The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-02-22
SEVEN HUN SPIES
SHOT IN BRITAIN
Another Was Hanged and Many
More Are Serving Prison
Terms.
TR|ckED BY DETECTIVES
False News Manufactured So Thar
Germany Might Be Misinformed-
Spies Were of Very Little
Service to Germany.

London.-In the possession of a
sergeant-major of the British military
foot police is a peculiarly made leath-
er strap-or, rather, a series of straps
for which Madame Tussauds
doubtless would pay large sum of
money.
1t is the strap with which German
spies caught In this country and con-
demned to death were fastened in a
special chair at the Tower of London
prior to being shot. Like wise man,
the sergeant-major had the strap
made to his own design and paid for
1t with his own money. 1t is to him
a priceless relic of the great war.
Germany's vaunted spy system,
like the overboomed German navy
hardly realized expectations. There
were, 1t is true, a great many spies in
England, both before and after the
war acting on behalf of the kaiser.
Most of them were neutrals, and came
originally from South American
states.
The British secret service resem-
bled its magnificent navy. 1t did its
work as silently and effectively, and
the necessary reticence observed as to
Its doings contributed very materially
to the discontinue felt by the Ger
man government owing to the mis-
leading information which "fell" into
German hands.
Mythical Barrage in Channel.
AS a matter of fact, the naval in
telligence department, under Rear Ad-
miral Hall, acting in conjunction
with the censor's department. provid-
. ed false information to the Germans,
an instance being the mythical Strait
of Dover submarine barrage revealed
by Sir Roger Keyes.
Nearly all Germany's spies In this
country attempted to forward their
information by post. But thanks to
the censor's staff 1t was rarely these
letters, even although written in in
visible ink, went undetected.
All spies We're not arrested imme-
diately they were detected. The Brit
ish secret service, ever considerate,
allowed them to send and receive let
ters and collect information, but it re-
served the privilege of opening the
correspondence both ways and MAX
ing alterations likely to be of more
use to the allies than to Germany.
1t Is difficult to estimate the value
,F hn ne nhx
method. The Hun, with his profound
disrespect for British finesse, prob
ably never will believe that Britain
could be guilty of such astuteness.
1t is certain that Germany obtained
very little that was useful from her
spies in England. From the outbreak
Of war the ports were too carefully
watched to permit Of much leakage.
Up and down the east and south
west coasts of England were, how
ever, many "hydros," paiatial hotels,
built right on the sea, with large cop
per domes twinkling brightly for, many
miles out at sea. And the manager
was often a German.
Eight German spies were executed
In this country. while many more are
undergoing long terms Of penal servi-
tude. For obvious reasons the names
Of many never were revealed. The
imperial government continued to
communicate with them blissfully
unaware that their agents had gone
to bourne from which not even q
German spy returns. The British Sc
cret service kindly acted as the spy's
deputy.
Executed in Tower.
The execution of these spies is nat
urally an unpleasant subject, but none
the less interesting After the secret
trial and condemnation to death the
spy was taken to the tower, there to
await the dread summons in the early
hours of the morning. Taken from
his cell by party of military police
the spy was strapped to chair in a
quadrangle Of the tower. There, fac
Ing him, about ten PAGES distant, was
q firing party, usually eight men, from
the battalion of guards on duty at the
time.
A low instruction from the officer
In command to aim at the heart, q
sharp order ''Firel" burst Of flame,
and the crack of eight rifles had end
ed the career Of another Of Germany's
tools.
One spy was hanged at Wormwo0d
Scrubs prison; seven others were
shot. The hanging cost about 500,
and, coming to, the conclusion that II
would be just as effective, to say moth
ing Of considerably cheaper. 1t was
decided to shoot all spies at the tow
er. Eight cartridges at three cents
each was much more appropriate
valuation Of German,