The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-12
SPIES /!
Super PIotterS Lurk in
European Cities to
Get Arms Data.
BY RALPH HEINZEN
United Press stan Correspondent
frnrrlrtna fnaf hr IIriAcH nrn-ri

Copyright. 1891. By United Prsss)
Darts, Jan. 1.-THE chancel-
4 leries and the smart bars, the
cosmopolitan restaurants and the
lobbies of the de luxe hotels OF the
capitals of Europe are peppered
again with those mysterious. suave
men and. jeweled women, born fas-
cinators and intriguers, who are
listed on the police records Of
Paris, Berlin, Vienna and the other
Key cities as men and women 10 be
watched.
The great spy organizations
which flourished across Europe be-
fore the war, and enabled Ger
many for instance, to know how
many rifles France had, where her
ammunition was stored and how
many airplanes her factories were
turning out every month, are big
ger and better than ever.
Instead Of one or two powers
keeping tab on the rest Of Europe
by means of paid spies, as before
1914, all are using them today.
There is no nation in Europe today
without It's army Of spies
n
A 7 the Surete Generate in Paris,
IA the great police organization
of which France has been proud
for nearly century, officials say
that the espionage problem today
is a difficult one to handle.
It's ramihcations are so great
that hundreds of counter-spi in
each country must be constantly
at work to Offset it.
Before the war, most OF the
spies were known. When they
worked, they were seldom able 10
cover their traces and such spy
ing was disagreeable though not
necessarily dangerous.
Just after peace, there was great
spy activity in Europe, natural
aftermath of the war and its
monster military and civil spy Or
CARNATIONS.
THEN for a few years, espionage
i seemed to be dying out. But
after three-year period of relapse,
the great international game Of
spying on your neighbor while be-
ing spied on yourself is going on
again and at greater scale than
ever.
The French secret police say that
there are thousands Of spies in the
country.
These include secret agents Of all
powers in Europe.
America is represented also by
customs spies who watch purchaS-
ers Of Americans, women--jewelry
and gowns, principally--to make
sure that g false customs declara-
ton will not prove profitable.
COMPErITION among the po-
~ litical spies is keen and the
successful spy must be adroit.
The process of elimination Of the
clumsy and success of the clever
has resulted in the breeding OF
race Of super-spies.
Police say they are harder to
control than ever before, and even
before naval engineers finish draft
ing plans for new pocket battle
ship" hastily copied sketches
sometimes are already on their way
out of the country.
There once was a stigma at
tached to spying. The penalty In
time of war is hasty walk TO
face a firing squad. In peaceClme'
there is a prison term.
Generally, spy who once mas
been arrested is flngerpr1nted ana
photographed so much that he Is
worthless to his employers.
n n
A spy is interested in all sorts
N of things. Naturally, his first
desired is to learn something con-
corning the national defense OF the
country he is sent to look over.
He is after news of army and
navy changes, modernized equip
nent, plans Of tanks and battle
ships, Notifications and attacks.
He watches the industries which
can provide gas and chemicals,
airplanes and automobiles, NUM-
tions and cannon for war.
n y
MOST OF the spies concentrate
WI on national defense, but 9TH
ers 90 into the workshops and
sneak secret processes Of manufac-
ture, formulae and other trade
secrets.
There are spies in the dress
making trade who steal ideas.
There are international spies In
banks. shipping companies and
factories.
Spies serve you coffee and listen
to your conversation over a cafe
table.
Spies make up your bed as hotel
Wallets and take the torn letters out
OF your waste basket.
Spies pay your servants, or your
secretaries. and then spend their
evenings writing long reports in
invisible ink just as in the movie
plots.
Eext-Europe's feminine spies