Armies of her spies have swarmed3, and still swarm2, over Great Britain, though their presence has been, and is even to-day, officially denied.
The method adopted at the outset was to scatter4 secret agents broadcast, and to allot5 to each the collection of certain information. Men, and women too, in all walks of life have made observations, prepared plans, noted6 the number of horses locally, the fodder7 supplies, the direction of telegraph-lines, the quickest method of destroying communications, blowing up tunnels, etc.; in fact, any information which might be of use in the event of a raid upon our shores.
Each group of spies has acted under the direction of a secret-agent, termed a "fixed8 post," and all have been, in turn, visited at periods varying from one month to six weeks by a person not likely to be suspected—usually in the guise9 of commercial-traveller,[Pg 58] debt-collector, or insurance-agent, who collected the reports and made payments—the usual stipend10 being ten pounds per month. Some spies in the higher walks of life were, of course, paid well, as much as one thousand pounds a year being given in one case—that of a lady who, until recently, lived in Kensington—and in another to a German who, until a few weeks ago, was highly popular in the diplomatic circle. The chief bureau, to which all reports from England were sent, was an innocent-looking office in the Montagne de la Cour, in Brussels—hence Ostend was so often made a rendezvous11 between spies and traitors12.
It is certainly as well that the authorities have already taken precautions to guard our reservoirs. As far back as five years ago, a large number of the principal water supplies in England were reconnoitred by a band of itinerant13 musicians, who, though they played mournful airs in the streets, were really a group of very wide-awake German officers. They devoted14 three months to the metropolis15—where they succeeded in making a complete plan of the water-mains supplying East London—and then afterwards visited Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle. At the latter place they were detected, and being warned by the authorities, fled. They were "warned" because at that time there was no Act to deal with them.
[Pg 59]
Just at this juncture16 a most fortunate incident occurred, though probably it will be met with an official denial. A young German who had been making observations around Rosyth and beneath the Forth17 Bridge, was detected, and fled. The police sought him out and he was compelled to again fly without paying his rent, leaving his suit-case behind. After a month the landlady18 took this bag to the police, who, on opening it, found a quantity of documents, which were sealed up and sent to London. They were soon found to be most instructive, for not only was there a list of names of persons hitherto unsuspected of espionage19, but also a little book containing the secret code used by the spies! Needless to say, this has been of the greatest use to those engaged in the work of contra-espionage. Of the good work done by the latter, the public, of course, know nothing, but it may be stated that many a confidential20 report destined21 for Berlin was intercepted22 before it reached the spy's post-office, the shop of the barber Ernst, in London—to which I will later on refer—and many a judicious23 hint has been given which has caused the suspect to pack his, or her, belongings24 and return by the Hook of Holland route.
East Anglia has, of course, been the happy hunting ground of spies, and the counties of Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have, long ago, been very thoroughly25 surveyed, and[Pg 60] every preparation made for a raid. It was found—as far back as four years ago—that next door, or in the vicinity of most village post-offices near the coast-line of those counties, a foreigner had taken up his residence, that German hairdressers and jewellers were everywhere setting up shops where custom did not warrant it; that Germans took sea-side furnished houses or went as paying guests in the country, even in winter; while, of course, the number of German waiters—usually passing as Austrians—had increased greatly.
When the Kaiser rented Highcliffe Castle, in Hampshire, under the pretext26 that he was ill, he brought with him no fewer than thirty secretaries. Why? A foreigner who comes here to recuperate27 does not want thirty secretaries—even though he may be an Emperor! Napoleon never wanted such a crowd of scribblers about him.
But the truth was that these thirty secretaries were engaged with their Imperial master-spy in reorganising and perfecting the various sections of his amazing spy-system in this country—a system that the British Government were with culpable28 untruthfulness declaring only existed in the imagination of a novelist—myself. I wrote pointing out this, but only execrations again fell upon my unfortunate head. I was laughed at as a "sensationalist," scorned by the Party of Criminal Apathy29, and a dead set was made[Pg 61] at me by a certain section of the Press to jeer30 at, and crush myself and all my works into oblivion.
Let us go a step further. Mr. Anthony Nugent, who writes with considerable authority in the Globe, shall here speak.
"The oddest situation in England," he says, "was just before the outbreak of the war. We had then, not only an Ambassador's cloak in London covering Prince Lichnowsky, but a real Ambassador in Herr Kühlmann, Companion of the Victorian Order. [I wonder if he still wears the honourable31 insignia?] The Ambassador was an honest man, and believed that he had a free hand in trying to improve our relations with Germany. He was only here to give us 'taffy'—as the Yankees say. All his speeches at Oxford32 and at City banquets were sincere enough from his point of view, but he knew nothing of what was going on in the Chancelleries at Berlin, or downstairs in the Embassy residence at Carlton House Terrace.
"Those who descend33 the Duke of York's steps in Pall34 Mall, will see a common, unpretentious door on the right hand side, part of the way down. That was one of the entrances to the Embassy, and quite a different class of people used it from those gay folk who came boldly in motor-cars to the front door, which sported the decoration of the Imperial eagle. It was by the lower door there passed the principals in the espionage system, and it was in the lower rooms that Herr Kühlmann interviewed his 'friends.' He was a tall, good-looking man, with a specious35 suggestion of being straightforward36 and open dealing37, but probably there never was so tortuous-minded a person at the Embassy. He was there for many years, and knew all who were worth knowing. He it was[Pg 62] who furnished the reports on which the Emperor and the Crown Prince acted.
"Prince Lichnowsky, for instance, foresaw that in the event of war, the unionists in Ulster would support the Government. Herr Kühlmann had sent over spies who masqueraded as journalists, and they came back from Belfast believing that civil war was inevitable38. Herr Kühlmann accepted their view, and thus deceived the Kaiser and the German Chancellor39. The same gentleman was much interested in the Indian movement, and I remember discussing with him the causes that led to the murder of a great Anglo-Indian official at the Imperial Institute. He was convinced that India was ripe for revolt. Again he deceived the Emperor on the subject. The German spy system was wide, and it was thorough, but its chief lacked imagination, and took niggling and petty views. In a word it is efficient in signalling, prying40 into arrangements, spreading false news, and securing minor41 successes, and that it can still do here, but had it realised how the whole world would be opposed to it, there would have been no war."
The gross licence extended to our alien enemies in peace-time has, surely, been little short of criminal. Fancy there having been a "German Officers' Club" in London, close to Piccadilly Circus! Could anyone imagine an "English Officers' Club" in Berlin—or in any other Continental42 capital, for the matter of that? In the first place, there would not have been a sufficient number of English officers to run a club, even if it had been allowed by the German authorities, which would have been most unlikely. But, on the other hand, there were enough German[Pg 63] officers in London, not only to support a club, but to give a large and expensive ball not very long ago at a well-known West End hotel!
Germany has a large army, and a considerable navy, but is leave lavished43 with such prodigality44 on her officers as to make it worth their while to have a special club of their own in the metropolis? One can hardly imagine this to be the case. Why, then, were there so many German officers in London? We may be sure that they were not here for the benefit of our country. The German Officers' Club was no secret society, and was, therefore, winked45 at by the sleepy British authorities. The War Office may have argued that it enabled them to keep an eye on them, and there may be something in that plea. But what possible justification46 could have been found for allowing a considerable number of German officers to assemble near Southborough—between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells—not so very long ago, and to carry out what practically amounted to a "Staff Ride" in the "Garden of England" over a very important strategic position? Fancy such a piece of espionage being attempted in Germany! It is even known that the German Ambassador dined with the officers in question.
Had the German Officers' Club been under observation, could this have possibly been done without the cognisance of the authorities?[Pg 64] The authorities knew of all that was in progress, but calmly looked on, and, as usual, did nothing. The downfall of England was being plotted, but what did they care, so long as all went smoothly47 and they enjoyed their own social standing48 and their own emoluments49.
There is an air of refreshing50 candour and simplicity51 in the official statement that no alien enemy is permitted to reside in a prohibited area without a special licence granted, after his case has been carefully examined, by the police.
Now, we know that proprietors52 and managers of hotels and licensed53 premises54, as well as prominent residents, are usually on good terms with the police. It would surely be to their interest to cultivate good relations with them. And as the Lord Chancellor has assured us that the Germans are people of "greater astuteness," it is only reasonable to suppose they would be particularly careful to entrust55 their spying work in this country to only the smartest and most crafty56 emissaries.
One can imagine that a really clever German spy "bent57 on business" has had but very little difficulty in hoodwinking the honest man in blue, and obtaining from him the "permit" required for his signalling, or other work on the coast.
The experiences of the last four months at Liége, Antwerp, Mons, Rheims, Ypres, and[Pg 65] other places, has taught us that it is not always the alien who is the spy. In each of those towns men who had lived for years as highly respectable and law-abiding citizens, and whom everyone believed to be French or Belgian, suddenly revealed themselves as secret agents of the invaders58, acting59 as their guides, and committing all sorts of outrages60.
In our own country it is the same. There are to-day many who have lived among us for years, and are highly respected, only waiting for the signal to be given to commence their operations.
It is true that bombs from German air machines have been dropped on English ground—one fell in a garden at Dover and damaged a cabbage, or maybe two—also that Zeppelins flew over Norfolk and dropped bombs, but so far no air fleet from Germany has given the signal for German spies to start their arranged work of destruction in our midst, for the enemy has declared with its usual cynical61 frankness that their army of spies will only start their dastardly work when all is ready for the raid and the fleet of Zeppelins sail over London and give the signal.
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1
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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allot
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| v.分配；拨给；n.部分；小块菜地 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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fodder
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| n.草料；炮灰 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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stipend
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| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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espionage
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| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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recuperate
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| v.恢复 | |
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culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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33
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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specious
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| adj.似是而非的；adv.似是而非地 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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45
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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46
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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49
emoluments
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| n.报酬，薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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50
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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51
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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52
proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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53
licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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54
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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55
entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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56
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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57
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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58
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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59
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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