Williams news., 1917-01-11
The 7eutontc Empire probably has he most efficient secret service system m he zvorld. Some of he police methods are described m his article.

' TFH well known that the spy sys- kMW tens of the warning nations 0|IKLMV are very potential and of the <.yT\ most far-reaching nature, MIMM 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 d writer in the New York Tribune.
 How a person becomes a spy and how he or she afterward carries out the work depend upon the group of se- 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 t1) the emperor's private staff, about 60 men and g women; (2) the War Office staff, which now numbers 6,OOO; (3) the government secret service, about 500 officers and 5000 men and 1SO women, and finally the (4) "geheimpolizei" or secret police, who are similarly situated as the American police detectives, but far more efficient, and their number is legion. Then there is a small contin- gent attached to embassies and lega- tiOnS.
 Almost without exception the first three groups comprise persons who have evolved into the secret service. It 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
 
 tai activity. These tests are similar to those used by the railroads. Each morning a system of the most extraor- dinary calisthenics is practiced. One of the most curious things Is the side twist of the head, which is practiced 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 wall or a door and listen for hours without getting stiff neck and fatigue. To stand motlonless for hours, to walk over a creaking floor without making a noise, to walk on creaking stairs nOiselessly and to insert keys, to unlock doors in silence are some of the stunts practiced. The most treacher- ous 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 a 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 a 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 blinding him for a short period, and 1t can be used at any distance up to 60 feet.
 A full-fledged spy also carries the signal" the open sesame of every thing German. The signal has perhaps never been seen by an outsider. It is silver framed shield about as large as the palm of the hand, with black velvet ground on which is embossed in silver the great Prussian eagle on one side and the "W. H." on the other, for "Wilhelm H." It also has small num- Der, according to the possessor. This Signal" 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