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diff --git a/41435-8.txt b/41435-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index baf2332..0000000 --- a/41435-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12103 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of British Secret Service During the Great War, by -Nicholas Everitt - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: British Secret Service During the Great War - -Author: Nicholas Everitt - -Release Date: November 21, 2012 [EBook #41435] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRITISH SECRET SERVICE IN GREAT WAR *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -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 THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRITISH SECRET SERVICE IN GREAT WAR *** - -***** This file should be named 41435-8.txt or 41435-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/4/3/41435/ - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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