, because for many years he +was the correspondent of a Liberal newspaper in London, published, in +October, 1915, a book entitled "Forty Years in Constantinople." In that +book he describes how the Turks drifted into hostility with the Entente +because the British Embassy was completely out of touch with them. Sir +Louis Mallet, H.B.M. Ambassador, appointed in June, 1913, had never had +any experience of the country; he did not know a word of Turkish, whilst +he had under him three secretaries also ignorant of the language and of +the people. Sir Edwin Pears thus describes them: + + + "Mr. Beaumont, the Counsellor, especially during the days in August + before his chief returned from a visit to England, was busy almost + night and day on the shipping cases.... He also knew nothing of + Turkish, and had never had experience in Turkey. Mr. Ovey, the + First Secretary, also had never been in Turkey, and knew nothing of + Turkish. Unfortunately, also, he was taken somewhat seriously ill. + The next Secretary was Lord Gerald Wellesley, a young man who will + probably be a brilliant and distinguished diplomatist twenty years + hence, but who, like his colleagues, had no experience in Turkey. + The situation of our Embassy under the circumstances was + lamentable.... It was made worse than it might have been from the + mischievous general rule of our Foreign Office which erects an + almost impassable barrier between the Consular and Diplomatic + Services.... There were three men in the Consular Service whose + help would have been invaluable." + + +It thus seems to be implied that this help, which would have meant so +much in the saving of valuable lives and the wasted millions in gold, +was absolutely barred by the false dignity or inefficiency of someone at +the Foreign Office. England's only chance of attaining any success with +the wily Turks apparently rested upon one man. According to Sir Edwin +Pears: + + + "Nine months before the outbreak of war we had at the British + Embassy a Dragoman (interpreter), Mr. Fitzmaurice, whose general + intelligence, knowledge of Turkey, of its Ministers and people, and + especially of the Turkish language, was, to say the least, equal to + that of the best Dragoman whom Germany ever possessed. His health + had run down and he had been given a holiday, but when, I think in + the month of February, 1914, Sir Louis Mallet (the British + Ambassador) returned to Constantinople, Mr. Fitzmaurice did not + return with him, and was never in Constantinople until after the + outbreak of war with England. + + "It is said that he did not return because the Turkish Ambassador + in London made a request to that effect.... I think it probable + that if such a request was made it was because Mr. Fitzmaurice did + not conceal his dislike of the policy which the Young Turks were + pursuing. + + "As his ability and loyalty to his chief are beyond question, and + as he possesses a quite exceptional knowledge of the Turkish + Empire, and has proved himself a most useful public servant ... it + was nothing less than a national misfortune that he did not return + with Sir Louis Mallet." + + +Baron von Wangenheim, the German Ambassador, possessed a superbly +equipped staff. It is known that he distributed money, favours, and +distinctions broadcast with a free and bountiful hand. He played upon +the weaknesses and characteristics of the Orientals with such diplomatic +skill and cunning that he entirely won over the Young Turkish party to +his way of thinking. And the Young Turkish party ruled and dictated to +the whole country. + +The blame and responsibility for this extraordinary state of affairs +has been put by our indignant Press upon our Foreign Office at home, +which sent out, organised, and controlled such a representation. The +terrible defeat we suffered at the Dardanelles has also been referred to +as the natural aftermath to such a sowing; for proof of culpability as +to this see further on. + +Our position in Turkey, says Sir Edwin Pears, + + + "was made worse than it might have been from the mischievous + general rule of our Foreign Office, which erects an almost + impassable barrier between the Consular and Diplomatic Services, a + barrier which I have long desired to see broken down. When, some + months afterwards, I returned to England, I received a copy of the + 'Appendix to the Fifth Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil + Service,' published on July 16th, 1914, in which (on p. 321) there + is a letter written by me two years earlier in which I made two + recommendations. The first was adopted, the second unfortunately + was not. I claimed that the Consular and Diplomatic Services should + be so co-ordinated that a good man in the Consular Service in + Turkey might be promoted into the Diplomatic Service, and I + instanced the case of Sir William White, one of the ablest + Ambassadors we ever had in Constantinople, who had risen from being + a consular clerk to the Embassy. The facts under my notice from + July to the end of October, 1914, afforded strong proof of the + common sense of my recommendation. The inexperience of the + Ambassador and his staff heavily handicapped British diplomacy in + Turkey: yet there were three men who had been or were in the + Consular Service whose help would have been invaluable. They had + each proved themselves able Dragomans and each had many years' + experience in Turkey. The only explanation that I can give of why + their services were not at once made available in the absence of + Fitzmaurice was the absurd restriction to which I have alluded." + + +The Press has also stated that the unsatisfactory precedent exhibited by +the Embassy at Constantinople typified the British Legations at the +Balkan capitals. We know how badly we were disappointed, deceived, and +let down in the whole of that theatre of war. The best resumé may be +found in an admirable series of articles, published, February 3rd to +8th, 1916, in the London _Daily Telegraph_, by that most brilliant and +experienced of Continental correspondents, Dr. E.J. Dillon. They reveal +the pitiful failings, weaknesses and miscalculations of our Balkan +Diplomatists in such glaring vividness that the reader wonders at the +marvels performed by our gallant troops and Navy in the face of the +difficulties and obstructions they had to contend with. + +Dr. Dillon wrote: + + + "High praise is due to the intentions of Entente diplomatists, + which were truly admirable. They did their best according to their + lights during the campaign as they had done their best before it + was undertaken. That the best was disastrous was not the result of + a lack of goodwill. What they were deficient in was insight and + foresight. Their habit is not to study the mental and psychical + caste of the peoples with whom they have to deal, but to watch and + act upon the shifts of the circumstances. Amateurism is the curse + of the British nation. Their vision of the political situation in + the Balkans was roseate and blurred, and their moral maxims were + better fitted for use in the Society of Friends than in intercourse + with a hard-headed people whose morality begins where self-interest + ends. By these methods, which, unhappily, are still in vogue, the + diplomacy of Great Britain, France, and Russia lost the key to + Constantinople, and contributed unwittingly to deliver over the + Serbian people to the tender mercies of the Bulgar and the Teuton. + Turkey is still fighting us in Europe and Asia. Roumania is + neutral, and mistrustful, and the war is prolonged indefinitely. + The facts on which our statesmen relied turned out to be fancies; + their expectations proved to be illusions; and their solemn + negotiations a humiliating farce devised by the Coburger, who moved + the representatives of the Allied Powers hither and thither like + figures on a chess-board." + + +Mr. Crawford Price, the Balkan war correspondent, writing in the +_Sunday Pictorial_ of February 27th, 1916, alleges that the Greeks +wanted to join the Allies in active aggression on several occasions, but +the Hellens were effectively snubbed by our Diplomats. Although the +General Staff and the King were both willing at one time to intercede, +they opposed unconditional participation in the Dardanelle enterprise, +because they believed our ill-considered plans would end in disaster. +Mr. Price says that our Diplomatists refused to consider their matured +ideas based upon a lifelong study of local conditions and the adoption +of which would probably have given us possession of Constantinople in a +month. Again, after we had failed, the Greek Government submitted a plan +on April 14th, 1915, for co-operation, but we would have nothing to do +with it. Finally, when in May following King Constantine offered to join +forces with us upon no other condition than that we should guarantee the +integrity of his country (surely the least he could ask!), he received a +belated intimation to the effect that we could not do so, as we did not +wish to discourage Bulgaria. + +After this, it will be remembered, England offered to bribe Bulgaria +with the Cavalla district belonging to Greece. + +No wonder Greece refused to be bribed with Cyprus when Bulgaria had +declined to be moved by the blind and incomprehensible enthusiasm which +seems to have dominated English diplomacy in the Near East. Or was a +certain Continental wag, well known in Diplomatic circles, nearer the +mark when he facetiously lisped, "Your English Government is said to be +slow and sure, which is quite true, in that it is slow to act and sure +to be too late"? + +It is a matter for consideration that the British Minister at Sofia was +changed during the war, whilst almost his whole staff were only +short-timers in Bulgaria, where such a gigantic failure was proved by +the subsequent actions of that misguided and unfortunate country. What +small advantages were once obtained in this sphere of action seem all to +have been lost through our everlasting and repeated procrastinations +and unpardonable delay. Had the permission of Venezelos to land troops +at Salonica been immediately acted upon and the proffered co-operation +of the Hellens accepted with the cordiality it deserved, and half a +million men been marched to the centre of Serbia, that country would +never have been conquered by the enemy, whilst Bulgaria and Roumania +would have come in upon the side of the Entente, and Turkey would have +been beaten at the outset; thereby saving hundreds of thousands of +valuable lives, and hundreds of millions of pounds sterling. + +What a difference this would have made to the length of the war! + +Our diplomacy failed. + +Our then Government showed an utter lack of possessing the art of +foreseeing. The fruits of its policy, "Wait and see," materialised into +muddle, humiliation, slaughter, and defeat. + +Just criticism fell from Lord Milner, who, speaking at Canterbury on +October 31st, 1915, said: + + + "If the worst of our laches and failures, like the delay in the + provision of shells and the brazen-faced attempts to conceal it, or + the way we piled blunder upon blunder in the Dardanelles, or the + phenomenal failure of our policy in the Balkans--if the nation was + induced to regard these as just ordinary incidents of war, then we + could never expect and should not deserve to see our affairs better + managed in the future. Truth all round and clearness of vision were + necessary to enable us to win through." + + +A few days later Mr. Rudyard Kipling in the _Daily Telegraph_ wrote: + + + "No man likes losing his job, and when at long last the inner + history of this war comes to be written we may find that the people + we mistook for principals and prime agents were only average + incompetents moving all hell to avoid dismissal." + + +History repeats itself, and George Borrow was not very wide of the mark +when he wrote in 1854: "Why does your (English) Government always send +fools to represent it at Vienna?"[17] + +The work of all foreign Ministers should consist in providing for +contingencies long foreseen and patiently awaited. Surely we must have +some good and able men who do or can serve us abroad? Or does the fault +lie with the Foreign Office at home? + +The _English Review_ of February, 1916, contained a serious article +entitled "The Failure of Sir Edward Grey," the logic of which causes one +to reflect. Its author, Mr. Seton-Watson, argues as follows: + + + "From the moment that the mismanagement of the Dardanelles + Expedition became apparent to the Bulgarians (and it must be + remembered that the whole Balkan Peninsula was ringing with the + details at a time when the British public was still allowed to know + nothing) only one thing could have prevented them from joining the + Central Powers, and that was the prompt display of military force, + as a practical proof that we should not allow our ally to be + crushed.... Prince George of Greece was sent to Paris by his + brother, the King, with a virtual offer of intervention in return + for the Entente Powers guaranteeing the integrity of Greek + territory. The French were inclined to consider the offer, but it + was rejected by London on the ground that no attention could be + paid to 'unauthorised amateur diplomacy.' + + "This astonishing phrase was allowed to reach the King of Greece, + and having been applied to his own brother on a mission which was + anything but unauthorised, naturally gave the greatest possible + offence. + + "As a matter of fact, the Treaty was much more comprehensive than + is generally supposed. Under its provisions the _casus foederis_ + arises not merely in the event of a Bulgarian attack on Serbia, but + also of an attack from any other quarter also; and therefore + Greece, in not coming to Serbia's aid against Austria-Hungary in + 1914, had already broken her pledge. Hence Sir Edward Grey, who + must have been well aware of this fact, was surely running a very + grave risk when he relied upon Greek constancy in a situation which + his own diplomatic failures had rendered infinitely less + favourable. On September 23rd Bulgaria mobilised against Serbia; + yet on September 27th Sir Edward Grey practically vetoed Serbia's + proposal to take advantage of her own military preparedness and to + attack Bulgaria before she could be ready. Next day (September + 28th) in the House of Commons he uttered his famous pledge that, in + the event of Bulgarian aggression, 'We are prepared to give to our + friends in the Balkans all the support in our power, in the manner + that would be most welcome to them, in concert with our Allies + without reserve and without qualification.' At the moment everyone + in England, and above all in Serbia, took this to mean that we were + going to send Serbia the military help for which she was + clamouring; but on November 3rd Sir Edward Grey explained to an + astonished world that he merely meant to convey that after Bulgaria + had joined Germany 'there would be no more talk of concessions from + Greece or Serbia.' The _naïveté_ which could prompt such an + explanation is only equalled by the confusion of mind which could + read this interpretation into a phrase so explicit and unequivocal. + Greece's failure in her Treaty obligations towards Serbia alone + saved Britain from the charge of failure to fulfil her pledge to + Greece. Nothing can exonerate Greece's desertion of her ally, but + in view of our tergiversation and irresolution, some allowance must + be made for King Constantine's attitude towards the Entente. Sir + Edward Grey, throwing to the winds all his public pledges to + Serbia, definitely urged upon the French Generalissimo complete + withdrawal from Salonica and the abandonment of the Serbs to their + fate. General Joffre replied with the historic phrase: 'You are + deserting us on the field of battle and we shall have to tell the + world.' General Joffre carried his point, and in the biting phrase + of Sir Edward Carson, 'the Government decided that what was too + late three weeks before was in time three weeks after.' But those + three weeks, which might have transformed the fortune of the + campaign, had been irretrievably lost through Sir Edward Grey's + lack of a Balkan policy. Even then our hesitation continued. In + Paris the question is being asked on all sides why Sir Edward Grey, + after such repeated fiascoes, did not follow his late colleague, M. + Delcasse, into retirement, and what everyone is saying in Paris, + from the Quai d'Orsay to the Academie Française, surely need no + longer be concealed from London. The German Chancellor was unwise + enough to hint this in his speech, when he ascribed Germany's + Balkan success in large measure to our mistakes. The fall of Sir + Edward Grey, as the result of a demand for a more energetic conduct + of the war and for still closer co-operation with our Allies, and + the substitution of a man of energy and first-rate ability, would + be far the most serious and disconcerting blow which the Germans + had yet received." + + +The halting, hesitating, vacillating "wait-and-see" policy which seems +to be revealed in such startling vividness by Mr. Seton-Watson causes a +deep thinker to ponder further. Is it not possible that Sir Edward Grey, +like the late Lord Kitchener, may not have been his own master? That he +in turn may have been held down and dictated to by the one man whose own +valuation of his personal services so greatly exceeded the worth put +upon them by the nation at large? + +It is easy to state in the House of Commons, "I accept entire +responsibility," as Mr. Asquith did when the Gallipoli disaster was +questioned, but he surely ought then to have been the questioner! _His +statement_, which the members of the House were bound down by national +loyalty not to attack as they would have liked to have done, _proved_ +that the Prime Minister had been _meddling with military matters_ which +should have been left absolutely and entirely to military experts. Hence +it was that the nation learnt that the halting, hesitating, vacillating +"wait-and-see" policy had paralysed not only the whole Gallipoli +campaign, but particularly the Suvla Bay expedition, which if properly +exploited would undoubtedly have given our arms one of the greatest +victories of the war.[18] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] As evidence in support of this, see the papers seized from von +Papen at Falmouth, December, 1915; the papers seized at Salonika, +January, 1916; the reports from Washington, U.S.A., 1915-6; and the +numerous paragraphs in the Press to date since November, 1914. + +[16] Cotton was not made absolute contraband until 381 days after the +war had broken out, August 20th, 1915. Sir Edward Grey, speaking in the +House of Commons on January 7th, 1915, said: "His Majesty's Government +have never put cotton on the list of contraband; they have throughout +the war kept it on the free list; and on every occasion when questioned +on the point they have stated their intention of adhering to this +practice." + +[17] "Romany Rye," chapter 39. + +[18] It has been said by those who were there that the English troops +were kept back and permitted to play about on the beach bathing and +building camp, etc., for three days after the first landing, thus giving +the Turks more than sufficient time to bring up opposing forces and +successfully dig themselves in where required, whereas it was but nine +miles across the peninsula, which could presumably have been straddled +in a few hours with little, if any, opposition at the time of landing. +Was this the suppressed episode "within a few hours of the greatest +victory of the war," which the Right Hon. Winston Churchill referred to +in his memorable speech, and which has been the subject of so much +surmise and comment? + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE SHAM BLOCKADE + + SECRET SERVICE PROTEST AGAINST THE OPEN DOOR TO GERMANY--ACTIVITY + OF OUR NAVAL ARM NULLIFIED--LORD NORTHCLIFFE'S PATRIOTISM--BLOCKADE + BUNKUM--POSITION OF DENMARK--HUGE CONSIGNMENTS FOR GERMANY--THE + DECLARATION FIASCO--BRITISH MINISTERS' GULLIBILITY IN + COPENHAGEN--GERMAN BANK GUARANTEEING THE BRITISH AGAINST GOODS + GOING TO GERMANY--BRITISH NAVY PARALYSED BY DIPLOMATIC AND + POLITICAL FOLLY--STATISTICS EXTRAORDINARY--FLOUTING THE DECLARATION + OF LONDON--SIR EDWARD GREY'S DILATORINESS AND PUERILE + APOLOGIA--LORD HALDANE PUSHED OUT--LORD FISHER'S EFFICIENCY + UNRECOGNISED--LORD DEVONPORT'S AMAZING FIGURES ON GERMAN + IMPORTS--FURTHER STARTLING STATISTICS--BRITISH THE GREATEST + MUDDLERS ON EARTH--NOBLE SERVICE BY AUSTRALIAN PREMIER, W. H. + HUGHES--HOLLOW SHAM OF THE DANISH AGREEMENT AND THE NETHERLANDS + OVERSEAS TRUST--BLOCKADE MINISTER, LORD ROBERT CECIL, AND HIS + FEEBLE FUTILE EFFORTS--MORE STATISTICS--THE TRIUMVIRATE--ASQUITH + THE UNREADY, SIR EDWARD GREY THE IRRESOLUTE, AND LORD HALDANE THE + FRIEND OF THE KAISER--DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, THE SAVIOUR OF THE + SITUATION--HOW HE PROVED HIMSELF A MAN--A NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY. + + +During the first year of the war Secret Service agents busied themselves +much concerning the vast stream of goods, necessities and munitions in +the raw state which poured into Germany direct and through neutral +countries like the waters of a rising flood over weirs on the Thames. +Night and day these ever-restless beings flitted as shadows along the +secretly or openly favoured trade routes. Persistently and energetically +they followed up clues and signs of the trails of enemy traders, from +ports of entry to original sources. Week by week, almost day by day, +they flashed home news of then present and future consignments of such +importance and value to the enemy that he paid exorbitant prices and +ridiculous commissions to help rush them over his frontiers. Seemingly +all was in vain. These efforts were but wasted. The work was apparently +unappreciated and unresponsively received. England, to all intents and +purposes, was slumbering too soundly to be awakened. Meanwhile, during +every hour of the twenty-four, unending processions of trade ships of +every shape, make and rig sneaked along the coasts of neutral waters, as +near to land as safety permitted, on their way to the receiving ports of +Germany. + +Observers, stationed in lighthouses or on promontories, who watched this +abnormal freighting activity, could not but help noticing that, whenever +smoke showed itself upon the horizon seawards, consternation at once +became manifest on the decks of these cargo carriers. They would squeeze +dangerously inshore, lay to, or drop anchors, bank up their fires and +damp down every curl of smoke which it was possible to suppress; in +short, they adopted every conceivable ruse to conceal their presence and +identity. + +If this trade was honest and legitimate, why should these tactics be +followed, and these precautions taken? _Res ipsa loquitur._ + +As the year 1915 progressed and the inertia of the British Government +became more and more realised abroad, the captains of freighters grew +bolder and bolder, and the confidence of the thousands upon thousands of +get-rich-quick-anyhow dealers ashore increased and multiplied +accordingly. No one, except the Germans themselves, knew or could get to +know the actual extent of this enormous volume of their import trade. +The chattels came from so many different countries and were consigned +through so many channels that accurate records were rendered impossible; +whilst the greater part was shipped in direct. + +The English Press, which had been so self-denying and loyal to the +Government in spite of the shameful manner in which it had been gagged +and bound down, until the Censor's blue-pencilling amounted almost to an +entire suppression of news, began to grumble and to hint very broadly +that the bombastic utterances of our Ministers regarding the +effectiveness of our blockade and the starvation of the Central Powers +were exaggerations and not facts. Men who had always put their country +before any other consideration began to proclaim that the so-called +blockade was a delusion; whilst they quoted figures of imports to +neutral countries which were embarrassing to the Government. Something +therefore had to be done. The notorious Danish Agreement[19] was +accordingly framed in secret (in secret only from the British public), +and a very highly-coloured and altogether misleading interpretation of +its limitations and effectiveness was hinted at in Parliament. In spite +of terrific pressure upon Ministers by members of both Houses, not a +clause of this extraordinary document was permitted to be published, +although its context was freely circulated or commented upon in the +Press of neutral countries and the whole Agreement was printed _in +extenso_ on December 12th, 1915, in the _Borsen_, at Copenhagen. What a +sham and a farce this whole arrangement turned out to be will be seen +later. + +It has ever been the proud boast of Englishmen that Britannia rules the +waves. Until this war the British Navy had been supreme mistress of the +seas, and no loyal person within the Empire whereon the sun never sets +has grudged a penny of the very heavy taxation which has been necessary +to keep up the efficiency of our Fleet. From the commencement of the +war, however, our Fleet was tied up body and soul, shackled in the +intricacies of red tape entanglements woven round its keels, guns, and +propellers by lawyer politicians who never could leave the management of +naval affairs to the Navy, any more than they could leave the management +of military affairs to the Army. In theory these pedantic illusionists +may be superb, whilst some of them even stated (1915-16) that if they +were removed from office during the continuance of the war it would be a +calamity. But in practice the British public has seen proved too +vividly--and at what a cost!--only an incessant stream of terrible +disasters and mishaps; "milestones" in their policy of makeshift, dawdle +and defeat. + +The first chapter in this book shows that our party system Government +was probably directly responsible for the war itself, or at least for +our being precipitated unprepared into it. Without a shadow of a doubt +it is solely accountable for the wild and riotously extravagant waste, +for our colossal supererogation, and for our excessive losses. + +What would have happened to the Mother Country and to her extensive +Colonial Possessions had not Lord Northcliffe, through the powerful +newspapers he controls, stepped in from time to time and torn off the +scales which had been plastered and bandaged upon the eyes of an +all-too-confiding British public, and just in the nick of time to save +disaster upon disaster too awful to contemplate? + +It is not necessary to enumerate the many and vital matters which Lord +Northcliffe helped an indignant and a deluded public to consider and +discuss, whereby the Government was roused from its torpor and pushed +into reluctant activity, but the greatest of all canards which it had +attempted to foist upon Europe does very much concern the subject-matter +of this volume, hence it must be separately dealt with. It is this +so-called blockade, which amongst Teuton traders in Northern neutral +countries was looked upon as the best of all "war jokes"! + +It seems to be universally believed that had the British Fleet been +given a free hand and its direction left to the discretion of a good, +business-like, fighting Sea Lord, the war would have been over within +eighteen months from the first declaration. As it has happened, the +freedom of action of our Fleet has been so hampered that our enemies +have actually been permitted to draw certain food supplies not only from +our own Colonies, but from the United Kingdom itself. How can it be +argued that this suicidal policy has not helped to drag out the war and +add to its terrible and unnecessary wastage of life and wealth, with the +aftermath of woe and misery consequent thereon? + +For our Ministers to affirm that Germany has been starved by our +blockade is as untrue as it is ridiculous. The bunkum which has filled +the thousands upon thousands of Press columns in different countries on +this subject has been mere chimerical effort, in great part subsidised +from indirect pro-German sources of more or less remote origin in +accordance with the value of the publication used. + +Now for a dissection of the facts concerning the main subject. + +Passing over innumerable paragraphs in the Press which hinted at much +more than they disclosed, attention should be given to an article which +appeared in the January (1916) number of the _National Review_ (pp. +771-780), in which a naval correspondent gives record of a startling +amount of supplies of cotton, copper, oils, foodstuffs and other +commodities that were permitted to pass into Germany by permission of +our benevolent Government. + +The _Edinburgh Review_ of the same month also contains an article worthy +of perusal upon the same subject. Many other periodicals directly and +indirectly touched upon it, but for proof positive and authentic +evidence the reader is referred to the files of the _Daily Mail_. That +paper, in its persistent and praiseworthy patriotism, by pushing forward +everything it honestly believed to be for the Empire's good, or which it +hoped might help shorten the war, determined to get to the bottom of the +matter. In order to ascertain how far this alleged supplying of Germany +was permitted it arranged for one of its Special Commissioners to visit +Scandinavia for the express purpose of collecting evidence on the spot +and for publication in its columns. The author has taken the liberty of +extracting freely therefrom. On January 12th, 1916, the special series +of articles commenced as follows: + + + "In setting out the facts I will try hard to keep from my + presentation of them any distortion due to the disgust and burning + anger that they evoked in me, as they must do in every patriot of + this Empire. + + "Lest even for a moment a wrong and cruel suspicion rest upon + little Denmark--namely, that she is unfriendly towards the Allies + and has been 'two-faced' in the many tokens of friendliness and + respect she has shown us, I say with conviction that there is not a + truer or deeper love for England and the English than exists + to-day in Denmark. These Danes, forefathers of so many of our race, + warm still to Britain and the British. Their hearts glow to our + successes, yearn to our reverses. Deep down they are for us through + and through. The best Danes revolt at the work Denmark is now + forced to do. A big and greedy German fist hangs over + her--threatening, bullying, driving. 'So far as in you lies,' says + the bully behind that fist, 'you must be useful to us--as useful at + least as you are to our enemy'--(aside, 'even more useful if we can + make you so')--'and should you fail by one iota to yield us such + surplus food commodities as you produce and such food commodities + as you can get'--(aside, 'by hook or by crook')--'from abroad, then + the consequences for you will be serious. We shall seize Denmark.'" + + +Here follow several columns of statistics relating to the importation of +foodstuffs to Denmark, showing increases in some instances of upwards of +1,000 per cent. upon her normal supplies. + +Denmark's total population is under 3,000,000, and to argue that she +would, or even could, use these commodities herself is mere foolishness. +Extracting further: + + + "The vast bulk of Denmark's pork goes to Germany--either directly, + by train or ship, or _via_ Sweden, where obliging workmen, + dignified _pro tem_. with the title 'merchant consignee' (but whose + whole stock-in-trade consists perhaps of a hammer, some nails and a + batch of labels), change the labels on the goods and perhaps turn + upside down the marked ends of the packing-cases, and then + re-consign the goods to Germany. + + "And they may even leave Sweden in the very railway trucks and + cases in which they have arrived and travel to Germany back through + Denmark in sealed trucks over which the Danish Customs have no + control. Or there may be no need to trouble to send them to Sweden. + They may leave Copenhagen docks direct for Lübeck, Warnemunde, + Stettin, or Hamburg, in direct steamers, of which some 500 sailed + during the year. Or they may go by train. Huge trains leave every + day. The trains and ferries and boats connecting Denmark and + Germany are so full that there is competition for room. How often + may one see the Danish shippers, in advertising their sailings for + German ports, add the significant words, 'Cargo space already full' + days before the actual date of sailing! + + "Now more Swedish traffic than ever crosses the water from Malmö or + Helsingborg and makes its way to Germany across Denmark by rail. I + have stood about the railways at many points in the two countries + and watched truck after truck go by--all to cross the German + frontier below Kolding, in Jutland. The great wagons were closed + and a little seal gleamed red on their black doors. I have stood, + too, on the quays at these ports and watched the dock cranes + lifting and lowering sack after sack, box after box, and barrel + after barrel, from the quays to German-bound steamers, to German + words of command, and on the main or mizzen-mast of the steamer + would be as often as not the gloomy little German flag, black and + white and red, still blacker and gloomier with the smoke drifting + from the funnel before it. + + "On the quays at Copenhagen I watched the steamers _Hugo Stinnes_, + of Hamburg, _Esberg_, _Snare_, _Haeland_, _Hever_, and others, of + Sweden, loading wine from Spain and Portugal; oil, lard, coffee and + petroleum from America; meat from Denmark, and many other goods, + _all for German ports_. I travelled to Malmö, in Sweden, with a + cargo of oils and fats and iron and boxes with no marks on them, + and at Malmö saw these things put ready on the quay to await the + next German steamer. At the same port I saw pork in boxes, + meatstuffs in boxes and barrels labelled 'Armour and Co.,' oils and + fats bearing the names Swift or Morris or Harrison or Salzberger, + and some of them adding the information that the contents were + 'guaranteed to contain 30 per cent. of pure neat's-foot oil'; also + petroleum of 'Best Standard White' and other brands; pork 'fat + backs,' and many other things besides, _all labelled 'Lübeck'_ and + going into lighters for transport thither. Fussing tugs, with a + litter of 400-ton lighters behind, may be seen travelling these + waters all hours of the day bound for Germany, and no one can say + what mysterious cargoes slip from country to country at night. The + glut of traffic at these link-points is tremendous. _At some ports + there is such a glut of stuff that Danish traders complain that + they cannot get their own Danish produce over to Germany 'because + of the amount of foreign stuff' there is to be ferried over._ A + pretty position, indeed! + + "And it is we in Great Britain who are allowing all this 'foreign + stuff' to reach these countries. It is British licences and permits + and recommendations which make possible this pouring of the world's + goods into Germany. Little wonder the Danish merchants and other + onlookers less friendly to us look with wonder upon us. 'My word, + but you are truly a Christian people,' they say. 'You love your + enemies all right--well enough to feed them. And if you, England, + will allow the stuff over, it is not for us, little Denmark, to + stand in Germany's way.' + + "But how is all this possible, you may ask, this feeding of Germany + through neutral Scandinavian countries? Are there not strict + undertakings and promises and guarantees given to England against + these goods, supplied from outside, ever reaching our enemy, + Germany? + + "Our Navy does its part. Ships are hauled into ---- and searched. + Guarantees are exacted and forthcoming. And the whole performance, + admirably and bravely done, is so much waste of effort. _For the + guarantees are not worth the ink they are written with_; they are + not worth a single tinker's expletive. To show this will be a + little intricate, perhaps, but it is worth trouble to follow. + + "Goods leave Great Britain and America, Spain and other countries + for Danish ports. The shipper, now wary of the British Fleet, which + has done wonderful police duty on the high seas, generally exacts a + declaration that the goods are not for export to an enemy country. + The declaration is signed right willingly, for the consignor can + quite easily believe, or pretend to believe, that his goods are + merely for Denmark. A British warship overhauls the boat, and + perhaps takes her into ---- (a certain British port) for + examination. + + "The declaration with each consignment is in order. But, not + satisfied (the Navy all through have been suspicious, and rightly), + the officer communicates with London. 'The s.s. _so-and-so_ has big + consignments of foodstuffs for Copenhagen under the names + So-and-So. Can we release them?' London communicates with our + Legation at Copenhagen, in whose hands they are in this matter. + 'Can we let through consignments to So-and-So in your capital?' And + our Copenhagen Legation replies with a list of the Danish people + whose consignments must be let through and a list of those (if any) + whose goods must be stopped or forwarded only on declaration that + the goods must not leave Copenhagen Harbour or Copenhagen City. It + all looks admirable--most businesslike; quite systematic and + thorough. _It is so much nonsense. For in point of fact the ideas + of our Legation at Copenhagen on the good faith of some Danish + traders and the bad faith of others are childish beyond words. + Their rulings are the laughing-stock of Denmark._ And the joke + would be all the more appreciable were it not that there is so much + anger caused by the arbitrariness of the Legation's trade rulings + and the baiting of some honest men, while less honest go free and + trade with impunity. Struck by the frequency with which one or two + names appeared in the Copenhagen importers' lists, I made some + calculations, then some personal inquiries. I found that 'X' alone + had imported during the year 4,000,000 lbs. pork, 3,000,000 lbs. + lard, 2,500,000 lbs. oleo, 1,000,000 lbs. other pork and meat. 'Y,' + another man, imported in September, October and November alone, + 1,045,000 lbs. of cocoa. Neither of these men was engaged in these + trades before the war. They were men of quite humble business + attainments. _Yet both enjoyed the full confidence of our trusting + British Legation at Copenhagen_, who would have taken solemn + affidavits, no doubt, that neither of these men traded with + Germany. I would have done the same myself. But these men traded + with others who did trade with Germany, either directly or through + third and fourth and maybe fifth parties. + + "What is the result? You have in Copenhagen that amazing modern war + phenomenon the trader of the _n_th degree. Plain Trader imports his + goods and basks and grows fat under the ægis of the British + Legation in Copenhagen. Trader 2 buys from Plain Trader under a + 'guarantee' not to sell to Germany, and if he does not dare to + break that guarantee himself he sells to Trader 3 or Trader 4 or + Trader 5, one of whom will undoubtedly do it. And the less money + that Trader 5 has the better, because then, even if he is caught, + which is not likely, for nobody worries, no one can squeeze him for + the amount of the guarantee because he has not got it. + + "The result is that every Tom, Dick and Harry of Copenhagen is a + trader--from the _bona fide_ merchant downwards. Your hotel porter + may be trading with a Hungarian for flour or rice or fat; the + "Boots" can get you a ton or two of meal. Imagine the amazement of + the Danish housewife when her maid came in one day and, with hands + clasped in enthusiasm, said, 'Oh, madam, I've got three wagon-loads + of marmalade to sell'! And that happened in Copenhagen not long + ago. + + "The newspapers are daily blackened with great display + advertisements offering goods for sale. I have before me as I write + a whole sheaf of such advertisements, offering anything, from + American lard to potash and oil and cocoa and coffee. And not one + of these advertisements has a name or an address to it; nothing but + a telephone number. One or two of these I tracked down, only to + find as vendors simple, kindly souls, such as old shopwomen, + caretakers, porters, shop-girls, and the rest waiting for an offer + for their goods. _Per contra_, as the book-keepers say, there are + advertisements from those wanting goods, and these are often more + outspoken. + + "Some of these nameless advertisements treat of great quantities. + 'Ten thousand kilos fat, with permit to export; 20,000 kilos salted + half-pigs; 50,000 kilos salt meat'; and much more says one + advertisement alone. And the good soul answering to your inquiry + may prove a simple little typewriting girl--one of Copenhagen's new + traders to the _n_th degree. + + "The machinery that has been established by Great Britain in + Denmark for preventing imported foodstuffs from reaching our enemy + might be very admirable--if only it worked. + + "There has been little or no enforcement of the trading laws + imposed upon Danish traders by Great Britain. We have supplied them + with goods and have allowed them to help themselves to goods from + all the ends of the earth upon set conditions--namely, that those + goods should not go to Germany, our enemy. They go to Germany, + nevertheless, and _they go because we have no one in Denmark who + sees to it that they shall not go_. Great Britain, in short, lacks + a watchful policeman in Denmark. Great Britain also lacks a live + sergeant at home to see to it that her Denmark policeman does not + sleep on his beat. _The British Foreign Office_ is the sergeant I + mean; _the British Legation at Copenhagen_, or its commercial + department, is the policeman. _Theirs is the duty. And both have + failed us._ + + "Take the written declarations made by traders that goods supplied + to them by or through us shall not go to Germany. Without control + and enforcement they are perfectly useless. I myself found traders + who told me point-blank that they would consider such agreements as + this not morally binding upon them. 'Your Navy seizes our ships,' + said one, 'and your Foreign Office releases them only on condition + that the goods they contain shall be subject to your own + conditions. I sign those conditions, but they are exacted from me + by force, and I don't consider them as worth a snap of the fingers. + If you put a pistol to my head and said, "Sign that cheque," I'd + sign it, but I'd telephone to the bank the minute you'd gone and + stop payment. And I'll do the same thing with your British import + agreements.' These agreements are perhaps 'backed' by a money + penalty. The banks undertake this guarantee part of the business. + For a modest 3 per cent. or so they will put up your money + guarantee against your goods ever reaching Germany and contravening + the agreement clause. And when the goods go on to Sweden the + Swedish banks relieve the Danish banks of their obligations. And + when the goods go on from Sweden to Germany, who relieves the + Swedish banks? I have it on the word of a man I believe to be + thoroughly honest and well informed that the North German Bank of + Hamburg alone has taken over from Swedish banks of late in one + transaction as much as £78,000 worth of guarantees--that the goods + will not reach Germany! _Was ever there such a comedy? A German + bank guaranteeing that much-needed goods will not reach Germany!_ + + "The Germans are not 'let down' by their diplomacy in Copenhagen. A + constant weight is poised carefully and with a silken brutality + over little Denmark's head and von Ranzau smiles and assures + Denmark he is really preserving her from his powerful master. And + he gets his way, of course. The little matter of a permit for + export? Well, perhaps it can be managed for you, Baron--_especially + as the British watchman is asleep just now_! + + "So the great game goes on. If Denmark has goods that cannot obtain + a permit for direct export to Germany they can go _via_ Sweden. + _Vice versa_, if Sweden has goods about which our active British + Legation there is too curious, send them to Denmark and re-export + them. That is simple. And I have seen for myself at Denmark's port + of Copenhagen Swedish goods (casks of American oil) which had been + refused permits for shipment direct from Sweden to Germany, being + loaded into the steamer _Heinrich Hugo Stinnes_, of Hamburg, for + shipment to Hamburg. Also, on the quay at Malmö (Sweden) I have + seen goods for which Denmark had refused a direct export permit + being loaded into nameless lighters for shipment to German Lübeck. + + "Thus agreements, promises, guarantees, and prohibitions--_the + whole commercial code that Great Britain has devised for regulating + imports into Denmark and for checking their re-export to Germany_ + (and, incidentally, for displaying to us at home) _are so much + meaningless pantomime_. They have become so simply because the + honester traders of Denmark, and the dishonest parasites of all + nations who work under them and through them, have found that there + is no supervision, no punishment, no judge to answer. _Our + watchmen, both in London and in Copenhagen, have slept._" + + +On January 13th, 1916, Lord Sydenham in the House of Lords raised the +question of "Feeding the Germans," and in his speech stated that in +cocoa alone our exports for August-July, 1913-14, were 6,138 tons as +against 32,083 tons for 1914-15. For the sixteen months preceding the +war our exports were 8,883 tons, as against 33,357 tons during the first +sixteen months of the war. + +Lord Lansdowne, following, admitted that "_there was an enormous balance +unaccounted for which it was reasonable to suppose found its way to +enemy countries_." + +The following are the exports of cocoa to the countries named in the +years 1913, 1914, and up to December 30th, 1915: + + COCOA EXPORTS + + In lbs. to 1913. 1914. 1915. + (to Dec. 30.) + Holland 2,205,282 12,203,463 9,298,805 + Denmark 50,782 1,853,948 10,615,873 + Scandinavia 343,573 3,079,904 14,606,309 + + +A leading article in the _Daily Mail_ of January 14th, 1916, stated: + + + "The strength of the greatest Navy in the world is being paralysed + by administrative feebleness and diplomatic weakness. Had our sea + power been used, as the sailors would have used it, from the + opening of the war, it is possible that Germany would before now + have collapsed. The mightiest weapon in our arsenal has been + blunted because our politicians imagined they could wage what + Napoleon called 'rosewater war,' and were more eager to please + everybody than to hurt the enemy, and because our diplomatists are + remiss. + + "On December 29th the _Neue Freie Presse_,[20] a leading Austrian + newspaper, published for the benefit of the people of Vienna an + advertisement offering provisions from Holland. A list of the + articles which could be supplied at moderate prices followed. It + included cocoa, chocolate, potatoes, flour, sausages, sides of + bacon, butter, coffee, tea, sardines, oranges, lemons and figs. + + "_And yet Mr. Runciman tells us that the Germans are on the verge + of starvation!_ + + "The cure for this state of affairs is to infuse greater energy and + insight into our diplomacy and to free the Navy from its paper + fetters. Much of the mischief is due to the want of capable + advisers at the British Legations in the neutral capitals and of + energy and vigilance on the part of the Foreign Office at home. The + Germans have been quick to realise the importance of stationing + active agents at the vital posts. + + "_The present system of setting diplomatists who have lived all + their life in a world of formality to deal with the sharpest + business men in Europe in a matter where huge profits are at stake + is an immense blunder which may have the most serious + consequences._ + + "Our very gentleness with Denmark is being quoted in that country + to prove that we are not likely to win the war. This is undoubted + and dangerous fact." + + +On January 14th, 1916, the Special Commissioner in a further article, +headed, "The Sham Blockade: British tyres on German Cars," explained in +detail the tricks used by unscrupulous foreigners and others to acquire +stocks of rubber motor-tyres for German use. He complained, with reason, +that the broken promises, broken guarantees, and reckless manner in +which permits to trade were granted seemed to be almost entirely the +fault of the British Foreign Office representatives at the British +Legation. He concludes with the following paragraph: + + + "Is this soft-heartedness towards commercial shortcomings and + laxity characteristic of our British control in Copenhagen? On the + evidence that I have I honestly believe it to be so. But is this + attitude solely the individual attitude of Britain's + representatives in Copenhagen or is it merely a reflex of the + Foreign Office attitude at home? + + "I think the true answer is that the Copenhagen Legation attitude + is a reflex of our Foreign Office attitude. But _if London is mild, + Copenhagen is puny_; if London is a lamb, Copenhagen is a sucking + dove." + + +On January 13th, 1916, the following paragraph appeared in the _Globe_: + + + "We cannot disregard the startling and amazing figures collected in + Denmark by the Special Commissioner sent out by the _Daily Mail_. + + "Of course, all these commodities are consigned to Danish + purchasers, under guarantees that they are not intended for the + enemy. What purposes these guarantees serve except to hold harmless + the vessels in which the articles are conveyed we are at a loss to + understand. + + "No sane person will believe that the Danish people have suddenly + developed such a passion for pork that they must increase their + consumption by 1,300 per cent., or that every man, woman and child + in Denmark requires the daily bath in cocoa with which the 23,000 + tons they now import would appear to be intended to provide them. + _The only possible inference from these figures is that we are + being deluded, and are feeding Germany_ in our own despite." + + +The _Pall Mall Gazette_ of January 18th, 1916, said: + + + "Revelations like these can only be described as heart-breaking to + the men and women who have given their sons and brothers and + husbands to the end that Germany may be brought to her knees. Now + they find that some malign spell has paralysed the Navy's arm so + that, instead of Germany's foreign supplies being cut off, they are + in some vital respects more abundant than ever." + + +The _Quarterly Review_, January, 1916, contains a powerful article on +"The Danish Agreement." It suggests how _some blight has been at work in +our Foreign Office for years steadily undermining our mastery of the +sea_. One paragraph bears particularly on the present point: + + + "No informed man doubts that the winter of 1916-17 must weaken to a + marked degree, through lack of food, Germany's armed resistance, + always assuming that she is not supplied through neutral countries. + The existence of England depends on her victory over Germany. Her + victory over Germany depends on the cutting off of neutral + supplies. Therefore the existence of England depends on the cutting + off of neutral supplies. But _when_, in August, 1914, _the Cabinet + and, above all, the Foreign Office, were confronted by this great + possibility of stratagem every psychological force was set in + motion against its adoption_." + + +A telegram from Washington, U.S.A., on January 17th, 1916, to the +_Morning Post_, set out the exports permitted to be poured into neutral +countries in spite of all the efforts and protests of our Navy by our +all-too-benevolent Foreign Office, and in face of Mr. Asquith's pledges +to the House of Commons in March and in November, 1915, when he +emphasised to loud cheering that _he would stick at nothing to prevent +commodities of any kind reaching or leaving Germany. That there was no +form of economic pressure to which he did not consider we were entitled +to win the war_. + + EXPORTS TO NEUTRAL COUNTRIES + + 1913. 1915. + To Bushels. Bushels. + + + WHEAT Holland, Norway, + Sweden, Denmark 19,000,000 50,000,000 + MAIZE Denmark 4,750,000 10,950,000 + Holland 6,900,000 11,600,000 + Other neutrals 2,100,000 6,400,000 + ---------- ---------- + 13,750,000 28,950,000 + ========== ========== + + Barrels. Barrels. + WHEAT Holland 708,000 1,500,000 + FLOUR Other neutrals 709,000 3,800,000 + 1,417,000 5,100,000 + + lbs. lbs. + BACON Holland 3,900,000 9,000,000 + Other neutrals 27,000,000 82,500,000 + ---------- ---------- + 30,900,000 91,500,000 + ========== ========== + 1914 1915 + BOOTS Neutrals 462,000 pairs 4,800,000 pairs + COTTON Neutrals 53,000 bales 1,100,000 bales + + MOTOR-} + CARS &} Neutrals £260,000 £4,000,000 + PARTS } + + +The New York _Journal of Commerce_, quoting statistics of the U.S.A. +export trade for the first ten months of 1915 under a headline, +"Increase to Neutral Europe Equals German Loss," shows that "whilst +shipments to Germany fell away £31,400,000 for the period named, the +gain to the neutral nations on the north of Germany was £32,000,000." + +What could give more confirmatory proof? + +On January 24th, 1916, the _Morning Post_ received a further cablegram +from Washington, U.S.A., containing the elucidating facts that in the +ten months from January 1st to October 31st, 1913, Germany imported from +the U.S.A. 9,898,289 lbs. of cotton-seed oil, the Netherlands 31,867,327 +lbs., and Norway 6,174,033 lbs. + +In the corresponding ten months of 1915 the figures were: Germany, nil; +the Netherlands, 93,153,175 lbs.; and Norway 24,110,269 lbs. + +Other statistics follow, such as cotton-seed, meal and cake, etc., +proving beyond all shadow of doubt that neutral countries were importing +far more goods and foodstuffs, etc, than their usual average imports +plus the total previous imports of Germany in addition. + +A careful analysis of the leading American exports showed, almost +without an exception, the striking fact that the prices of peace exports +were very much lower in 1915 than in 1913; whilst the prices of war +exports all showed large and heavy advances. + +Deducing from these figures, leader-writers came to the obvious +conclusion that _Germany was enjoying unrestricted imports for which +Great Britain directly or indirectly paid_. + +Returns from other parts of the world merely corroborated, adding proof +upon proof. By way of example the Brazilian official trade returns +during the first nine months of 1913, compared with 1915, show the +following exports to the countries named: + + + 1913. 1915. + £ £ + Sweden 389,475 2,844,787 + Norway 63,562 594,900 + Denmark 105,637 715,387 + + +In addition to the export figures given and those quoted from the U.S.A. +should be added the enormous quantities of corn, etc, re-exported from +Liverpool and other British ports under special license issued by our +Government. + +It is therefore reasonably arguable that _our Government has used our +Fleet to convoy our Merchantmen in freighting foodstuffs, at our +expense, to feed the Germans_. By this incomprehensible tolerance home +prices of food in the United Kingdom were directly raised to a high +figure and neutral countries were directly helped to pile up fortunes by +_bleeding and pinching our own peoples in order to feed their enemies_. + +On January 21st, 1916, in the House of Commons Major Rowland Hunt asked +the Foreign Secretary "whether the Foreign Office had been aware of the +state of things demonstrated by the American trade statistics and if so +could he say how much longer our Navy was to be crippled by the Foreign +Office, the war prolonged, and many more thousands of our men +sacrificed?" + +Sir E. Grey: "I understand that the subject is to be discussed next +week. I must, however, say that the statements in the question are +grossly unfair and entirely misrepresent the facts of the case. I +reserve any further statement I have to make until next week." + +From December 16th to 30th, 1915, just on 25,000 tons of iron ore were +openly _consigned to Germany_ through Rotterdam and Holland; as to which +see further on. + +Here is a sample report of the sales one day at Esbjerg (Denmark) cattle +market, December, 1915: + +"Cattle sold to-day numbered 1,450 head, of which Street, of Hamburg, +bought 141; Dar Neilsen, of Kiel, 330; Franck of Berlin, 440; an +Austrian buyer, 327." + +This leaves 212 for Danish buyers. No wonder best beef was then half a +crown a pound in Denmark! + +Incidentally great quantities of the fodder with which these cattle for +Germany are fed come from British ports and possessions. + +Our Government was fully, persistently, and impressively advised by the +Secret Service agents of this continual and enormous export of cattle +and beef direct to Germany in January and February, 1915. Yet it +apparently did not lift a finger to attempt to stop or divert it +throughout the year following, or at any time. + +Sweden, which normally imports 734,720 lbs. of meat in November and +exports 2,961,280 lbs., imported during November, 1915, 8,016,960 lbs. + +Holland, which usually imports in November 1,843,520 lbs. of meat and +exports 11,874,240 lbs., imported in November, 1915, no less than +17,973,760 lbs. + +In the light of these figures it seems idle to say that our blockade was +tightened or in any degree effectual. + +In the House of Commons on January 19th, 1916, Mr. Booth put the +following question to Lord Robert Cecil in reference to these exports. + +Mr. Booth: "Is the noble Lord aware that the Germans in New York toasted +the health of the Foreign Office at Christmas time?" + +No answer was returned. + +On January 26th, 1916, Sir Edward Grey delivered his promised reply in +the House of Commons. It was brilliant oratory, but it was not argument. +It was a defence of the Navy, which needed no defence. It was a +masterpiece of forensic jurisprudence, but it revealed between the +chinks of polished sentences and high-sounding declamation, in startling +nakedness, the weaknesses, the unwarrantable hesitating caution, or the +downright cowardice of the Cabinet. With such grace and skill did the +speaker unfold his case that a reader, unaware of the facts concealed +behind it, would believe the policy and actions of the Government had +been hitherto faultless, flawless, and blameless. Reading it at a later +date brought to my mind the story of a poacher's wife, who with tears of +grateful joy streaming down her countenance, thanked a learned junior +counsel for his able and successful defence of her husband, who had been +charged with stealing a certain shot-gun. + +"My good woman," replied her modest advocate, "it was only a mistake. +The judge truly said that your good husband left the Court without a +stain upon his character. It was only _alleged_ that he stole the gun." + +"Alleged be bothered," said the woman; "why, we've got the gun at home +now!" + +If this speech of Sir Edward Grey, as a speech, had a fault at all, it +was that the defence he made was too good to ring true. At the time of +its utterance it appeared to appease the House. No one wished to hamper +the Government, which, like the energetic but painfully inefficient +pianist at a certain Western mining camp, was protected by proclamation: +"Please don't shoot. He's doing his best." But outside the House the +underlying effect of the speech upon thinking people was very different. +It created satisfaction in Germany and amongst neutral Governments. It +caused great jubilation amongst the vast army of mushroom traders and +adventurers abroad who were piling up fortunes by illicit trading. But +it left Englishmen and our true sympathisers in this tragic war +irritable, indignant, and unsatisfied; smouldering in their just wrath +at the confessed weak-kneed policy of politicians, who, however good +their intentions, proved that they had not yet grasped the difference +between a quarrel at law and a quarrel at war. + +It left the nation disappointed. The people felt we had been fooling +with the war too long; that the time had arrived for some strong and +decisive action. That politics and patronage should be shelved and the +Navy given a free hand. It remembered how the Government had hesitated, +procrastinated, and vacillated in this so-called blockade, as in other +matters. It remembered that Parliament had refused to pass a code of +international rules called the Declaration of London because that code, +made largely to please Germany, weakened the hands of the Navy. It +remembered that _the Government had gone behind the back of Parliament +and illegally put that very code into operation after war began_. It had +not forgotten that this proved such a scandalous weakening of our right +and our strength that soon after the Coalition Government came into +being that code was said to have been scrapped. Even as to this doubts +arose for long afterwards.[21] + +It had not forgotten the seventeen long months of public pressure and +the trouble there had been to force cotton as contraband; nor the +seventeen months of "wait and see" before the Navy was permitted to +examine mails and extract (_inter alia_) parcels of rubber. It had not +forgotten Sir Edward Grey's declaration that "he had no intention of +making cotton contraband"; nor Lord Haldane's contention that "it was +useless stopping the import of cotton to Germany, because if we did +Germany could find a substitute for it." + +The nation had been deceived and lulled to sleep before by soft words +and gentle assurances. It had been told, "we decline to be bound by +judicial niceties." It had been promised "to prevent commodities of any +kind from entering or leaving the enemy's country"; "to stick at +nothing." It remembered with some misgiving how these promises had been +kept.[22] + +What, it reasoned, were the disappointments of a few Dutch and +Scandinavian adventurers from making fortunes out of a war which to +ourselves was a tragedy? The country had unbounded confidence in the +Navy. It had not unbounded confidence in either the Government or the +Foreign Office. It hungered with an overwhelming desire to know why the +Navy should not be given a free and unhampered hand. + +The speaker skilfully evaded too much information on that point, and the +nation was compelled to nurse its resentment. + +At the outset of his speech, Sir Edward Grey attempted to deal with the +mass of statistics and evidence of direct importation of goods into +Germany accumulated by the Press. He selected wheat and flour only, +whilst he casually referred to a list of figures issued by the Press +Bureau from the War Trade Department of the Government the day before +the debate, which members in the House rightly complained had not been +supplied to themselves. This list was stated to have been compiled +officially in this country from true copies of the ships' manifests, +and it alleged the figures given by the Danish _Borsen_ were in many +cases wrong and unduly inflated. For instance, the increase in rice +imports should have been only 480 per cent. as against 580 per cent.; +lard, 275 per cent. instead of 375 per cent.; pork only 1,216 per cent. +instead of 1,300 per cent.; and so on. Now everyone knows that +statistics are not infallible and a generous allowance should always be +made by a careful calculator. But when all circumstances are taken into +consideration it can safely be concluded that the majority of the +increases alleged by the various Press writers, as having percolated +into Germany, were, if anything, under rather than over the mark. + +As to the reliability of the _Borsen_, it is edited by a Government +statistician, and considered by Danish traders as official. + +So far as Norway is concerned, H.B.M. Minister at Christiania had +difficulty in obtaining official statistics regarding imports and +exports after the Casement affair remained unanswered; certain it is +that Government assistance was denied to various Consuls acting under +him; whilst I, when in that country, was informed (by British +authorities) I must not collect these figures, although to me and others +working with me they were comparatively easy of access. + +So far as Foreign Office knowledge is concerned, it is hardly a credit +to the ability or even sanity of the British Legations in Scandinavia if +they have denied knowledge of these colossal imports of goods into +Germany, which were known to almost every inhabitant of seaport towns. +If they deliberately shut their eyes to the evidence all around them, +they presumably obeyed orders. One could then only wonder as to the +reason for such suicidal policy. + +As before mentioned, at the commencement of his speech Sir Edward Grey +laid stress upon the fact that part of the stated increased import, +namely, 2,000,000 barrels of flour were allowed to be exported to +Belgium; whilst a little later in his speech he admitted that "She +[Germany] had requisitioned the food supplies of the civil population +of Poland and Belgium." Almost immediately afterwards Lord Robert Cecil +strove hard to back up the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, but he could +not give the House any positive assurance that the Belgian Relief +distribution was absolutely independent of German control. The +disposition of this is therefore obvious. + +Sir Edward Grey attempted to whittle down the U.S.A. exports of wheat by +stating that nearly half went to Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Malta; but +he did not refer to the corn, etc., exported to Northern neutrals from +Liverpool and other British ports, nor did he make any allowances for +the stream of mysterious ships sailing round far northern seas (many of +them choosing the passage north of Iceland), which sighted land on the +north-western coast of Norway and carried their course inside neutral +waters into the Baltic; which heavily-laden cargo-boats I and others in +the Secret Service had watched and reported week by week and month by +month with heart-rending persistency. The majority of these ships +probably sailed direct to German ports, and no records of their cargoes +were likely to be made, or returned from any country concerning them. +Nor did Sir Edward Grey make reference to the grain ships, which +although nominally bound for Scandinavian ports, were intercepted by +their owners' or consignees' agents in the Baltic, for the purpose of +varying orders for their ultimate port of destination; nor to the ships +which were held up in the Baltic by German war vessels and taken to +German ports under circumstances calling for grave investigation. Nor +did he attempt to answer the general American statistics showing that +the gain in imports to northern neutral countries exceeded the German +loss. + +About the middle of his speech Sir Edward Grey said: "If a vessel was +held up by the Fleet with suspected cargo on board, the matter was +referred to the contraband committee, who decided what _part_ of the +cargo should go to the Prize Court." + +Surely any other nation in the world at war would have arranged from the +outset that the capture of a vessel _with contraband_ on board _en +route for the enemy_, would have meant _confiscation_ of the ship and +her cargo. Our exceptional and extraordinary leniency was hardly +commented upon; it was certainly not satisfactorily explained. + +Continuing to quote from the speech: _He would_ say to neutrals that we +could not give up the right to interfere with enemy trade and must +maintain and press that point. _He would_ ask those countries in +considering our rights to apply the principles which were applied by the +American Government in the war between the North and South as affected +by modern conditions. _If they agreed_ to it, then let them with their +Chambers of Commerce and other bodies make it easier for us to +distinguish between goods intended for the enemy and goods intended for +themselves. _If those_ neutral countries said that we were not entitled +to prevent trading through, neutral countries with the enemy, _then he_ +(Sir E. Grey) _must say_ to the neutral countries who took that line +that it was a departure from neutrality. (Cheers.) But he did not think +they would take that line. + +What naturally strikes the reader on perusal is this: why not the words, +"I had said" and "I have asked" instead of "he would say" and "he would +ask" which Sir Edward Grey used in his speech? Why wait eighteen months +to arrive at such a decision? Why were not these words used as soon as +war was declared? Flagrant breaches arose, as Sir Edward Grey should or +must have known, and continued to increase in magnitude from the autumn +of 1914. Why he waited until the then date, and why he had not acted +before, was not explained. In the next few grandiloquent sentences he +admitted the justification and the necessity; whilst the House cheered +the words, forgetting past neglected deeds. + +Next he admitted that "Germany had, in effect, treated food, when she +found it, as absolute contraband since the first outbreak of war." + +This admission gave one much to ponder over. + +On the point of a stricter blockade Sir Edward Grey suggested that "if a +rigorous blockade had been established the whole world would have been +against us." + +Such a contingency, put into legal parlance, is too ridiculously remote +for further consideration. Why did he not explain why our Fleet was not +allowed to limit particular imports to neutral countries to certain +fixed totals per month, or per annum? It is unthinkable to suppose that +any country would seriously threaten war in face of former well-known +precedent and because such limits were imposed by a blockading Fleet. +More particularly so if any such affected country happened to have been +one of the parties to the Treaty of the Hague, which affirmed the +integrity of poor innocent, unoffending Belgium; the country which, +without justification or excuse, was violated, and ravished, outraged by +the barbarian Hun invaders, and which so many other countries watched +aghast without attempting to help England to protect or to avenge. + +Admittedly it would have been easy for us to close the Baltic and the +Mediterranean. Why did we not do so? We could then have regulated to +each country not at war its full and fair average annual complement of +necessities plus an extra and a generous margin for contingencies. The +Government of each recipient country would have seen to it that its own +respective countrymen reaped full benefits; leaks to the Central Powers +would have automatically stopped. + +What countries would such a course of action have forced into war +against us? + +Possibly Sweden, doubtfully Holland, remotely Denmark. + +America had boasted she was "too proud to fight." She might have +favoured us with a "note," but her love of trade would have been an +absolute bar to the possibility of any cessation of supplies and +munitions. + +No other country would have demurred except Greece, and the vacillating +tactics of the Greeks were but the harvest which could have been +expected from the seed of "wait-and-see" diplomatic sowing. This is +clearly shown by the utterances of King Tino, who said: "I fear the +Germans. I do not fear the English." The Greeks have similarly expressed +themselves. "We know the Germans would rob, murder, and outrage our land +and our people without any hesitation. The English are quite incapable +of anything of that kind." + +It had been proved that Consulates in Greece had been nests of espionage +and arsenals of munitions, and the Islands bases for submarine +murderers; and yet their King actually sent us a protest against our +movement at Salonika to assist the persecuted Serbians whom he and his +country had pledged themselves to uphold and protect; a solemn treaty +they had long ago undertaken, but so conveniently forgotten and lamely +excused themselves out of as soon as called upon to carry it into active +force. + +As a general answer to the direct charges of the Press that the Foreign +Office had not kept faith with the nation in doing all that could be +done to make an effective blockade, as an explanation to sweep on one +side the overwhelming mass of evidence relating to the extraordinary +number of German agents and dealers who swarmed throughout Scandinavia +and Holland, their amazing advertisements, their suddenly accumulated +wealth, the balance sheets showing large profits of neutral companies +dealing in Germany's requirements, the alleged wholesale dealers of +imported goods so suddenly sprung up from the ranks of hotel porters, +clerks, typists, adventurers, caretakers, and even charwomen and +servant-girls, our own inflated home prices of necessities and +commodities--Sir Edward Grey's answer to all this was: The Government +had lately sent Lord Faringdon to examine the position in Holland and +Scandinavia and he reported that on the whole things were very +satisfactory and that all was being done that could be done to prevent +the enemy obtaining supplies. + +Well might the fat stomachs of the "Goulashes"[23] extend and shake in +merriment when they read these comfortable words! + +Sir Edward Grey concluded his speech with this stirring peroration: The +whole of our resources were engaged in this war, and our maximum effort +was at the disposal of our Allies in carrying on this conflict. With +them we should see it through to the end and we should slacken no effort +in the common cause. We should exert all our efforts to put the maximum +possible pressure upon the enemy, and part of that pressure must be +doing the most we could to prevent supplies going to or from the enemy, +_using the Navy to its full power_ ... and in common with our Allies +sparing nothing, whether it were military, naval, or financial effort, +which this country could afford, to see the thing through with them to +the end. + +In the loud cheering with which the House of Commons received the speech +no thought was given to the famous words of Napoleon: "Put no faith in +talk which is not borne out by action"; whilst future events went to +show that Napoleon truly forecasted England's present-day weakness when +he wrote: "Feebleness in its Government is the most frightful calamity +that can befall a nation." + +Contrast Sir Edward Grey's eloquent words and diplomatic evasiveness +upon the treatment of neutrals with the plain, outspoken, thoroughly +English opinion of Lord Fisher, who is credited with having said: + +"There are no such things as neutral powers. Powers are either with us +or against us. If they are friendly they will put up with some +inconvenience; if they are unfriendly they will squeal. Let them +squeal." + +Had we acted throughout on this dictum the war would most probably have +been over well inside of eighteen months. Men of the calibre of this +grand old Sea Lord, whose farsight, foresight, and second sight have +endeared him to the nation and made him unique and incomparable, would +soon have made short work of the war. Yet they were not wanted by the +then present-day party-system Government. They were much too blunt and +honest and energetically active. + +The nation will also remember that when Lord Kitchener of Khartoum +returned from the East in the early days of the then present Government, +it had no use for his invaluable services. He was actually permitted to +accept a directorship of one of our poorest railway companies on the +south coast for want of a better occupation.[24] But the Press and the +public soon brought the Government to book, as it seemingly had to do in +every matter of real national importance. + +The Government tried to keep Lord Haldane installed at the War Office, +but the Press would have none of it. It also insisted on K. of K. being +placed in his proper place and kept there. More's the pity that he was +not given a free hand to do as he liked. + +The Press also clamoured for Lord Fisher as First Lord of the Admiralty. +The nation knows how he was treated. A captain in the Navy aptly +described the unwanted and slighted Admiral expert in _John Bull_, +February, 1916, as follows: + + + "Lord John Fisher is to-day our second Nelson--a diplomatist among + diplomats and a strategist unequalled in our history. What has Lord + John Fisher done? + + "He scrapped 162 obsolete warships which were rotting in harbour at + great expense--for which the Government tried to reprimand him. + + "He introduced the water-tube boilers, which, as every engineer and + seaman knows, raise a full head of steam in twenty minutes, instead + of twenty hours, as formerly. + + "He introduced the steam turbine, which was adopted by every + nation. + + "He introduced oil fuel into the Navy, thus making destroyers + capable of steaming further, a great benefit being the almost total + absence of smoke. He also applied it to battleships and other large + craft. + + "He introduced the Dreadnought, the bulwark of Britain, and the + ship that baffled the German nation and made the Kiel Canal useless + for years. The oil-burning, water-tubed destroyer, and the _Queen + Elizabeth_--the Secret Service ship and the monitor--all emanated + from his brain. + + "He introduced the battle-cruiser, against the will of a timorous + Government whose cry was ever, 'Cut down armaments,' 'Cut down the + Army and Navy.' Had Fisher listened, the Germans would to-day have + outraged our wives and crucified our children. + + "He planned the Falkland Islands battle, and sent the Secret + Service ships to chase the German submarines out of the Channel. He + fought hard against the Dardanelles expedition. + + "He was Sea Lord when we sank the _Blucher_, the German destroyers + in the North Sea, the German Fleet at the Falklands. + + "He is a great man, who seems never to have made a mistake." + + +Whilst Sir Edward Grey was giving his explanations in the House of +Commons, Lord Devonport was busy in another place. He is one of our +shrewdest and most experienced business men. As Chairman of the Port of +London Authority and former Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of +Trade, he would not be likely to go into figures lightly. + +He had given notice to ask the Government for its official figures of +Holland's imports of ore (metal) during 1915. + +The Duke of Devonshire replied that the figures provided him were only +650,000 tons. It was admitted that Holland had virtually no smelting +plant, nor coal to feed it if it had, and the Government was virtually +bound to confess that at least this amount of contraband had mostly gone +straight through to Germany. + +Lord Devonport clearly stated that in reality one and a half million +tons of metal ore had been imported; whilst he produced statistics +showing the name of every ship, the date of entry, the place from which +the cargo came, the quantity and character of the ore carried, and the +agents to whom each was consigned. + +To summarise shortly the total shipments for the period named by Lord +Devonport, August, 1914, to January 15, 1916, it appears that 298 ships +carrying 1,414,311 tons of metal ore entered Rotterdam. The countries +from which the ore came included Sweden, Norway, Spain, Algeria, +Russia, and Great Britain. The totals shown monthly are as follows: + + ORE CARGOES. + + 1914. No. of Ships. Tons. + + August 38 174,162 + September 11 61,679 + October 10 47,900 + November 8 37,300 + December 14 63,900 + ------ + Total 384,941 + + 1915. + January 17 76,200 + February 17 79,700 + March 13 85,800 + April 22 123,800 + May 17 68,100 + June 21 95,350 + July 21 89,150 + August 19 82,300 + September 19 92,400 + October 22 105,270 + November 13 59,700 + December 12 48,300 + Total 1,006,070 + + 1916. + To January 15 4 23,800 + ------- + Grand Total 1,414,311 + + +Two hundred and fifty eight ships carried 1,321,456 tons of iron ore; 25 +ships carried 41,830 tons of zinc ore, the remainder taking copper ore, +pyrites, nickel, manganese, and calamine. + +Lord Devonport added: + + + "What has come of the much-vaunted order in Council declaring that + no goods should either enter or leave Germany? What is the ultimate + destination of these cargoes? There is no concealment about the + matter. Every captain knows exactly. There are no facilities in + Holland for converting ore into pig-iron; not a single + blast-furnace, and no coal to feed it even if there were. + + "The cargoes are transhipped into barges and carried up the Rhine + to a place in easy communication with Essen, where Krupp's works + are situated. Sweden is the main source of the supply. _It is + astounding to me that the British Government should sit still while + these ores are sent to the enemy_ from mines which are virtually + the property of the Swedish Government. + + "Great though _the imports of ore into Rotterdam have been, they + are insignificant compared with the importations in German ports_ + in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea--Lübeck, Stettin, Swinemunde, + Emden and others. _From May 1st to December 31st, 1915, the total + of those imports were 556 cargoes and 2,089,000 tons of ore._ The + question is going to become critical for, _though the country has + been tolerant and long-enduring, things have not gone too well_. + The sheet-anchor of the situation is the British Fleet." + + "The figures," says _Fairplay_, the shipping paper, "sufficiently + indicate the absurdity of supposing that the Netherlands Overseas + Trust or any similar artificial would-be barrier as at present + constituted can, in fact, prevent the enemy from receiving vital + supplies of raw or manufactured material." + + +Nineteen days after the delivery of Sir Edward Grey's "blockade" speech +in the House of Commons Mr. T. Gibson Bowles, speaking at a great City +demonstration in London on February 14th, 1917, under Lord Devonport as +Chairman and convened for the purpose of protesting against hampering +our Navy, said: "Since the war began Sir Edward Grey had hampered, +shackled, and strangled the Fleet in the performance of its duties." +Whilst Lord Charles Beresford wrote to the Chairman: "If the Government +had used our sea power as they were legally entitled to do at the +commencement of the war, by instituting an effective blockade and making +all goods entering Germany absolute contraband, the war would now be +over." + +Lord Aberconway added: "The matter is far too serious to be trifled with +any longer; my personal knowledge intensifies my conviction." + +The Government having attempted to evade any direct answer to the +startling figures and accusations of the _Daily Mail_ disclosing the +get-rich-quick method of the Scandinavian Goulashes, Lord Northcliffe +sent a Special Commissioner to Holland, and published the result of his +investigations in February, 1916. It showed a repetition of the sordid +Scandinavian fiasco, a further proof that the so-called blockade was +leaking in every seam. + +To enumerate the masses of statistics would be wearisome. It is +sufficient for present purposes to quote a few extracts. + +_Cocoa Beans._--Of the 528 tons imported into Holland in 1916 Germany +received the whole. + +_Cocoa Butter._--England could only obtain half what she had in 1913, +whereas Germany obtained five times as much. + +_Cocoa Powder._--England obtained half 1913 supplies, whereas Germany +obtained approximately ten times as much. + +_Cocoa in Blocks._--In 1913 Germany imported 4 tons from Holland, +Belgium none at all; whereas in 1915 no less than 565 tons were exported +from Holland into these two countries, all for German use. + +_Copra._--In 1913 Germany obtained 26,728 tons of copra from Holland, +whereas in 1915 the amount rose to the amazing total of 106,613 tons. + +It would appear from the figures that England was indirectly supplying +Germany _inter alia_ with margarine. + +In 1913 Great Britain sent to Holland 1,914 tons of the raw material, as +against 6,166 tons in 1916. Germany sent no raw material to Holland +during either of the years quoted. + +In 1913 Holland exported 308 tons of margarine to Belgium and to Germany +401 tons. + +In 1915 Holland exported 7,616 tons to Belgium and 21,721 tons to +Germany. _Totals of 709 tons suddenly jumped to 29,237._ + +_Coffee._--Before the war Germany had always exported coffee to Holland +in thousands of tons. During 1915 she sent in none at all, but she +imported from Holland 129,968 tons; whilst 32,822 tons in addition were +sent to Belgium for German use as against a prior yearly average import +of about 8,000 tons. + +_N.B._--England, which during 1911, 1912 and 1918 exported a yearly +average of 6,720 tons of coffee to Holland, suddenly increased her +exports to this country to 15,672 tons in 1914 and to 28,425 tons in +1915. + +In March, 1916, Brazil was seizing German ships because she could not +collect a trifle of about £4,000,000 owing to her for coffee by the +Fatherland. + +_Cotton._--In the three years before the war England exported an average +of 7,808 tons of unspun cotton to Holland, but in 1915 she sent no less +than 22,856 tons. Germany, which _exported_ an average of 33,975 tons +before the war, actually _imported_ from Holland direct in 1915 no less +than 38,750 tons. + +The Commercial Treaty of the Rhine, cunningly made by the clever Teutons +before war was declared, prevented the Dutch from even examining any +cargoes which were thereunder arranged for direct shipment into Germany; +whilst from the very first the workings of the much-boasted arrangement +made by our Foreign Office with the Netherlands Overseas Trust _piled up +evidence, week by week and month by month, that our so-called blockade +was an absolute farce_. + +In the famous "Kim" case before the Prize Court, the President, Sir +Samuel Evans, made the law quite clear. Figures were placed before the +Court to show that the average monthly quantities of lard exported from +the United States to all Scandinavia in October and November, 1913, was +427,428 lbs. Within three months of the outbreak of war one company was +shipping to Copenhagen alone _considerably over twenty times that +quantity in three weeks_. + +When it might have been thought that the public had forgotten this +complete and overwhelming evidence, Lord Emmott, speaking on behalf of +the Government, told the House of Lords that "an abnormal supply to a +country is not sufficient reason to stop a cargo." Here was a Government +spokesman absolutely contradicting the Prize Court Judge--another +unwarrantable interference with the rights of Democracy. + +On February 22nd and 23rd, 1916, the House of Lords debated an important +motion ably advocated by Lord Sydenham. + +"That in conformity with the principle of international law and the +legitimate rights of neutrals, more effective use could be made of the +Allied Fleets in preventing supplies, directly conducing to the +prolongation of the war, from reaching the enemy." + +Lord Lansdowne, Lord Emmott and the Marquis of Crewe spoke in defence of +the Government, but they brought forward no direct proof to upset the +alarming statistics which had been quoted against them. Some figures, +however, were given to show that during the last past month a greater +activity had been caused, in consequence of which there had been some +diminution of imports to Germany; whilst it was further promised that as +an attempt to concentrate the general supervision of the War Trades +Committee the work should be placed in the hands of one Minister, Lord +Robert Cecil, who would be given Cabinet rank. + +That Lord Robert Cecil is a man of great ability no one doubts. The +stock he springs from is pedigree so far as politics are concerned, but +he is a lawyer. For many years past this country has suffered greatly +from a glut of lawyer politicians, particularly in the unwieldy Cabinet +of twenty-three members. The nation remembered only too well how this +noble lord had fought so strenuously and so persistently against cotton +being made contraband. His appointment therefore to this post of vital +importance, which could influence, affect and control the duration of +the war to such a great extent, was strongly objected to by the public +at large. Neither the act nor the man carried an iota of confidence. + +To have seriously attacked the Government and put it out of office +would have raised a general outcry. It was considered disloyal even to +criticise. "Wait and see" was the only policy Englishmen were permitted +to contemplate. Meanwhile this farce, this weakness or this cowardly +inaction, whichever epithet is most appropriate to it, was permitted to +drift its course. Gleefully the Germans continued to annex the rich cod +and herring harvests of Norway, nor did they cavil at the super-price. +Gleefully the Norwegian fishermen continued to rake in the deluge of +gold, the like of which had never been known within the memory of man. +Gleefully the Goulashes of Scandinavia continued to increase and +multiply, whilst they prospered and waxed exceedingly rich, in spite of +a few widely-proclaimed spectacular fines and confiscations. The +advertisements in the papers of neutral countries offering to supply +necessities direct into Germany also continued and spread, like the +proverbial grain of mustard-seed, until the very mails were glutted with +contraband. + +One of these multitudinous advertisements is given as an example. It is +from the _Fatherland_, March 29th, 1916, the subsidised German-American +weekly published in New York: + + + FOOD TO GERMANY. + + DELIVERED THROUGH MY FIRM AT STUTTGART. + + Can condensed milk 30 cents + Fruit marmalades, per pound 35 cents + Fifty cigars $2.00 + One pound of rice 40 cents + One pound of bacon 75 cents + One pound of lard 70 cents + One pound of cheese 25 cents + 100 cigarettes $1.70 + + +Also dried fruits, beans, peas, etc. Invigorating wines for sick and +wounded. + +Information and price lists on request. + +E. R. TRIELER, Dept. F. 35-37, West 23rd St., New York. + +No wonder Lord Grimthorpe, after quoting an influential Frenchman's +opinion that "England had muscles of iron but brains of wool," argued +that, instead of bringing more lawyers into the management, the country +would be much more satisfied if the Ministry of Blockade was put into +the hands of a fighting man like Lord Beresford or Lord Fisher. + +Those in the Secret Service knew that since the outbreak of war Germans +had employed only soldiers and sailors to manage it; and that all their +lawyers and civilian politicians had been relegated to a back seat until +further notice; furthermore, that only proved ability counted. +Patronage, length of service, hereditary and social altitude carried no +weight whatsoever at Berlin; whilst the capacity for organisation and +thoroughness which Germany exhibited had astonished the world. + +Yea, verily, it is a true saying that "Britishers are the greatest +muddlers on earth." It seems to be their grim bulldog pertinacity only +which pulls them through, and their individuality which gives them the +stamina to stay. + +As the winter turned to spring and the spring to summer other terrible +disasters arose which diverted the attention of the nation from the +bogus blockade. Mr. Asquith's "one bright spot," the Mesopotamia +expedition, turned to gall and wormwood; the terrible Gallipoli fiasco +shocked the nation; the pampered Irish rebels appeared in their true +colours; the careless sacrifice of a man whom many believed to be one of +the noblest and greatest of Army Chiefs (K. of K.) this world had ever +seen, paralysed and numbed every English-speaking land; whilst German +spies were still permitted to press their deadly finger-prints upon our +national throat owing to our unbelievable weakness in neglecting to +intern all aliens of belligerent nationality. + +Meanwhile the Press continued to growl and to publish statistics from +time to time to prove that the so-called blockade was still as great a +farce as ever; furthermore, it was absolutely and utterly ineffective to +stop supplies going to Germany. Whilst Ministers and Members of the +Government still had the audacity to refer to its alleged effectiveness +and to call attention to the unenviable plight of starving Germany. + +All true Englishmen should gratefully thank God that we had at least one +man amongst the few real men who had the courage of his convictions, +namely, Mr. W. M. Hughes, the Australian Premier. He, during his all too +short sojourn in the Motherland, rendered noble, great and patriotic +service. He called with an unmistakable voice at the British Imperial +Council of Commerce in London, on June 8th, 1916, for a real blockade. +He said: "Do you realise the tremendous pile of treasure we are pouring +out in this contest? Do you think that any nation, no matter how +wealthy, can stand indefinitely such a strain on its wealth? It cannot. +We are living like spendthrifts, upon our capital. There must come a day +when we can no longer live upon it. I want to emphasise the point that +we cannot continue this struggle indefinitely. The blockade is one great +weapon at our disposal--one of the most effective weapons for shortening +the duration of the war--by increasing the pressure upon the enemy. _If +the blockade had been effective earlier it would have curtailed the +war._ We now have the power, as Mr. Balfour said, to make that blockade +still more effective, and whatever stands in the way of making that +blockade effective against the enemy and against neutrals must be swept +aside. _We have to choose between offending neutrals and inviting +defeat._ We have to choose between pouring out our treasure and losing +the lives of thousands of our best and bravest. Let us hedge around this +nation (Germany) a ring of triple steel through which nothing shall +pass. I have been told there are still things going out of Britain to +Germany. I am told the reason given is that we are getting German money +in exchange. That argument does not appeal to me. I would not tolerate +the practice for another hour. I would treat those who engage in it as I +would treat any other traitor to his country. Therefore insist upon the +blockade being such a blockade as will compel our enemies to recognise +the power of Britain and the Allies." + +Lord Hugh Cecil, the Blockade Minister, does not appear to have been +amongst those present at this memorable gathering. More's the pity of +it! Had he been perhaps he might have had his eyes opened at last to the +folly and inefficiency of his previous policy and foolishly expressed +fallacies. + +To the probable relief and secret joy of the Cabinet, and to the +irreparable loss of the nation, Mr. W. M. Hughes was in the early summer +of 1916 compelled to return to his duties in Australia. After his +regretted departure the so-called blockade continued to leak, as is +proved by the following facts and figures which found their way into the +Press in spite of all the hushing-up processes of the weaklings in +power. Can it be wondered at that many thousands of astounded Englishmen +were actually beginning to believe that some of our prominent Ministers +did not want to win the war because they were either indirectly +interested financially in Teutonic enterprise, or they were pro-German +from other mysteriously concealed causes? What other possible reasons +seemed arguable in view of their extraordinary actions, their leaving +undone those things which they ought to have done, and their doing those +things which they ought not to have done? + +How German production steadily revived from the shock of the first year +of the war is shown by the following table of pig-iron output in tons +published in the _Berliner Tageblatt_: + + + 1914. 1915. 1916. + January 1,566,505 874,133 1,077,046 + February 1,445,511 803,623 1,033,683 + March 1,602,714 938,438 1,114,194 + April 1,534,429 938,679 1,073,706 + May 1,607,211 985,968 + June 1,531,826 993,496 + July 1,561,944 1,047,503 + August 587,661 1,050,610 + September 580,087 1,033,078 + October 734,841 1,076,343 + November 788,956 1,019,122 + December 858,881 1,029,144 + + +Asking the Prize Court on June 5th, 1916, to condemn the Swedish vessel +_Hakan_, of Gothenburg, with her cargo of 3,238 barrels of salted +herrings, the Attorney-General, Sir F. E. Smith, alleged that the fish +were intended for Germany. Writing from Lübeck to Gottfried Friedrichs, +fishmongers, of Altona, said the Attorney-General, a member of the firm +of Witte & Co., their forwarding agents, said: "We have prohibited the +export of herrings from Norway, but our firm has obtained a licence to +export 50,000 tons. We hope to sell 75,000 tons this winter, so there is +plenty of work." + +Sir Samuel Evans: How many herrings in 50,000 tons? + +The Attorney-General: My assistants and confederates inform me that +there are about 450,000,000 herrings. It is a conservative estimate. + +These are official figures published by the Netherlands Statistical +Department on May 20th, 1916; such great assistance rendered to Germany +is more serious owing to the fact that Germany's gain has been our loss. + + FOODSTUFFS SENT FROM HOLLAND, IN TONS. + + (Covering the months January to April.) + + EGGS-- 1914. 1916. + To Germany 3,101 11,825 + To Britain 2,733 557 + + FISH-- + To Germany 21,337 29,378 + To Belgium -- -- + + MEAT-- + To Germany 4,156 30,621 + To Britain 25,460 555 + + POTATO FLOUR and its products-- + To Germany 13,991 43,861 + To Britain 8,831 5,520 + + COFFEE-- + To Germany 17,429 39,684 + + COCOA POWDER-- + To Germany 598 3,302 + To Britain 2,155 1,437 + + BUTTER-- + To Germany 4,010 10,237 + To Britain 1,387 33 + + CHEESE-- + To Germany 4,120 25,437 + To Britain 5,624 407 + + +One has only to cast the eye down these figures to see what Holland +means as a depôt for Germany's food. + +During the first four months of 1916 Holland had imported by consent of +Great Britain 432,702 tons of cereals. No less than 283,792 tons were +re-exported from Holland and consequently did not go into home +consumption there; 272,630 tons of this went over into Belgium. It is +important, also, to note that of the cereals imported 102,722 tons of +maize were included in the total. Most of this maize was used for +fattening pigs, which were eventually slaughtered and sent to Germany. + +This abundance of pig food allowed by us to be consumed by the Dutch +pigs in fact enabled the Dutch to fatten the immense supply which they +sent over to Germany. The meat figures given above must be read in the +light of this fact. + +The more we sent into Holland for her home supply, the more she could +release of her home-grown products to the enemy. As between Holland, +Germany and ourselves, we lost tremendously. Germany and Holland were of +immense assistance to each other, at our expense. + +A weekly circular of the London Rice Brokers' Association shows the +following striking contrasts in exports from London: + + + EXPORTS OF RICE FROM LONDON. + + January 1st to May 27th, 1915. Same period, 1916. + + Cwt. Cwt. + To Holland 247,869 905,078 + (say 45,000 tons) + To France 22,607 430 + + +Thus the export to Holland had greatly increased and the supply to +France had dwindled almost out of existence. During the single week +ended May 27th, 1916, 224,252 cwt. (say 11,212 tons) were shipped to +Holland from London. + +On June 2nd, 1916, the London Press wailed over the enormous supplies of +grain entering Germany through Roumania, which she was enabled to +purchase by exchanging goods made from the raw material permitted so +kindly by England to leak through the blockade. + +In April one consignment of 1,500,000 eggs passed from Holland to +Germany in two days only. Indeed, so vast was the drain of Germany upon +Holland that the Dutch people complained in June that they were being +stinted of their proper food supply. Norway continued to supply nickel, +fish, copper, fish oils, and many other things, although England at last +awoke in the spring of 1916 to the advisability of purchasing part of +the Norwegian fish harvests. In this deal, however, her lawyer +Government had not the sense to consult the best export fish merchants, +who are essentially business men. She went to work in the usual +amateurish way, which spelt reckless waste and extravagance; paying £5 +to £7 per package for what could have been previously arranged for at +about 10s. or less. + +The English Government throughout the war had the Norwegian fish trade +absolutely in its own hands. Yet one of its own Consuls supplied Germany +wholesale in 1914; it supplied coal and salt to assist the Germans to +garner in practically the entire harvest of 1915; and it was not until +the middle of 1916 that some English sluggard in power woke up and paid +through the nose for what could have been purchased practically on our +own terms. + +Sweden continued to supply almost everything and anything that Germany +required, openly when possible, smuggled in by all manner of tricks and +dodges should any difficulty of transport be likely to arise. + +At the end of June, 1916, a Liverpool merchant contributed some +remarkable facts and figures to the _Liverpool Courier_, proving that +England was helping Germany to obtain what she required at the expense +of the home consumer in England. The net result of his arguments was +that our shipping and home ports were congested for several months by +Dutch imports through private arrangements between Holland and England, +whereby Holland was supplying Germany to a colossal extent and +frustrating the supreme purposes of the so-called blockade. In +conclusion, he plaintively besought the nation to adopt the +strangle-knot of Mr. Hughes by so tightening the blockade that Holland +would no longer be able to provide the Germans with food for her peoples +and materials for the manufacture of guns and explosives to slaughter +our sons. + +The tables of figures quoted showed in glaring contrast the usual +enormous increases of imports upon pre-war returns which the British +reader had grown quite accustomed to see. To give but one example: the +shipments of margarine from Holland to Germany during 1915 showed +thirteen times greater, etc. + +On July 20th, 1916, during the hearing of a case in the London Prize +Court relating to the S.S. _Maracus_, the Solicitor-General (Sir George +Cave) read an affidavit by Mr. John Hargreaves, provision merchant, +Liverpool, stating that in 1915 the price of lard in Germany was 100s. +per cwt., as against 50s. in Liverpool. At that price there was an +inducement to American shippers to risk shipment to Germany, and to +German buyers to open credits in New York. Should the American shipper +succeed in getting two shipments through, he might well make a large +profit which would amply compensate him for the loss of one shipment, +apart from his chance of recovering compensation from the British +Government. + +An affidavit by Mr. R. M. Greenwood, Assistant Treasury Solicitor, +showed the imports of foodstuffs into Copenhagen during the first six +months of 1915 as compared with the similar period of 1913. The figures +were: + + + 1913. 1915. + PORK 948,400 lbs. 15,062,060 lbs. + LARD 3,999,700 " 23,458,720 " + OLEO 2,509,900 " 8,775,750 " + + +The evidence in the case proved that the ship was bound for Germany and +her captain had been promised a bonus of £200 if the goods reached their +destination. + +On June 28th, 1916, Lord Robert Cecil in reply to a question in the +House of Commons, said: + +"As the result of the Paris Conference His Majesty would be advised to +issue an Order in Council withdrawing the successive Orders which had +been issued adopting with modifications the Declaration of London, and a +general statement should also be issued explaining the reason for this +step." + +Amidst the loud cheering which followed a voice was heard to exclaim, +"After twenty-three months!" + +How Potsdam must have hugged itself with delight in 1909, 1910, and 1911 +at the absurdly childish simplicity exhibited by the English Liberal +Government in nullifying all its geographical advantages by accepting +such a one-sided code of sea-law which gave Germany the right to stop +food _en route_ to British ports, while forbidding Great Britain to stop +food _en route_ to Germany, and whilst in force rendered any effective +blockade of Germany impossible. + +But what powerful mysterious motives prompted its re-adoption after it +had been rejected by the House of Lords? Again on August 20th, 1914, why +did the Cabinet illegally put it into force with modifications--though +Article 65 thereof states that the code is indivisible? + +What was held in the unseen hand and to whom was it extended? + +On August 2nd, 1916, M. Clemenceau published an article in _L'Homme +Enchainé_, headed, "A Fresh Assassination," in which, after commenting +upon the brutal murders of Nurse Cavell and the innocent Captain Fryatt, +he wrote: + +"It is time that Great Britain made the weight of her will felt, +especially as regards the strict application of the blockade, which, has +too often been relaxed out of a desire not to arouse an unpleasant +quarrel with Washington. It is time to end these half-measures. We must +make up our minds as to what to do, and do it." + +On July 6th, 1916, Lord Robert Cecil admitted in the House of Commons, +in reply, what was tantamount to a confession that the British Fleet +employed in the blockade was still muzzled, being bound down by red-tape +precedents and strict London directions. + +On July 9th he was further compelled to confess that 10,708 tons of lard +had been permitted to enter Belgium, as well as about 2,000 tons of +tallow and other fats. Nominally this was fathered by the Neutral Relief +Committee, but in reality it was just so much more assistance granted to +the enemy. + + +FAT (FOR EXPLOSIVES) IN TONS + +In the early part of 1914 Germany exported lard to Holland, but this +ceased on the eve of war. Great Britain, on the other hand, for some +extraordinary and unintelligible reason, permitted her exports to +Holland to increase. These are the figures: + + + From Germany. From Great Britain. + 1914 861 660 + 1915 Nil 6,591 + 1916 Nil 12,273 + + +BARLEY FOR MALT + +In 1916 Great Britain exported to Holland about fifteen times more +barley than normal pre-war exports, so diminishing our home supplies +that the British working-man was deprived of his national beverage +through shortage and prohibitive prices. Whisky also was similarly +affected. + + +TOBACCO + +The Christian spirit of "love your neighbours and your enemies better +than yourselves" had apparently no limits with the British Government. +Their loyal and hard-suffering subjects were deprived of a full supply +of the soothing weed on the excuse of economising freight room, but no +effort seems to have been made to curtail _Dutch supplies_, which were +_thirty-five times greater than the pre-war exports_. + +In 1914 Hamburg and Bremen exported 4,544 tons of tobacco to Holland, +but in 1915 and 1916 neither of these towns exported any at all. + +The amounts exported by Holland from January to June in tons were as +follows: + + + To Great Britain. To Germany. + 1914 1,611 31,891 + 1915 1,672 54,456 + 1916 923 96,931 + + +The figures published by the German Steel and Iron Manufacturers +Association for the first six months of each respective year show the +following outputs, thanks to Sir Francis Oppenheimer's previous +Netherlands Overseas Trust, which permits iron ore in millions of tons +to proceed direct to Krupps' and other blast furnaces in Germany without +let or hindrance to be used against us. + + + PIG IRON + Tons + 1915 5,530,000 + 1916 6,497,000 + + STEEL + + 1915 6,187,000 + 1916 7,756,000 + + +The _Lokal Anzeiger_, July 28th, 1916, remarked: "These figures +constitute a most gratifying state of affairs in respect of the +_requirements of the German Armies_." No wonder the captured German +officer remarked: "You English will always be fools, whilst we Germans +can never be gentlemen"! + +In August[25] a Mr. E. Bell, of 12, Yarborough Road, Lincoln, wrote to +the Press as follows: + + + "The talk of tightening the blockade of Germany is rather futile in + face of the following Board of Trade figures referring to cotton + yarn exported from the United Kingdom to the following neutral + countries: + + JUNE Sweden Norway Denmark Holland Switzerland + 1914 108,900 218,700 106,400 3,220,800 722,600 + 1915 260,800 348,300 204,700 4,493,300 1,788,800 + 1916 279,200 508,200 598,400 7,539,800 1,304,100 + + + "Germany is obviously getting the surplus." + + +The values[26] of New York exports taken for the week July 30th to +August 5th are equally startling: + + + 1915. 1916. + New York to £ £ + Norway 1,884 137,176 + Holland 713 717,601 + Holland and Scandinavia 123,327 970,255 + + +On August 26th, 1916, an agreement was signed between the Dutch Fishing +Association and the British Government regarding the release of some 120 +to 150 Dutch fishing-boats laid up in Scottish ports, whereby not more +than 20 per cent. of their catch shall be permitted to go to Germany. Of +the remainder twenty per cent. was to be retained for home consumption, +and sixty per cent. sold to neutral countries. On each barrel of this +sixty per cent. the good, kind, benevolent British Government agreed to +pay a subsidy of 30s. to the Dutch boat-owners. + +Now the D.F.A. owned about 850 vessels and 1,000 barrels is a good +average season's catch! + +In addition to this arrangement the British Government agreed to pay +full compensation for their loss of part of the season, to be calculated +on the basis of the returns on an average season. They also agreed to +pay for any damage which might have happened to the interned boats.[27] + +One wonders what British fishermen whose vessels have been commandeered +had to say when they were informed of these facts. + +The _Hamburger Nachrichten_ of August 23rd, 1916, published a telegram +from its Hague correspondent declaring that the semi-official German +Central Purchase Company was seizing Dutch food in enormous quantities; +that local merchants were in a state of alarm and threatening Government +interference; and their correspondent defiantly stated: "The Netherlands +Government will hardly dream of interfering with the activity of the +Dutch Bureau of the German Central Purchase Company, the operations of +which are assuming larger and larger dimensions." + +To add further proof of the utter futility and hollow sham of the +alleged blockade safeguards, namely, the Danish Association Agreement +and the Netherlands Overseas Trust, Sir Henry Dalziel informed the House +of Commons on August 22nd, 1916, that in June Denmark imported _over ten +times as much cotton yarn_ as in June, 1913, and that in the first six +months of the present year Holland exported to Germany _over twenty +times as much butter_ as in the first six months of 1914, nearly _eight +times as much cheese_, and _over seven times as much meat_. + +The unfortunate Lord Robert Cecil in mid-August gave quite a eulogistic +report upon his stewardship as Blockade Minister, which was immediately +followed by the arrival from New York of the Custom House returns +showing that during the week ending August 5th the value of the exports +to Holland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark was _eight times_ as _great_ as +in the corresponding week of the preceding year. To Holland the exports +had increased in value _a thousandfold_ and to Norway +_seventy-fivefold_. + +On September 1st, 1916, the Government, through the War Trade +Statistical Department, issued to the Press an official Memorandum on +the question of the efficacy of the British blockade. + +It barely amounted to the proverbial half-truth, and was pitiably +feeble. It was more than unfortunate that the Government should rush +into print just before the United States export figures were due for +publication--only a week later. + +These latter reliable statistics showed an extraordinary state of +affairs: + + + EXPORTS FROM U.S.A. + + 1914. 1915. 1916. + £ £ £ + To Norway 1,813,400 7,815,000 10,735,600 + " Sweden 2,928,800 15,654,800 10,387,800 + " Denmark 3,134,000 15,964,800 11,132,400 + " Holland 22,443,200 28,653,400 19,852,600 + " Switzerland 204,000 547,200 1,631,200 + + +The _Telegraaf_, Amsterdam's leading journal, on September 11th, 1916, +quoted Governmental statistics to account for the excessive rise in +price of her home products, concluding by the statement that "Holland +has sold her livelihood for greater war profits"; whilst all the Dutch +Press seemed to deplore mildly the vast and unmanageable manner in which +the smuggling of goods over the German frontier was permitted to +continue. + +The figures for meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables, and butter showed an +average _increased export of seventy-five per cent._ on preceding years. +Practically every ounce went to Germany or to territory under her rule. + +On September 12th, 1916, Reuter's representative at the Hague was able +to announce that: "The Dutch Overseas Trust had obtained the release of +420 tons of Kapok, Java cotton, and had also succeeded in removing the +difficulties in the way of the importation of cocoa-beans." + +Such paragraphs as the above could be found repeatedly by anyone who +chose to search the Press. No wonder the smouldering wrath of the +long-suffering British public became fanned to a flame and its +confidence in its so-called representative Ministers correspondingly +decreased. + +On September 9th, 1916, the Foreign Office issued a notice that no +further export licenses or further facilities would be given by H.M.G. +for the importation of certain specified commodities until further +notice. The list embraced scores of foods, but, in fact, was merely +another patch to the very ragged mantle covering the so-called blockade. + +On September 12th, 1916, the War Trade Statistical Department made +another feeble attempt in public to refute the statistics quoted by the +Press. It set out specious and plausible arguments why general +conclusions should be drawn in a light more favourable to our interests. +It gave no denials nor suggested that the figures quoted were not +correct. It was a fretful official apology, a tacit admission of +weakness and inefficiency. + +A casual remark was made by a really able German in the Wilhelmstrasse +on English policy in regard to Germany, to Mr. D. T. Curtin, as reported +by him in the _Times_, October 21st, 1916. + + + "He said to me: + + "'When the war began we thought it would be a fight between the + German Army and the British Navy. That was the cause of the + outbreak of German anger against England on August 4th, 1914. As + time went on we found that the English Government drew the teeth of + its Navy and enabled us to get in through the then so-called + blockade supplies of cotton, copper, lubricating oil, wool' (here + he named some twenty commodities) 'in a sufficiency that will last + us many long months yet. How different would have been our position + to-day if the British Navy had controlled the blockade as we had + every reason to fear it would! We can and will hold out for a long + time, thanks to their blunders.' + + "Blockade policy, prisoner policy, enemy trade control, the + Zeppelin reprisal policy--all these are puzzles to the rulers of + Germany. All are taken as part and parcel of their belief of your + desire to curry favour with them and your fear of their + after-the-war trade struggle. + + "The average German holds similar views as to America's fear of the + Kaiser's Army and Navy after the war. They frankly tell us that it + will be our turn next." + + +On October 25th, 1916, Mr. D. T. Curtin explained in the _Times_ how, +when he was in Germany, a neutral and pro-Ally resident of a certain +port in Germany with whom he discussed things took him for a walk and +showed him the quays. There were not hundreds, but thousands of barrels +of fats. "It almost makes me weep," he said, "to know that every one of +these barrels lengthens the war and destroys the lives of gallant +soldiers and their officers." And apart from the public evasions of the +blockade is the secret smuggling--difficult to deal with. + +A day or so previously Mr. Curtin had written: "Every bar of chocolate +entering Germany prolongs the war, which I know from my own personal +necessities. The Allies and the Government should realise the great +value of the utmost pressure of the blockade." + +It was not until December, 1916, that the rising tide of public feeling +threatened to burst the banks of reasonable control. + +On the first day of that month a crowded meeting of City business men +was held in the Cannon Street Hotel under the presidency of Lord Leith +of Fyvie to protest against the slackness of the Government and terrible +blunders which were far too serious to openly discuss; in particular to +insist that "the British Navy be set free to exercise to the full all +its lawful sea powers." Startling disclosures were made, and the +Government, which had twice restored itself after its legal expiration, +was characterised as worn-out and stale, unable to make peace any more +than it was able to make war; sentiments which were unanimously +acclaimed. + +Almost the entire British Press echoed this condemnation, and the +Haldane group, recognising that discretion was the better part, awoke at +last from its delusions of the value placed by the nation upon their +personal services, and after a few feeble remonstrances retired in +favour of a new Cabinet. "Wait and see" was compelled to give place to +"Do it now." + +Mr. Asquith the Unready, Lord Grey of Falloden, the Irresolute, Lord +Haldane, the friend of the Kaiser, and the Simonite group of backers, +who for fifteen unlucky years had so grievously and disastrously led the +country astray; who had cut down armaments, hoodwinked the nation, and +when war was declared held back conscription, muzzled the Fleet and were +too late for everything, were at last fallen from doing further +mischief, and the nation breathed its prayers of thankfulness. + +Of the late Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) one able editor wrote: + + + "Never before in all our history have such opportunities been + given. He had no opposition; the nation was solid; the Empire was + behind him. No country has ever given any leader such devotion and + none has ever seen its devotion so carelessly wasted. Declaring he + would 'stick at nothing,' he stuck at everything, and moved only + when he was pushed."[28] + + +What Germany thought of the change is reflected in an extract from its +Press when it first heard of the resignation of Mr. David Lloyd George +from the War Office, and it was under the belief that the Haldane group +had triumphed over him. + +The Bavarian _Courier_, December 5th, 1916, said: "This is a terrible +disaster for the war party in England," whilst the Leipzig _Tageblatt_ +said: "The British people have doubtless had enough of this war +agitator. His fall from power brings nearer an honourable peace for +Germany." + +Within a few days of Mr. Lloyd George being created Prime Minister of +England the Kaiser was seeking peace. _Res ipsa loquitur._ + + * * * * * + +What has been given is merely a rough and very deficient resumé of +England's sham blockade, which was permitted to muddle along its costly, +tragic, and fatal course until the Americans joined the Allies in their +fight for freedom and the rights of small nations. Washington at once +swept aside maudlin sentiment by its practical common sense, +get-right-there-quick decisions. + +The nation's relief cannot be expressed in words. + +Was it to be wondered at that from the soul of the Motherland prayers +had so long and so often ascended? + +"Oh, for a man of the old, old Viking blood to lead and direct the +battle in place of those poor craven lawyer politicians in the Cabinet +of the never-to-be-forgotten twenty-three!" + +Indeed, this was the darkest hour before the dawn. + +The autumn of 1916 saw the advent of the magic of the Wizard from Wales. +To him all honour is due. + +For some years prior to the war he had been perhaps the most hated man +England had ever known. He had helped to minimise the Army, the Navy, +and the House of Lords; he had led people to believe it was almost a +crime to own land; he had descended to the lowest levels of vulgar abuse +regarding our most sacred traditions; he had helped rob the Church in +his native land; he had become despised by the noblest and best of his +fellow-countrymen. His sole ambition, apparently, had been to gain the +popularity of the masses--a transient glory which might fade in an hour. +He had attained the position almost of a deity with the extreme Radical +and Socialistic Mob. + +But, in this hour of Great Britain's direst peril, he valiantly came +forth. He buckled on his armour of undaunted courage and vast ability. +He put his whole heart and soul into the fight, absolutely ignoring what +effect his actions might have upon his recent followers, forgetting all +his schemes of lifelong planning, and concentrating all his vast +abilities and ceaseless, untiring energies upon one single concrete +thought, one hope, one ideal--Victory. + +Like that greatest of all the heroes of ancient Rome--_Venit, vidit, +vicit_. Veritably he proved himself a man. + + * * * * * + +What a pity it is that since those days he has not adjusted himself to +this changed world and seized the opportunities for real statesmanship +that lie in this era of reconstruction! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] Completed on November 19th, 1915. + +[20] The following illuminating advertisement also appeared in the _Neue +Freie Presse_ of January 16: + + + "FOR SALE. + + 40 tons prime beef, fresh packed in ice from Holland. + Condensed milk from ---- Amsterdam. + Raspberry jam. + China tea, 25 chests. + Soap, 20 to 40 per cent. fatty matter, 8 wagons. + Sausages from ---- Holland. + Cement, linseed oil, a wagon of each every week from ---- Denmark. + Apply, etc." + + +Not far away from the above advertisement in the same paper is another. + +"Soup extract, 2½d. a cube. Soup vegetables, Julienne, 1s. 8d. per lb., +China tea (Souchong), 5s. per lb., just come from a Danish export +house." + +[21] "Apparently the Declaration of London was valid in the House of +Commons, but not valid in the House of Lords."--Lord Beresford, House of +Lords, February 23rd, 1916. + +[22] In referring to the keeping of Government pledges, Sir A. Markham +(L.) said: "The only thing the Prime Minister has stuck to has been his +salary."--House of Commons, March, 1916. + +[23] _Goulashe_ is the name given to illicit traders with Germany. + +[24] Books on the life of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum do not dwell upon +this unpardonable fact. Some discreetly omit to mention it. + +[25] _Daily Mail_, August 16th, 1916. + +[26] _Evening News_, August 24th, 1916. + +[27] _Daily Mail_, August 28th, 1916. + +[28] _Daily Mail_ leading article, December 6th, 1916. + + + + +L'ENVOI + + +Before parting with my reader I feel an apology is due from me, not for +anything I have written, but for what I have left unsaid. + +I admit this book is an amalgam, and far from being what it might have +been, had circumstances not required the exercise of considerable +restraint on the part of the writer. + +Staunch loyalty to his native land is the least return every true-born +British subject can make for his birthright; and just as in carrying out +the investigations entrusted to me, I ever kept in mind that the one and +only object of my existence for the time being was to help my country, +so in compiling the preceding chapters I have been compelled, by what in +a higher sphere would be called reasons of State, to suppress many facts +and incidents which would, I make no doubt, have constituted interesting +reading matter. + +I have striven to give nothing away that could be construed directly or +indirectly against my country. I have touched, lightly, yet I trust +sufficiently, upon the canker spots that I so fervently hope and pray +may in time be eradicated from our system of home and foreign affairs. + +I may have added to my roll of enemies, yet I rejoice in the consolation +that by my actions I know I have brought to me many true and great +friends. + +My readers may complain that the narrative portion of the book dealing +with detailed adventures could well have been extended, and that the +discursive semi-political portion could well have been curtailed. + +I sympathise exceedingly with them to that extent, but if they knew all +they would, I am sure, sympathise even more deeply with me in the +difficulties which have arisen regarding the publication of these +remnants of my knowledge which are now placed before them. The book, as +it is, consists of but the fragments of a tale untold. + +Had I been dealing with a foreign country as a foreigner, what a +different word-film I could have unrolled!--whilst it must not be +forgotten that I hope to re-visit in the future the countries mentioned. +Were I permitted to record all the happenings of the past I might find +such a return too eagerly awaited and the welcome accorded might be open +to various interpretations by the Powers-that-be. + +It is extraordinary but nevertheless true that there are people who +entertain doubtful feelings regarding anyone who has undertaken Secret +Service work. Some even suggest that such a person, male or female, +could only be classified as a spy, a person to be shunned and avoided. +What ignorance! What little-mindedness! + +When the country had declared war and we knew that the long-anticipated +war with Germany had become an established fact, what Englishman, worthy +of the name, could rest without dreams of active service? Who hesitated +to question the service? When I failed again and again for enlistment by +reason of age and was told to apply to Lord Grey direct, I had a tinge +of suspicion that if I did have the luck to be found acceptable it would +probably be for foreign intelligence work. + +A bald statement of fact that such work was or is contemptible could +only spring from a craven-souled individual who would probably shrink +from his country's call in any event; from some narrow-minded, +over-indulgent stay-at-home; or from some pompous, self-exalted +incompetent, whose ideas of men and things are beneath contempt indeed. + +Secret Service is essentially a service of isolated individuality. A +member is not supposed to know, nor permitted if possible to know, other +members, beyond those whom he must of necessity meet; yet I knew many +more active members than my C.O. had any knowledge or any intention that +I should know. + +All those whom I had the honour of meeting I found to be men of honour, +men whom I am proud to have met. I do not care to express any opinion +concerning the ladies, because it is very certain that the more a man +studies women the less he really knows of their true nature. + +The men in responsible positions (I do not attempt to include the +underlings employed in casual cases) I found in every instance to be +unflinchingly loyal and true to their country over every other +consideration. I will give an instance of this extremeness. An officer +in the Army, whom I would unhesitatingly have trusted with my honour and +my life, was working with me in a dangerous undertaking. To safeguard us +both, so far as I could, I suggested that we should form an absolute +alliance, for life or death. He solemnly agreed, but he made one +stipulation. It was that, if he received a peremptory order from home to +put an effective stop to my further services, he should, very +reluctantly indeed, but without the smallest hesitation, shoot me +without warning. He hastened to add: "You know, old chap, I need not +express my known feelings to you, but I am a soldier of the King. I have +to obey my orders, and when my country is at war I would shoot my whole +family without question, if so ordered from H.Q." I knew he meant it. + +I read an account of the capture of this friend by the Germans in +Finland--I knew what that meant. I mourned his loss for two whole years. +Poor devil! How I pitied him and his fate! But the Secret Service is +ever one of surprise and surprises. On April 7th, 1920, I received a +letter from the much-lamented departed, "chipping" me in great glee, +adding that he had left this branch of service only a few months after I +myself had retired hurt, because, to use his own words, "the War Office +refused to give me any honours of any kind." + +As would be expected, he went straight out to France, where his valour +in the field immediately earned some half-dozen mentions in despatches, +the D.S.O. and other decorations. Knowing his bravery, skill, and +marvellous work whilst abroad in the Secret Service, it seems +unbelievable that Home Authorities (who apparently decorated every +inmate of the Whitehall Offices, and even telephone girls who retained +their stools whilst Zepps were about!) could wilfully ignore such +services as his. + +That this was not an exceptional case, I may add that I do not know, nor +have I ever heard of, even one solitary honour or recognition being +bestowed by our own Government upon a soul who _actively served abroad +in the Foreign Secret Service_; although I do know of highly-coveted +decorations being offered and given from abroad, which would-be +recipients declined, or dare not accept, because of those above and +around them. + +Personally I doubt whether any responsible member of the British Foreign +Secret Service ever really troubled himself one iota about such trivial +matters as decorations--as such. An ambition to climb to the highest +rung of acknowledged service to one's country was another matter. + +The sporting element of discomfiting and checkmating the Huns seemed to +be the one thought uppermost in their minds, whilst, if any time for +reflection was ever found, it was generally passed in cursing +politicians at home for curtailing activities by shortage of funds, and +Ministers abroad for not following Nelson's patriotic ophthalmic action +at the battle of Copenhagen. + +Speaking for myself, I can only say that my greatest joys in life have +been consummated in successful big-game shooting. My employment in the +Foreign Secret Service gave me opportunities at far Bigger Game than my +wildest dreams had ever led me to hope for. + +I enjoyed to the full every minute of those activities. I would not have +missed them for a king's ransom; whilst now I rest in the consolation +that if my past life thitherto had been useless and of little worth to +the world at large or to anyone in it, I was, during the period of my +then employment, striving to accomplish a better thing than I had ever +done, to help to victory the noblest cause this world has ever known. + +"JIM." + + +THE END + + +PRINTED BY THE ANCHOR PRESS, LTD, TIPTREE, ESSEX, ENGLAND. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of British Secret Service During the +Great War, by Nicholas Everitt + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41435 *** |