New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

secret service in London.
One address was:
O Deutscher Kaufmannischer
Verein-1858-19 A, East
cheap, London, E. C.
(2) Verein Deutscher Kauflcute,
Pentonville Road, London.
+. Z. told me- now the work of
the German secret agents had been
facilitated by British business to an
extent almost incredible except in
the light of present knowledge,
which raises the question how far
business can be loyal to nationalism
and still be business.
This popularity of British patriot
ism existed for many years preced-
ing the period | am chronicling and
made splendid opening for the ex-
tension of the German spy system in
Great Britain, which the German
secret service turned to it's best ac-
count. I refer to the practice of ac-
cepting commercial volunteers, so
prevalent in all lines Of British
trade.
The volunteer system either had
its inception or, at least, got it's start
by few British businesses sending
their sons or relatives abroad to
serve as volunteers to their chief
foreign connections at never more
than nominal pay while they learned
the language and customs of the
country. This kept them employed
during the day and out of mischief.
and made them gentlemen rankers
socially and commercially" during
their novitiate. 1t was an idea
which in principle made for the i'm
provement and breadth of British
business. 1t was:a matter Of reci-
rrocity, in the first place, and
formed a good bond for future un
derstanding.
Selling the opportunity, Germany
made the practice an appeal to the
British pocketbook, and John Bull
came to his own. He took pretty
nearly whatever offered in the shape
of an industrious volunteer, who
would work full hours for scant nay.
He saved on clerk hire, and the sup
ply of volunteers seemed to be in
exhaustible. Germany saw to that.
Even as far back as the early ZOOS
the British desire for volunteers be-
came a reproach to British business.
But newspaper articles, letters to
"The Times" and most of the known
methods used to develop British opin-
ion failed to awaken the British to
a sense of danger. There was money
IL; it, consequently it was we'll and
Meanwhile the volunteers "read
everyday newspapers" worked their
time and devoted holidays
and Sundays to the Fatherland.
They got clippings-items of inter-
est from the papers dealing with
Germany; they obtained photographs
of London docks, WooEwich Arsenal,
Notifications of England, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales, and maps and
charts of everything of military in
terest to Germany.
English Business
Paying for Greed
Many of them were reservists who
knew their duties we'll, who took DO
sitlons as walters, porters at hotels
and even became commercial travel
lers for English houses.
Well, England is paying now hun
dieds of times over what she saved
by these volunteers. And if she
knows it, it may help eventually.
iretty nearly all bait is tempting, or
it would not be bait; most of it is a
lure to gluttony-with a spy for a
hook-as England may have found
out.
l parted from f. u. about 4 o'clock
in the morning. We had had a fine
time, and was going home to bed
we'll content. My friend F.. z. must
have slept badly, however. Next
he no longer considered it
more blessed to give than to re-
ccive." He came running up the
steps when he met me about II
o'clock to beg me to be careful not to
reveal his name.
Tell as much as you like of what
told you. Use it all, for it is true,
and you can verify it. But remem-
ber that if l am found out it will cost
me my life
Undoubtedly, if the Intelligence
at Breslau had discov-
cred what had happened between him
and me he would have been court
and executed as traitor.
r