New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-14

, susnoct that in these shut-in regions
there runs an underground railroad
which makes the underground railroad
of the Civil War seem commonplace.
A man who travelled in Belgium on
LEGITIMATE business and got out through
the regular channels has told me that
he has ard a new rumor arse IN a
Belgian city--a rumor OF the klnd
which the Germans make a business OF
suppressing.
fast military automobile he has found
tho rumor there ahead Of him. How 1t
came about he docs not know, and the
Germans would nightly well like TO
know. OF the system by which few
vital letters get out Of Belgium, of the
system by which escaped prisoners pass
tho b5rder i'm spite of guards and
barbel wire barriers, | have heard
something; but it would not be fair to
nv informants to tell just now.
How the German Spies Worked.
Everyone knows that all the belli-
gerent nations are employing spies:
Probably the secret service systems OF
the allied nations are working very
we'll. In fact, ! myself have observed
sequences of events which would point
TO that conclusion. But Germany mad
before the war a system OF espionage
far larger and more elaborate than that
of the Allies, and there is good reason
TO believe that as part OF her
thorough war preparation she planted
spies in advance. Some OF the Things
which have happened can be explained
on no other theory.
Along the line, at least from Arras
west. the system is apparently working
so we'll that the Germans can afford 70
make a Joke of il. The Allies do not
keen men steadily in the trenches. The
detachments work" for about three
davs. when they are relieved by re
serves from the rest stations. Tie
transfer of men is usually made by
night.
Now when a detachment from a new
battalion takes its turn in the trenches,
the Germans will call across within
half an hour of the transfer: Hello.
Chubbshire!" or Hello, Guards" This
happens not occasionally, but contln-
ually.
There are a good many theories to
account for this puzzling thoroughness
of the German information. The most
common one is probably nearest the
truth. II is that the Germans have for
years been settling in Northern France
secret agents who pass as "emlgres'
from other parts of France, and who
have settled down and become part or
the communities in which they 1--we.
All the British and French have been
spy hunting of late.
Peasants Not Always Simple.
The brave peasant who ploughed
under shell fire used TO figure extern
sivelv in the literature Of the war dur
ing the incredibly remote days OF last
autumn. The brave peasant IS allowed
to plough no more. A man out IN the
omen has too many chances TO signal.
Dogs are very much under suspicion
since two of that species were caught
with notes in cipher under their col
lars. The British now shoot all stray
dogs near the line. The Tommles say
that they would rather shoot their
human enemies than do that:
A major who halls from one OF the
colonies told me the other nleht or ms
adventure with the spies. Passing by
night down a road in the rear OF the
lines he stopped to speak TO the sentry.
As he stood there a tiny fash OF light
caught his eye. Il seemed TO come
from cluster of houses in a little
forest situated on what passes for a
Hill in the fat low countries. 1t b!azed
on; then il died and blazed again. -,
"Have YOU noticed that?' he asked
the sentry.
yes. sir. have been watching 1t Tor
an hour. | was thinking OF reporting
on it, said the sentry.
They stood observing II for some
time. The light was flashing intermit-
tently; plainly il was some sort o! sig
nal. The Colonial major, having noth-
ing else 70 do at the time, went MN
self and reported the matter to the
british intelligence officer Of the dis
trict. Together they returned to the
sentry post. The light was stlll hash-
ing now and then. BY inquiry OF the
sentry they localized II in cottage az
the edge Of the group of buildings.
"IW have that cottage watched 70
NIGHT" sad the British officer. III II
keeps W tomorrow n mt III jolly well
See here" replied the Colonial IN
my country do it now is our motto.
Why not get him now with the goods
on him" From his language IT Will
nerhaps be possible to tell which, one
81 the British colonies the major nails
from. y.I -
Every we'll, I'm with YOU" said the
', ...-L ;n.o11igapra officer.