Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-02-07
German Says 1t Is More Exciting
Than Running a Sub
marine.
Net IS SPREAD Ev-nYV..'....--nI.EE
American Tells Some Anecdotes SrS.y-
ing the Extent Of the German Spy
Systern-Experience Of Amer
lean Girl in Leipsic.
By HERBERT COREY.

BY HERBERT COREY.
CORRESPONDENT Of the Chicago News.)
Berne, SWitZerland-LaSt week a
German U-boat captain visited Paris.
This story is told on the authority
Of the man who saw the U-boat captain
there. I know the man. He is con-
servative, solid, reliable American. His
word is worth 100 cents on the dollar
wherever he is known. For some
years he was in business relations with
Germans. and learned to know many
OF them very well.
'T was standing in front of the opera
house in Paris" said this man, when
a green car whizzed by. I just caught
a glimpse of a familiar face. Beside
the man I knew was a Frenchman
wearing a black beard. Two minutes
later remembered whom the familiar
face belonged to.
"'Von Hutten,' I said to myself.
it-last l heard Of
Won Hutton he was commanding a u
boat in the North sea-"
Futile to Chase Green Car.
The man puzzled over it for mo-
ment Then, being a good American,
he told the American authorities in
Paris. He had not been able to get
the number of the car or description
of the chauffeur. Chasing green cars
in Paris is like trying to catch wild
geese by the salt plan. Next day the
man was walking down the Avenue de
POpera when the green car WhiZzed by
again. He tried to catch the number,
but that old oil and dust trick that
American speeders invented prevented
him. He walked Oh down to Ciro's for
lunch.
IT had So-and-so from the consulate
and So-and-so from the embassy and
So-and-so Of the United States navy as
my guests" said he, naming them. eve
had a good time together, for we were
old friends. I told Of seeing my Ger
man acquaintance on the avenue. Next
day I came to Berne. Shortly after I
met my German friend.
"T like the looks Of your naval at
tache in Paris said he. Nice boy.
Think I'll try to get acquainted with
him. Then he laughed.
"T saw you there I gasped.
"1 know you did, said he. L sat
at the next table to you in Ciro's, be-
hind the pillar, and heard you tell
about seeing me. Naughty, naughty
And so you tried to get your old pal
pinched?'
The German told my American
friend that he had been in and out of
Paris ever since the war began. He
found it much more interesting than
running a U-boat, he said. There was
a danger, he admitted, but just enough
danger to make the job interesting.
Besides, he is poor man at home. In
his work he has plenty Of money to
spend.
"rm going back next week. said he.
| Extent OF System.
A friend Of mine who returned from
Berlin after the United States declared
war on Germany told a story, Of which
he had personal knowledge, to show
the extent of the German spy net. An
acquaintance in Berlin obtained per-
| mission to go to Holland on business.
It is not easy to get such permission
nowadays. Although an American, he
was forced to tell just whom he wished
to see in Holland and why. While in
Amsterdam he received hurry call to
London from his correspondent there
and took the next boat, getting wise
| sy,@o af 9nria
legation in The Hague.
"Why did you go to London?" he
was asked when he returned to Berlin.
He told the story.
awe know Of the telegram you re-
ceived,' was the reply. But why did
you go to room 3O3 Of the Savoy hotel
and remain closeted with Lord Blube-
berry there for three hours?"
He was able to make his explanation
convincing or there might have been
another incident to write a note about.
This was some weeks before the Unit
ed States was finally crowded into war.
It is easier to believe in the number Of
spies Germany has scattered about
when one hears this story by an Ameri-
can girl, who for some years had stud
led at Leipsic. This year she was re-
fused her Phi. D. degree, although it
was due her. Then she was refused
permission to leave Germany. For
weeks she was promised and put off.
Become a spy for US and you shall
have your degree" she was told. ''You
shall have plenty Of money to spend.
You need not worry about the danger.
We will always take care of you"
She did not become a spy and even
tually she was given permission to
leave for Switzerland. But the story
puts one to thinking.
New Way to Hooverize.