Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-02-04
The Spy and How He Works.


When the cables carried the news that
Carl Hans Lody, former resident OF
Omaha, had been shot as fspy in the
Tower OF London. grim picture OF the
uglest, and at the same time most roman
tic, side OF war was brought home TO
Americans.
"Shot as a spyp The phrase thrills
veteran and schoolboy alike and heats the
blood OF anyone who has spark OF imagi-
nation or the spirit of adventure in his
veins. In all the English language, there
is hardly word that carries with il such
a connotation of contempt as spy" On
the other hand, whether in the prepara-
ton for war, or in war itself, there is no
more patriotic or self-sacnficing work,
nor scarcely any OF more profound value
to the country which is being served, than
that performed by the much-despised,
little-appreciated spy.
The rules OF war relating 10 spies are
clearly defined and offer no redress, re
gardlesS OF sex, age, or nationality, TO one
coming under that classification. II a
person, whether man or child, operates
secretly within the territory occupied by
an enemy during The time OF war, for the
purpose OF communicating inform alton TO
a hostile army, he is subject TO the death
penalty. The single provision made in
his behalf is that he must be given a talr
trial. Yet even this is not assured, for II
he be courtmartialed and shot, and later
shown to have been innocent OF the
charges against him, there is no redress
against his executioners.
OF all the systems ofespionage ever or
ganized that OF the German war office
is unquestonably the farthest-reaching
and most efficient. On the heels OF the
British governments assurance that the
German system of espionage had been
effectively broken in the United Kingdom,
numerous British war vessels were tor
pedoed, many sentries were shot, dis
patches containing accurate information
important TO the enemy were intercepted
merely by chance, while German squad
ron succeeded in stealing past patrol
boats, navigating uncbaned and mined
passages, firing on the Suffolk coast and
then escaping. How some OF the inior-
nation which made these things possible
leaked out is known, although the spy
has not been apprehended and is still
carrying on his work.
The Rev. Lord William Cecil recites
the story OF how British raid on Ger
man squadron in the North Sea was frus-
trated. During heated argument in an
alehouse, an English sailor, championing
the prowesS OF his navy declared that he
knew positively that dreadnaughts, cruis-
ers, and torpedo boats were at that mo-
ment pushing ahead under full steam TO
surprise the German boats. Shortly
afterward the bar was closed for the
night, and one OF the group. who had
precipitated the argument, mounted
bicycle, which had brilliant headlight.
and struck down road leading along The
coast. After a time he jumped from the
cycle, released the air from the front tire
and then set about 10 mend a "puncture. )"
In doing this he repeatedly passed in
front OF the lamp, crossing the patch of
light now for just an instant, now delio-
erately stopping in front OF il. Presently
he inflated the tire and pedaled back 10
the city. When the British battleships
arrived at the scene OF the intended raid,
the Germans were not there. The bicy-
clist was a German spy. His message,
flashed in dots and 1ashes, had been seen
through the periscope Of a waiting Ger
man submarine.
There are many other ways by which
an agent, working ahead Of his army, may
and does communicate information TO il
without passing back through The lines.
Some OF these systems are employed to
inform the artillery, for instance, where
its shells are falling. thus enabling il TO
get the properrange on the enemy's posi-
tions. Some OF the subteTfuges are so
ingenious and executed so cleyerly that
detection, because OF the act itself. is dif-
ficult. For instance, clothes must be
washed in war time as well as in days of
peace-yet, clothesIine may be made to
talk by arranging garments on il by size
and color according TO aprearranged code.
Likewise, the vsnes OF large windmills,
sofrequently on the Continent, trans
mt messages merely by turning them to
certain positions, method often used in
time of peace 10 convey information to
surrounding neighbors. Such simple
operation as that OF washing window
may result in the ultimate defeat OF an
army. II is readily seen how spy thus
engaged can signalto lookout, by means
OF dot and dashes, for long periods OF
time. if need be. And the polished in
terror OF a watchcase, bright spade,
saw and similar things, all have been used
tor flashing heliograph messages.
His Buried Hand Itched.
C,tsax,n,, ;nfe,ee na;oc ia a hand Syhfch