The Benson signal., 1916-11-11
The 7eutonic Empire probably
has the most efficient secret
servtce system In the 1vorld.
Some of the police methods
are described in this article.

6INIMV are very potential and OF the
<zzTn.N most far-reaching nature,
M|Mu very few persons outside OF
the secret or so-called "Spy
service know anything about the actual
work of the secret organizations. In
Germany and in Japan the secret Serv-
Ice work has reached the highest state
of perfection, says writer in the New
York Tribune
How person becomes spy and
how he or she afterward carries out
the work depend upon the group OF Sc
cret workers that the novice is intro
duced to or thrown in contact with
through circumstances.
The volunteer or self-appointed spy
is not to be considered in the following
account, but merely the professionals
or accredited investigators.
Germany has four classes of "spio-
men," as they are called in the vernacu-
lar, but never officially. The system
comprises (1) the emperor's private
staff, about 60 men and 9 women !;
(2) the War Office staff, which now
numbers 5000; (3) the government
secret service, about 500 officers and
5000 men and $50 women, and finally
the az "geheimpoliZei" or secret
police, who are similarly situated as
the American police detectives, but far
more efficient, and their number is
1n0inn se,o email annfin-
gent attached to embassies and lega-
tiOns.
Almost without exception the first
three groups comprise persons who
have evolved into the secret service.
1t is very seldom that an adult person
steps from any ''Open" occupation into
the work. An endless chain is con-
stantly being forged When spies die,
and they often do in other ways than
the natural, there are always assist
ants that are ready to step into their
boots. These recruits are graduates
and have gone through the preliminary
training course that is probably de-
Scribed here now for the first time.
The students are first given thor
ough tests for hearing, sight and men
tai activity. These tests are similar to
those used by the railroads. Each
morning q system of the most extraor-
binary calisthenics is practiced. One
of the most curious things is the side
twist of the. head which is practlced
so long that the graduate can place
his or her chin against the point OF
the right shoulder and remain in that
position for long while. This enables
the spy to stand with the ear against a
wall or door and listen for hours
without getting a stiff neck ana
fatigue. To stand mOtlOnless for hours,
to walk over creaking floor without
making a noise, to walk on creaklng
stairs noiselessly and to insert keys, to
unlock doors in silence'are some of the
stunts practiced. The most treacher-
Gus stairwayS are negotiated by walk
ing close to the walls, and the noisy
floor plank is mastered by a gradual
and firm pressing motion. The cross
beams of floor are easily located by
the experienced, and are usually stable
and silent.
It is wonderful what the noises in a
wall in even the most silent house will
reveal. The spy is taught to eliminate
the obvious sounds. He presses the ear
flat against the wall; plaster is better
than wall paper, but solid wood is
good, and thin door panel is still
better, provided the door fits snugly
and has good support.
Graduates that understand various
languages are much in demand, and
yet each country prefers native born.
The members of the secret service are
seldom armed, but when weapons are
required they prefer the ammonia pis-
tol, as it is silent, does not kill, but dis
ables the victim by binding him for q
short period, and it can be used at any
distance up to 60 feet.
A full-fiedged spy also carries the
"signal," the open sesame of every
thing German. The signal has perhaps
never been seen by an outsider. It Is
a silver framed shield about as large
as the palm of the hand, with a black
velvet ground on which is embossed in
silver the great Prussian eagle on one
side and the wv. H."sOn the other, for
"Wilhelm II" 1t also has small num-
ber, according to the pOssessor. This
"Slgnal" is shown only in the most ex-
treme cases, and will carry the bearer
past any sentinel or bodyguard even
up to the emperor's personal aids and
himself, if necessary.
The shadowing spy also carries a