The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-06-11

and Listed on tho Private Records
Only by Numbers, Their Brave Deeds
Never Win Them Public Honors.
The secret service Of the United
States government, that little band of
men who are known only to the state
department and whose names appear
in the secret archives OF the United
States as "A-41' or "C-2175," live lives
that for adventure and heroism make
the average best seller" hero look
like furnished imitation.
So little is known by the general pub
lie of the secret agents OF our govern
ment that TO the average person it
seems probable no such body Of men
exists. As matter of fact, the vast
| majority OF the citizens OF the country
seem to think the secret service which
| In reality is attached to the treasury
| department, is intrusted with diplo-
matte work of the underground" Or
| der.
This, however, is not the case. Al
| though It Is the duty Of the secret sery-
fee and the department of justice op-
eratives to run down plots of different
kinds that. are brewing almost con-
tihuousiy within the confines of our
own borders, they are sent out OF the
country only on special occasions or
W hen a cloud on foreign horizon
seems to warrant the mission.
In far off Russia. In China, Japan.
Germany, France, England, South
America, and, in fact, every inhabited
part OF the globe, there fits the diplo-
matte phantom-the secret agent"
How many times he has intercepted
such documents as the Zimmerman
note will probably never be known out
side OF diplomatic circles, but that par
ticular feat is good example Of the
work done by these "watchdogs of
the mist" Using fictitious names and
numbers, will outline their work.
When the war broke ont In Europe,
broke with all the suddenness Of
furious thunderstorm, 1t was no sur
prise to those engaged in the great
game Of lodging DEATH" In Berlin
dapper youth Of decided Teutonic ap-
pearance, listed under our own banner
as BIZ was fully alive to what was
doing and kept Washington posted.
On the Russian border Ivan Musco-
vitz, whose reports were signed with
another number and letter, straight
way informed Washington of the Rus
sian preparations, while In France and
England Andre lie Rene and Cyril
rockingham respectively reported the
doings OF these two great nations.
The youth of Teutonic appearance is
killed by taxicab, plainly an accident,
yet the taxicab had followed the Teu-
tonic youth many blocks and was in
all probability driven by decreplt old
chauffeur, who was known TO Viii
helmstrasse as X-997, GS1 and who had
received notification of the Teutonic
youths activity in the vicinity OF some
district Of military importance.
So died the Teutonic youth. On the
register at Washington BIS Is cross
cd off as dead, and "B-X" rushes from
Dresden to take his place The Teu-
tonic youth is an American, born and
raised, fighting to protect his country;
but. even knowing that his life is In
continual danger. he can make no APP
peal for aid. He has done his duty.
He is dead.
a secret agent is a secret agent In
all that the word implies He must
serve his country In silence. He may
do drawer deeds than those accomplish
ed by the soldier or sailor in battle,
but the world cannot know Of them.
No decoration graces his breast, no
honors are thrust upon him by an
admiring public. yet he continues on
his perilous way doing his duty, man
without country. who is invaluable
to the nation, but yet one whom the
nation cannot recognize.
Often French. American and British
secret agents work hand in hand. The
Frenchman may discover while doing
some work for his own government
that there is plot being Matched for
German invasion. of the United
States through Mexico He passes the
information along to the British and
American agents.
Suddenly feet Of British and
American warships get sailing orders.
They depart, destination unknown"
There is no invasion.
The American may uncover a mes
sage OF vast Importance to France.
His friend, Paul Ledoque, has worked
often with him. Paul shah know.
And so it goes on, the never ceasing
state Of activity throughout the world.
Men come and go, come full OF the en-
thusiastic desire to do for the best In
terests OF the nation, and go by the
more violent yet expected route of
Sudden death"
Unknown, unhonored and unreward-
ed, they play with death as you play
with your own particular amusement.
accomplish their ends by any means
in their power, yet guarding the nation
from more dangers than you ever
dreamed could exist.-Memphis Com
mercial-Appeal.