Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-07
HUN COMMERCE SPIES
INVADE ALL BUSINESS
Story of Germany's Systematic Prep.
aration for Trade War In
terestingly Told.
HOW THEY PERNIEATE TRADE
Secure Business Secrets by Every
Known Device and, i'll Guisc OF Re-
insurance, They Had Little Trou-
bic in Getting, All Possible Details.
pY SIN WATSON RUTHEnroRD. ". T..


bic in Getting All Possible Details.
: BY SIR WATSON RUTHERFORD. ". T..
International News Bureau.l
II. five years ago, we could have
looked forward TO to-day. and have
seen a world in the throes OF Arranged
don; if such things German spies. a
carefully planned world war. aerial
battles over London could have been
thought 10 be possible outside the pages
of II novel: If we could have ever
family realized {. all. Eng land to-day
would not be fighting for her very
existence against tiendish foe who
started with every advantage that
cunning. lying, trickery and careful
preparations could give.
One would think the lesson had been
severe enough to teach us not 10 make
the same mistake again, yet 1 prophesy
now that at the end of this war We
shall find ourselves at the beginning
Of another. in which we shall be just
rs far behind as we were IN August;
1914.
This time 1t will be war OF trade.
The extent OF Germany's preparations
for that war are so far-reaching as
10 be unbelievable to those who have
not studied them. What her military
spy system was we are only just re-
alizing. Her commercial, spy system
has been ignored even more-it was
probably much more Widespread be-
fore the war-and 1t exists ana -four
ishes now
ALL SUCH HUNS PROVE
DANGEROUS PERSONS
Before the war we could not raise
any reasonable objection IN theory 10
4 young German coming to an Office in
Manchester. London or Paris TO learn
the language and acquire business e1-
perlencc." but now we have found out,
as 1 have already impressed on the
interal!ied parliamentary conferences.
and hope to do again in London next
July, that almost every young Ger
man was traitorous spy.
He existed in every shipping office,
bank or mandatory of any size in
every allied country.
Very often he was introduced by the
German consul, himself plausible
scoundrcl who would casually men
ton that he had a friend who had a
son wishing to learn the English bust
hess methods and language. Salary no
object. Could he be accommodated?
Why certainly he could.
1t was a remarkable thing tina, this
: Young gentleman generally arrived
With a very good knowledge OF the
Engllsh language. and, we have no
doubt now. thorough acquaintance
Win our business habits. He was not
here to learn these things. but ~ sDv
on prices customers names and adj
dresses. likes and dislikcs.
Carefully and specially educated in n
commerce school. where corruption and
bribery were among the subjects
taught. he was unit sent out to get
Information This information, re-
ported to headquarters and disseminated
! TO the various combines. would enable
these combinations OF German trade 10
wipe out the British trades by con-
sniracy. bribery. dumping the stealing
OF trademarks and hundred olner
devious means.
Thus was the Mite! Europa trade
war fought. We know now that ~
1913 there were 10000 German so,es
in France alone. RumN and his gang
In Paris were notorious. and the world
VII! not soon forget--or viii 1t forget?
Herr S;ieber.
Let us give the devil his due, and
say AT once tina n. even ,arter the war
iAe German people, ill he better or
"an!zed for this form of devi!trv than
ny other people In the world How
ever rotten 1t Seems 10 US. we must
realize that the German has been etu
Gated 10 1t; 1t is part OF the rottenness
OF MS mind. like tortur!ns prisoners
aHd detense.ess women: and 4, viii
have TO be fought.
The Germans woundertul re!nsur-
ance schemes were amongst the big
gest factors In his widespread sov
system. They were clever because
they were worked with all the an
pearance OF legitimate business.
Ii may be news TO some readers tina.
most insurance companies those which
insure goods going out Of England and
80 on, pass on a conslGcrabl, PORTO,
If their business 10 other conDapios
. They sometimes stand 20 lose more
than they could afford TO II things
,shonid happen 10 20 wrong Tina, was
where the German reinsurance peonIe
jumped in.
The retnsurances were passed over
TO them, and they were able 20 obia,,
in this manner particulars OF The tl,si.
ness inc names ana addresses of the
People TO whom the goods were sold.
the nature OF the articles, the prices.
tho destination, IN fact. the whole OF
what we might term the brain CAPT.
tel" Of the British manufacturer.
1t was clever scheme; i, has cost
us millions OF pounds In trade lost
to Germany.
s That and other systems Of espionage
. Wi n
which makes me plead for the .ounda-
ton OF an intera!liod commercial
league. which shall counterac. the Ger
man conspiracy for world domination
of trade
Z There Is TO be an important con
sference shortly. and unless British bust
ness men wake UP and combine we
shall have, in the war o. business.
another Mons, another Russian debacle
another lonE and bitter struggle. not
only on a western front. but on from,