Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
Anglo-German Spying.
Correspondence of The Star.

LONDON, September 10, 1910
xx~ PYITIs' is the prevalent disease
in Germany and England at pres
~ emit. In both countries any inno-
cent tourist with a camera who happens
to stray into the neighborhood of fort
a dockyard or a military post is liable to
find himself bounced on by the authorities
and incarcerated in a dungeon until he
can demonstrate that he is not employe ed
by the Intelligence department. of the
rival power.
1t is no uncommon thing in rural Eng
land for enthusiastic boy scouts to shadow
for days any stranger with a German &C
cent who appears in the neighborhood.
and cases are on record where tourists
have appealed to the police for protection
against the zeal of the amateur detectives
In Germany the police look with suspicion
on any one wearing a golf cap, which is
supposed to be the distinctive mark of
the Englishman abroad.
X
Quite the funniest situation which has
yet arisen is now i'll process of develop
ment. A few days ago it was announced
in the English papers that two English
men who gave their names as Brandon
and Trench had been arrested at Borkum,
one of the Tristan Islands, where Ger
| many is erecting immense Notifications to
protect the mouth of the Ems. One of
them was caught within the military
| works at night with a sketchbook and
papers containing drawings which an or
| binary tourist would scarcely be likely to
| make were also captured. The men re-
fused to say anything about themselves,
and the British press made a great fuss
about the outrage on two innocent tour
lists. The Germans, however, still have
them under lock and key. and before long
will try them for espionage.
Brandon and Trench it is said, are
really naval officers in the British serv-
ice and when they were caught they were
on ''intelligence service'-the polite name
for spying-for the British admiralty. OF
course, the admiralty had to disoWn them
1t is one of the risks which a spy takes
when he undertakes his job. He need eX
pect no assistance from HIS country if he
is caught for it is one of the aXioms of
polite diplomacy that no such thing as
spying exists, and, of course. to try to
aid a captured spy would give the game
away.
However Brandon and Trench have in
fuential friends and the admiralty was
implored by them to do something, so a
quiet hint was sent out to all the English
coast Notifications and military posts that
| if they could pick up a German spy or
two it would be appreciated at headquar-
| tiers. Now comes the really delicious Sc
quel. This week the British papers an
| nounced with d great show of black head
; lines that zeal German spy had been
| captured at Portsmouth. He was lying
| on the slacis of fort making sketches
| when he was observed by some English
| officers. who promptly sent out patrol
| and arrested him.
A great show of secrecy was made. He
| into the fort, and when he was in dou-
BILE guard was placed at the door of the
room he was confined in. He was al
| lowed to eat at the officers mess with
| guard behind his chair.
The astOnished young man said quite
| frankly that he was Lieut.. Helm of the
German pioneer regiment and gave up q
! few sketches that he possessed 1t has
| not been stated whether he pointed out
! that the fort he was sketching was ohfso-
| lete and more interesting as a ruin than
| as a modern military work. but such is
! the case. 1t is also a fact that he could
! have bought all the picture post cards Of
| the fort he wanted in Portsmouth for l
! cent each.
The admiralty and the war Office are great
| ly pleased at the capture. and consider it
| highly important. 1t is doubtful, however, if
| Lieut.. Helm will ever be tried for espion-
age in England. Some dark night, in all
| probability he will be turned quietly out
1 home and say nothing more about the
matter, and about the same time Brandon
| and Trench will make their temperance
| among their friends in England. OF
course. this will not be an exchange ,of
| spies for you see there issno such thing
as spying in the eyes of the respective
| governments. and of course they couldn't
| exchange spies who don't exist But
Germany and England will both get their
| officers back, and every one will be salts
| fed.