The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-16
A German Baroness Spies
on NeWpOrPs NaUaI DefeHses

on NewpOrPs NaUGI DefeHses
= Once the baroness even was landed by a con-
federate on Rose Island, near Newport, where
the war heads, guneotton, torpedoes and high
explosives are stored for the Atlantic battleship
feet. She succeeded in examining the island
arsenal thoroughly with high power marine
glasses, and was able to report the exact extent
Of the reserve ammunition supply Of this eharac-
ter to those who could pass the information On
to the German General staff.
Federal Secret Service agents, acting in CO.
operation with British and Canadian represents
tives, got so far along the trail Of the
baroness as to intercept letters sent by her
to a confederate in New York City. In
n these letters the baroness gave directions
as to the amount of money to be paid to
other women in the band. g.
It was discovered by the British agents
that a spy organization with wide Tamih-
cations, reaching into every part of Can
ada where docks, munition plants, mobi-
lization centres and barracks are located,
was directed from the house in Vermont
which the baroness often visited
Various methods Of communication with Ger
many have been used by those who were engaged
in the same work assigned to Nine. Storeh and
the baroness Ambassador Gerard s discovery
Of the submarine post between the Spanish coast
and Germany was a clue to,one successful meth
cd of sending reports direct from the United
States to Berlin.
The most popular base of operations for con-
nection with this submarine post, the,spy hunters
have learned has always been Cuba. For a
long time the Department of Justice was mysti
fed by aceumulative evidence that despite the
censorship of mails and the careful inspection
of all persons crossing from Key West to Havana,
accounts of almost every war move made m this
country, or every contemplated action, such as
the enlargement of the draft or the inereaSe Of
aerOplane production. were delivered in Berlin
sometimes before official announcements were
made from Washington.
Eventually it was found that innocent looking
newspapers carried this information from Havana
to Spain, and then via submarine post to Ger.
many, written on their white margins with chem
cals which remained invisible until treated with
other chemicals.
The fluid used by the spies in this country for
writing their reports upon the margin of news
papers was a mercurous nitrate solution, which
could be written with so lightly that the pen did
not even leave a scratch What Nine Storeh,
the baroness brothers of the band wished to tell
the German General Staff was written with this
solution on a newspaper, which might be mailed
without suspicion to agents in Havana. No
censor could find upon it suspicious mark.
When the paper had been carried to SOain and
there given to the commander of a submarine,
which landed at an obscure point along the coast,
it was soon after in German military hands
To bring the writing out sal ammoniac and
quicklime is placed in large glass jar. After
a little heating the contents of the jar produces
a pungent gas of ammonia. When the news
paper is dropped into the jar the ammonia fumes
form a precipitate of black mercnrous nitrate,
which brings the writing on the margin into bold
black relief. When this method Of transferring
information was discovered others promptly
Supplanted it.
The baroness soon learned that she was being
watched, and was willy enough to disappear. The
search for her eventually was obscured in the
even more important work of setting the trap
for Nine StOrch.