New-York tribune., 1917-07-27
Leaks to Germany Concealed
In Letters That Seem I HARMLESS
Spies Use Ingenious Combinations of Aphabets of Many
Languages; Disrupting Continuity of Message
Spoils Results in Simpler Efforts
By RALPH E. RENAUD

The government has proclaimed
censorship on all outgoing cables. The
public sighs with relief. No more in
formation to Germany, no more naval
movements revealed, no more army
sailings tipped off, no more U-boat at
tacks. And all because the average
man assumes that the mere official
glance of censor, especially If he
wears a uniform, will exercise the evil
spirit out Of the deadliest message.
1t doesn't work just that way. As
matter of fact, much harmful informa-
tion leaks through the tightest censor
ship-and it simply pours through a
casual one.
Our blue pencil properly and SEN
sibly welded will undoubtedly stop
considerable information of military
value from reaching Germany. But as
all the ships in the world cannot pre-
vent contraband from passing into an
enemy country, so all the censors in the
world cannot stop the traffic in mill
tary secrets over the cable. Yet CEN
sorship can be made as effective as a
blockade. And Germany, rationed and
half starving, knows how efficient that
may be.
To make the United States censor
shin effective one cardinal rule should
be enforced absolutely: The continuity
of every message, the source or des-
tination of which the censor himself
cannot guarantee, should be destroyed.
The government has announced that
all cables suspiciously worded Will be
transposed. But what constitutes "sus-
picious wording? Obviously it Is
only a state of mind on the part OF the
reader. And no spy who is worth MS
salt or values his skin is gong 20 eR-
cite such a state of mind.
A Sample of Innocence
Here is what purports to be news
dispatch from a correspondent at the
capital to a journal in Sweden. Core
spondent and newspaper are both IN
vented, of course, and the news II re-
lates Is purposely dated some weeks
ahead of when il actually occurred:
But the point lies in its appearance OF
pristine innocence. Thus:
1.-THE Planet, Stockholm, Sweden:
"Washington, D. c., May 15.-Presi-
dents embargo ruling should have I'M
mediate notice. Grave situation al
fecting international law. Statement
foreshadows ruin of many neutrals.
Yellow journals unifying national ex-
ei'e"e"' 'i"' asTREssMANN."
But il isn't innocent. To any re-
cipient, previously prepared by mail,
it conveys the startling announcement
that: "Pershng sails from New YORK
June l." This is spelled out by the
first letters of every word.
Here is another, not quite so prlml-
tive, somewhat less childlike and bland,
but containing exactly the same lnfor-
nation. On the surface It merely
warns a firm Of Swiss soapmakers tnat
their trade will be affected by the
American embargo.
OF Interest to Soap Users
"Fontaine ct Gle, Savoniers, Lucerne,
Switzerland.
"New York, May 15.--Apparently neu-
trails protest is thoroughly discounted
and ignored. Isman hard hit. Block
ade issue affects pretext for embargo
on by-products, ejecting suets and vege-
table oils. ARNAUI.
With the previous message as cue
it may be noted that this melancholy
communication TO the soap world con-
tains the same number of words. The
statement that "Pershing sails from n.
Y, June l." is conveyed by the second
letters of each word.
This is the system on which the spy
primarily depends. To be sure, the
more ingenious agents use elaborate
keyword arrangements and complicated
cryptograms. Some unwelcome mes
sages will go over the cable anyway.
Lord Northcliffe penetrated the Ger
man censorship and used the cable to
telegraph funds to one OF his agents in
Berlin.
But the difficulty with most cryptic