The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-18
GERMAN SPIES IN FRANCE
AT OUTBREAK OF WAR
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Continued Trom First Page)
enemy Is, Many or these paetoral
spies have been shot on the ground
They aroused suspicion by the per-
slstence with which they chose graz
!ne for their fiocks Immediately in the
rear of the same French battery time
after time.
ESPIONAGE REGARDED
AS VERY ESSENTIAL
spies" the great Frederick used to say.
Since Frcdcrick's time. espionage has
been regarded beyond the Rhine as an
essential part OF the machinery for
the defense Of the monarchy.
As a military engine. espionage had
been perfected at the date of the
Franco-German War The organizer
n-chief was Stieber: Stieber whom. Bis
narck described as King of Sleuth-
hounds.
IT was Stiebcr. who. when King
Frederick William was ready for. mis-
march on France, had strewn with
10000 spies the road from Paris to
Berlin This methodical Organization
brilliant in conception--embrace n
host OF farmers. market gardeners.
agricultural laborers. vine grow ers
commercial travellers. tutors. noncom-
missioned officers I'm retirement. nice
looking widows at the desks of cafes
and restaurants and several thousands
OF agreeable mattresses and chamber
MAIDS and SovcrnesseS in beer halls,
hotels and private houses. All these
were, in fact. the second army of 1870.
They had arrived i'm France one at
time, two at time. three at n time
long before the battle was Joined; and,
under Stleber's directions, had fur
nished thousands OF secret reports con-
corning every district that the Ger
man army was to traverse.
NJ. Paul Nanoir, in n remarkable
brochure. The German Spy system In
France" says: 1T constituted the first
example in the history OF war Of the
scientific and mcthodical organization
OF an espionage service placed direct
ly and continuously at the service OF
the combatant army"
BISMARCi<'S PROPHECY
IS SOON FULFILLED
Take, in this connection. n passage
from Stieber's own "Memoirs:"
"At the commencement of the cam
paiEn. when we had reached Falque-
mont. / was invited to dine with the
chief (Bismarcl<) and his stan If Of
ficials OF the Ministry of Foreign AZ
fairs. We were Installed in small
peasants house. After dinner. while
! Bismarck WAS personally making cof-
fee for the whole company. he gave
! utterance to a prophecy. which was
destined to be fulfilled six months later:
1T is quite decided that we shall not
give Alsace or Lorraine back TO
France An officer of the headquarters
staf added the remark: Our army is
invincible.' whereupon l jumped up in
a fury and answered, Say, rath.r our
armies"
Perhaps Stieber was right in rating
his army OF spies as on n par with the
! army of soldiers.
Turn now to the management of spy
ing the peace time. A Minister of the
Interior, Puttkamer. stated openly what
posts in France" were to establish
themselves In the country In situations
which should lay them open to a mini
mum of suspicion. Each one, said Herr
Won Puttkamer must be obliged to
keep some kind OF shop, whose selec-
ton may be left to iiim, provided it is,
at least, to outward appearance, thor
oughly in Keeping with the commercial
or other requirements of the country
where he has been sent to take up his
abode"
He is 1t Will be observed, "sent to
take UP his abode" as IL he were a
! soldier ordered On foreign service:
Whatever the nature OF the estab-
i lishment, whether it be a disputed claim,
! Office or n land and property agency. or
/ whether the business Is of purely com
mercial character. such as grocery
! establishment, cafe. restaurant. hotel,
! insurance office. or the like. in all cases
! the business must be soundly estab-
lished and possess substantial good
Will.
1t must, In fact, be ever borne in
mind that II is necessary for our agents
| to inspire confidence in circles where
they have their centre of action and
to create that confidence by the out
ward signs OF an ordinary middle class
F., existence; indeed. by ell-placed NUM-
iicence. and by making themselves use
| full In all kinds of societies. associa-
| lions and communities, they must ac-
Guire such n strong social position that
| as far rs their locality is concerned
each may be well received everywhere
and highly thought of in all quarters
and may be thus always in position
to give us useful information on all
| POINTS"