Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-20

Copyright, 1918, by Public Ledger Co.
tThis I. the third and snd last a,, ,instalment Of
spies in neutral countries).
In a foreign neutral city, known for
its sympathies to the cause of the
Allies, there lived a German who posed
as a retired merchant, He lived in
the most expensive and exclusive
hotel. He conversed with very few
people publicly and these were usually
neutrals or belligerents above sus-
picion. Sometimes he would be seen
departing in a motorcar and he would
not return until early the following
morning. Except for these midnight
excursions there was nothing suspl-
cious about him. There was no evi.
dence that he was other than he rep
resented himself to be. But in all
neutral countries there are hundreds
of men who do as he did. The busi-
ness of every man cannot be known
even to the police.
Interested in Fortiflcations
One evening, in conversation with
an Allied subject who was above sus.
picion, he showed a particular interest
in Notifications. explaining his curl
osity by remarking that 1t was "a
sort of a hobby" He had retired from
business His. fortune was made.
The war interested him, as 1t did
every one else, and, as he had read
many books on ancient Notifications
he spent his odd hours comparing the
past with the present.
Naturally this aroused suspicion but
suspicion is not enough to cause an
arrest and conviction. The Allied
police waited. For several weeks they
were on their guard. Still there was
no evidence against him. Through
other sources they knew that certain
military information OF use TO the
enemy was being transmitted through
this city. They could trace the re.
ports into the town. but the trall
would be lost. Finally they decided
to have him arrested by the secret
service of the country in which he
was residing.
When the police appeared at ms
suite and announced their mission he
showed them German diplomatic
passport and claimed immunity from
arrest. The officers, however, mad
been ordered to bring him to head
quarters. He protested. He eX-
blamed. He asked them to telephone
TO the German Minister. He said it
was inconvenient to leave his rooms;
that he was expecting important
callers. In fact he did everything he
| could think Of to gain time, but the
nolice were insistent. He was taken
| to headquarters as he was, except
| that he was permitted to put on his
| hat and overcoat.
AT the police station he again as
serted his rights" and charged the
officials with insulting friendly
| nation. Because he had a diplomatic
pass he was taken before the judge,
who in friendly but firm words stated
| that he would be searched and then
permitted to communicate with the
German Legation. 1t is not necessary
to explain all the objections which he
made He. wished to telephone first
and be searched afterward, but the
Judges order was final. In his
pockets the police found several i'm
portant military reports regarding the
American and Allied armiesin France
They found letters authorizing him tc
report personally to German Grea
Headquarters. They discovered let
ters from agents whom he employed
in France. In the possession Of this
retired businessman" was all the evi
dence needed to establish the line o.
communication between men anc
women who were already under sus
picion in other cities. His arrest wa:
the key to a military puzzle which hac
disturbed scores Of Allied police fol
many months And he was a Ger
man diplomat"
Discovering the Web
1t is only through the arrest o.
such men as this that the lines of the
spider web are discovered You know
how 1t is when spider begins tc
spin his web. The web is his home
camouf1aged across some abandoned
door or in some dark corner. Otter
you and have walked into those webs
without noticing them beforehand
Often we have looked for them anG
found them invisible in certain lights
perfect and secure. Again we have
seen them glisten in the sunlight ant
wondered why they could not be seer
at other times of the day or night
Thus it Is with the spider web of the
spies. Today it Is invisible Tomor
row it is clear to all.
, Against such needs as these the
Allied and American secret service
must work. They encounter drag
nets, naval and military nets, nets OF
decoy and reality. They must be ex
pertS III human nature ana IN the In
stincts of criminals. They must know
languages, customs and religions
These men must be able to investigate
and Judge values. They must dis.
tinguish a real clue from a false scent
They have to be versed in military
and naval information economic con
ditions and financial facts. The enemy
has to be watched at all times and In
all lines. Often months must pass
before a puzzle is solved and even then