South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-09
ONLY HEROES IN
SECRET SERVICE
Members Are Continually Call
ed on to Risk Their Lives,
But Deeds Go UnSung.
BY Kenneth MacDougaiI.

far-reaching plans OF Germany to
fOment trouble in every part OF the
globe. and the su bsequent refusal
Of Sec'y Of State Lansing 10 disclose
how the note was obtained. because
il would "endanger lives" comes a
brief press dispatch from Juarez,
Mexico, announcing the theft OF
important papers" from the Ger
man consulate there.
To the average reader the Juarez
dispatch may seem unimportant, yet
in all probability il is merely an
other link forged in the great chain
Of unknown achievements OF our
valiant little band Of patriots who
throughout the entire world are al
ways on the alert in the interest Of
our country, yet who in time of dan
ger cannot call on US for aid.
This little band Of men. who are
known only TO the state department.
and whose names appear in the Sc
cret archives of the United States
as AL" or "C-2175," live lives
that for adventure and heroisn
make the average best seller" hero
look like furnished invitation.
Work Is done ut Home.
SO little is known by the general
public Of the secret agents of our
government that to the average per-
son il seems probable no such body
Of men exists As a matter Of fact.
the vast majority of the citizens of
the country seem to think the Sc
cret service. which in reality is at
tached 10 the treasury department,
is entrusted with diplomatic work of
the underground" order. This how
ever. is not the case. Although il is
the duty Of the secret service and
department Of justice operatives TO
run down plots OF different kinds
that are brewing almost continually
within the confines of our own Dor
ders, they seldom are sent out of
the country.
In far off Russia, in China. Japan
Germany. France, England. South
America. and, in fact, every inhabit-
ed part of the globe. there fits the
diplomatic phantom, the secret
agent"
How many times he n. inter
copied just such documents as the
Zimmerman note Will probably
never be known outside of diplomat
ic circles. but this particular feat
is a good example of the work done
by these "watchdogs of the mist"
Using fictitious names and numbers
I will outline their work.
When the war broke out in Eu-
roDe. broke with all the suddenness
of a furious thunderstorm, il was
no surprise 10 those engaged in the
great game Of lodging death" In
Berlin a dapper youth Of decided
Teutonic appearance. listed under
our own banner as "B-45," was full
ly alive TO what was doing.
on the Russian border Ivan Mus
covitz. whose reports we're signed
with another number and letter.
straightway informed Washington
OF the Russian preparations. while
in France and England Andre lie
Rene and Cyril rockingham. re-
spectively, reported the doings OF
these two great nations.
The youth Of TeutOnic appearance
is killed by a taXicab. Plainly an
accident, YOU would say if you had
witnessed the incident. yet the taxi
cab had followed the Teutonic youth
many blocks and was in all prob
ability driven by a decrepit old
chauffeur. who is known TO Will
helmstrasse as X-997.6S1. and who
had received notification Of the
r.. L.. Il
vicinity OF some district of military
Another Takes His Place.
So died the Teutonic youth on
the register at Washington "B-45" Is
crossed off as dead and "B Y" rush
es from Dresden 10 take his place. |
The Teutonic youth is an American. !
born and raised. lighting to protect
his country, but. even knowing thai
his life is in continued danger. he
can make no appeal for aid. He has
done his duty; he is dead.
In Mexico City recently a well |
known and devoted servant Of the
United States, we'll known because !
Of his undying love for his country |
and his splendid nerve. was killed |
in a street fight. Killed because he |
was about TO uncover things which |
were better kept under cover. in the |
opinion of the Mexican government |
His friends knew why he was
killed. they knew he had been in |
the shadow OF death many times 1
but only his intimates knew why he |
in haunting the grim reaper /
to come get him.
a secret agent" is a secret agent I
in all that the word implies. He /
must serve his country i'm silence. He /
may do Drawer deeds than those &C
by the soldier or sailor I
in battle. but the world cannot know /
OF them No decoration graces his |
breast. no honors are thrust upon \
him by an admiring public. vet he /
continues on his perilOus way doing I
his duty. a man without a country. I
who is invaluable 20 the nation. but 4
vet one whom the nation cannot /
II he is killed. his death is often 4
avenged by one of his fellow agents. |
for many friendships are formed not 4
alone between men Of his own ma |
tional corps. but with those OF other /
nations with whom he must neces-
sarilv work.