The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-10-07


much of the terror of the Russ"
which nation we hated as chill
dren. The fear of Russia always
was with us, and from our cribs
we were taught that some day we
must fight them. Each rumor of
intrigue and plotting was brought
home to us strongly. L was in
terested in intrigue from the
time l can remember and We chill
dren played Russian spy OF
English spy" for our games.
: At the death of my father we
went to make our home near Dus-
seldorf, with my mothers broth
er, and there mother died while
j was away in school at Paris.
My uncle was a man of some
wealth, dealing in laces, and for
two summers / went through the
country, in Holland and Belgium
and twice into France, trading
in laces and knit work. l re-
Teived, in due time, the order to
serve my time in the army. By
great good fortune, as then
thought, the Oberlieutenant to
whom | reported considered me
understood, although l was sof
military height, but light.
He was impatient, and spoke
sharply. My replies to his ques-
irons and my knowledge of
French, also France, suddenly
seemed to interest him. Instead
of speaking sharply to me, he
took me aside and asked me. as to
my travels, what parts of the
country | had seen. He asked me
of the country around Insterberg,
questioned me as to the country
about Dusseldorf, and seemed
pleased that | remembered well
>Ahat l had seen.
Then he asked me would l pre-
fer that / should serve my time
in the secret service rather than
with the colors. l told him yes,
because IL was that which had
been in my mind since a boy. So
1 was sent to Berlin to learn.
IL was thus that | became a
HIGH OFFICIALS INVOLVED
OF the fourteen years l have
served l say nothing save that
after five years more or less inn
portant missions we're intrusted
to me. Of the war with the Russ
we heard constantly until IL
seemed as far off as when | was
a boy at Insterberg. Yet, Ger
.Dnany always was ready. Several
times we have been near war but
It passed. Once, a year ago, wei
were very near.
1 was then in Belgrade and in
Vienna. 1t was a plot of Servians
against Austria. Our reports were
that at least three Russian high
officials were In 1t. Twice | have
been in England on service duty
each time to learn what prep
arations the English were max
ing against us.
We were ready during all the
war in the Balkan states-ex-
meeting to be forced into war with
Russians. Some day the story OF
Russia's part of the last two
years in the Balkans shall be told.
OF the murder plot that finally
brought on the present war
know nothing. But it was only |
the last straw. Had II not been
that, then something else, for
Russia and Germany we're ready. /
England, I think, was duped by
false representations by Russia.
France, 1 think, was too trust
full, and suffers for il.
All of the nations, save France,
expected the war. This war has
been fought move for move, on
the checker boards of the stra-
tegists for ten years. What dif-
ference makes 1t what was the
cause-or excusef
But to my personal knowledge;
Like all others I knew war must
come some time, but not until
last February did l see that IL
was to be soon. One mission of
mine was in America. I came TO
learn how many swedes and Nor
wegians were returning to their \
colors. We knew Sweden thought
Russia's blow was to be at her
and had summoned home all re-
serves. Even then Russia was
concentrating troops under vari-
Gus excuses.
On my return TO Berlin in
April. I again was In Belgrade
on a matter entirely foreign to
war. and in Paris. where I exam
fned their reported defenses
against air attacks. finding little
new.
In May the activity Of cur de-
Ilartment indicated that the war
feeling vas growing. although |
there was little of tangible cause
for the feeling Both the mill