Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-21
GERARD kept.
BUSY WEDDING.
SPIES OUT OF.
THE EMBASSY
American born Wives Of
German Officials Among
the Most Active Workers
in the Berlin Secret Ser
vice.
STREET THE ONLY
SAFE PLACE TO TALK

p 1164 4&AG VNA4
SAFE PLACE TO TALK
State Department Dis
patches D eciphered by
Code Experts Impossible
to Keep Diplomatic Sec
crets From Frying Ears of
the Germans.
Dy CARL W. AcKERMAN
xcopyright 1917. The Tribune Asso-
ciation)
James w. Gerard, the
American ambassador in
Berlin, used to be kept busy
wedding out spies in the en-
bassy. Because of a scarcity
of American clerks and
stenographers he had to en-
ploy many Germans, even in
the confidential file rooms.
But whenever the ambassa-
dor discovered a real spy,
out he went.
But one Of the men the Ambassador
suspected was the chief messenger and
announcer, a young German named
Fritz" This fellow was liable to mill
tary duty. but he was newer called.
Ono day whilo talking to Secretary of
State Zimmerman, Gerard asked why
Fritz" was always overlooked whom
the army called in new men. All other
German male employees were called, al
though many of them were excused
because tho ambassador asked for
their release, but Fritz stayed. Zim-
mermann said that Of course he did
not know the reasons because he was
not connected with general staff!
After Gerard returned to the en-
bassy from this call on the secretary
Of state he remarked that it probably
would not hurt the United States to
have Fritz" report because If he re-
ported the truth the general staff
would soon learn that the United
States was in earnest IN opposing Ger
man submarine warfare and would
go to war If the Won Tirpitz policies
were accepted. Fritz" however,
proved an active worker for the gov
eminent and he watched especially
the American correspondents who
came to the embassy, reporting faith
fully to the foreign office what he
heard them say.
AIDED BY AMERICAN WIVES.
But the German secret service in
Berlin was extremely efficient in
watching Americans. And among the
most active workers were American
born wives OF German army officers
or officials. The navy. army and for
eign office all had their women agents
and one of the most capable ones was
Frau Won Schroeder, wife of Ritz
meiser vor Schroeder. who was in the
army intelligence bureau Of the gen.
eral staff.
Frau Won Schroeder worked mainly
through certain American correspond
ents and business men. Her home was
a meeting place for a group of anti.
Wilson Americans who were spying
on Ambassador Gerard and who re-
ported to her everything they heard
about him.
At one time she was quite intimate
with zimmerman, but after a while
she turned on the foreign office and
did spying almost exclusively for the
navy department. When she deserted
the foreig office Zimmerman became
10 angry that hee told Gerard one day
that II Frau Won Schroeder ever came
to his office again he would Jump out
Of the window.
At the beginning of the war Frau
Won Schroeder was cultivated by sew
eral of the most prominent American
correspondents because in return for
the information they gave her about
the American embassy and the United
States she obtained favors for them.
At one time she was SO powerful in
government circles that notes to the
Wilson's submarine notes were drafted
IN her library.
SPY SYSTEM IN HOTEL.
But Frau Won schroder's activities
we're only one phase of the Berlin
yecret service.
The Hotel Adlon was known as the
gathering place for Americans. Most
Americans who came to Berlin stopped
there. so the intelligence departments
Of the government had not only every
employe who understood English, but
Army officers and women agents sta
TONED there to listen to all converse
lions. Americans used to say that
within half an hour after they made
any important remark about Germany
and the United States it was known
at the foreign office or general staff.
OF the numerous incidents which oc-
CURED here one is typical Of how over
Jealous SOLE of the spies were, espe-
cially some who did not understand
English perfectly.
One day 8. B conger Of Grand Rap
ids. Mich. chief of the Associated
Press. and Philip M. Powers OF Bos-