The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Georges POstmen

| From London Ideas.
 The most exciting job that can be heiu in the state is that of Kings messei- ! ger. He is charged with the delicate anu in war time, dangerous duty of carry ie 1 important state papers in cases when U would be either unwise or lmpossiOte - l use the telegraph or the postal serVloe' During war the Kings messenger has nearly as difficult task as has the uis- patch rider who is actually at the front 1 He must be continually on the look7 out for spies, and it is quite within the nrobabi1ities that the steamer on which he is travelling may be stopped py aI' | enemy vessel and his valuable papers l taken from him. n Owing to the fact that they wear a 1 badge consisting of a silver gfeyhounu surmounted by a crown, King hlesSei. |, | gers are nicknamed "silver greynounas, and. in deed, they often have to 1mtate tbat breed of dog in swiftness and sure ness of scent To qualify for messen- gership, many things are needed. ihe candidate must be a man or nfsl-rale education of excellent family and sood linguist.
 Considering the qualifications required; the salaries of the silver greyhounds are by no means large. The foreign ser vice messengers receive remuneration ranging from a250 to 9400 year, whlie those employed on home service only get from E190 to G225 year.
 Sometime ago, before the outbreak or
 war, a messenger who had very nnpor- tant documents in his keeping was trav- cling on the continent. On his way to his destination he put up at an inn owing to the breakdown of his carriage. While he was staying there, fretting at the delay, stranger offered him lift in his own vehicle.
 The greyhound" gladly consented, and the two set off along the snow-covered
 road together. Suddenly, apparently without the least warning, the carriage was upset and the messenger was thrown violently out. Luckily, he was not hurt, the deep snow having broken his fall, but when he got on his feet again he saw his late companion driving off as hard as he could go with the important state papers in his possession. Later those papers, intended for quite another destination, found their way to Berlin and once more was the German spy sys- tenn triumphant.
 This war has shown in striking fashion the risks that Kings messengers run In the latter part of last year Capt Stanley Wilson, M. F., was made a prisoner of war while conveying letters from the eastern Mediterranean to Lon- don. He was on board Greek steam CT when an enemy submarine appeared
 and fired shot which luckily did no damage. The vessel was brought to a standstill and the submarine approached nearer, flying the Austrian flag. Its captain ordered that the English passen- gers on the Greek ship should be brought to him, and, accordingly, the Britishers. three in number. including Captain Will son, were brought along. Captain Will son and another officer were then or
 dered to return to their vessel and gdt
 all their belongings, the Greek captain
 being held as a hostage on board the
 submarine while they went When they
 returned they were both taken prisoners.
 Fortunately, the enemy were baked
 of their intentions, for Captain Wilson
 was enabled to make his dispatches se-
 cure, although, as he stated in a letter
 home from Germany: "It involved the
 Christmas presents of the Athens minis
 try staff going into the sea-