Chapter I: Front Matter

BRITISH SECRET SERVICE DURING THE GREAT WAR

BY NICHOLAS EVERITT

AUTHOR OF "ROUND THE WORLD IN STRANGE COMPANY," ETC., ETC.

Not Heaven itself upon the past has power;
But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.
DRYDEN.

_THIRD EDITION_

_LONDON: HUTCHINSON & CO. PATERNOSTER ROW_

THIS BOOK
IS DEDICATED TO
VISCOUNT NORTHCLIFFE
WHO
DURING THE THROES OF OUR NATIONAL
CRISIS PROVED HIMSELF THE GREATEST
OF ALL LIVING ENGLISHMEN

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

WAR AND THE INTRODUCING OF JIM PAGE THE PROSPERITY OF 1914--AN OMINOUS CALM--MULTITUDE OF GERMAN SPIES--HOW ENGLAND WAS UNDERMINED--SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF OUR LIBERAL GOVERNMENT--SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF PROMINENT MEN--SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN'S HISTORICAL DESPATCH--RUSH TO THE COLOURS--OUR UNPREPAREDNESS--INTRODUCING JIM--PATRIOTS FROM AFAR--F. C. SELOUS' ROUGHRIDERS--INITIATION INTO THE FOREIGN SECRET SERVICE--ADVISORY TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS 27

CHAPTER II

SECRET SERVICE ORGANISATIONS, COMPARISONS AND INCIDENTALS

ESPIONAGE IN PAST AGES--MODERN BRITISH SECRET SERVICE FOUNDED, 1910--POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS--COMPARISONS--JEALOUSIES OF BIG DEPARTMENTS--EXAMPLES OF RECKLESS EXTRAVAGANCE--BUSINESS MEN WANTED--ECONOMIES IN THE SECRET SERVICE--BUNGLING INCOMPETENCE--IMPASSIVENESS OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE--GERMAN WAR METHODS--FRENCH AND DUTCH SECRET SERVICE--MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, B.C.--RISE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GERMAN SECRET SERVICE--THE EFFICIENCY OF SCOTLAND YARD--DETAILS OF GERMAN FOREIGN PROPAGANDA AND EXPENDITURE--BRITISH SECRET SERVICE: ITS COST AND FRUGALITIES--MAJOR HENRI LE CARON--NATHAN HALE--SIMILITUDE OF THE LIFE OF A SECRET SERVICE AGENT 44

CHAPTER III

INITIATION TO ACTIVE WORK

CROSSING THE NORTH SEA--A MEMORABLE MEETING--INSTRUCTIONS--ON A CARGO BOAT--SNOW-STORMS--FALSE ALARM--DANISH PROFITEERS--ENGLISH CONSUL PROFITEERING IN FOOD TO GERMANY--HORSE-SMUGGLING--MEETING MY C.O.--BLOODED 74

CHAPTER IV

INTER-COMMUNICATING WITH TEMPORARY CODES AND INCIDENTS

GRAMMATICAL CODE--A TÊTE-À-TÊTE--CONFIDENCES--MISCONSTRUED MESSAGE LEADS TO DOMESTIC TRAGEDY--LOCAL CODES--AN ALTERED MESSAGE--AN IMPORTANT MISSION--SHADOWED--ATTEMPTED THEFTS OF PAPERS--A CONTRETEMPS--LEAKAGE OF NEWS FROM ENGLAND--WATCHING A SUSPECT--FALSE MESSAGE DISCLOSES AN OPEN CODE--GEOMETRICAL CODES--THE KNOT CODE--A FASCINATING ACTRESS, A CONFIDING ATTACHÉ, AND A MYSTERIOUS CHESS PROBLEM--CLEVERNESS OF FRENCH SECRET SERVICE 82

CHAPTER V

LOCATING GERMAN MINE-LAYERS

COAST-HUNTING--A FIND--SPIES OF MANY NATIONS--OBLITERATING TRAILS--TRACKING DOWN THE "BERLIN"--MARVELLOUS NAVIGATION BY GERMANS--INTERNED--GERMAN ARSON--AN IMPUDENT INVITATION--A RUSSIAN SUGAR-QUEEN'S YACHT--QUEER COMPANY--SAPPING HUN INTELLIGENCE--PLAYING ON WEAKNESSES--SUCCESS--LOSS OF H.M.S. "AUDACIOUS"--SOLILOQUISING 97

CHAPTER VI

DEPOSING A RIVAL

RETREAT AND WOULD-BE REST--WINTRY WEATHER IN THE NORTH SEA--THE SECRET MESSAGE--RIVAL'S REMOVAL COMMANDED FORTHWITH--SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSITION--SEEKING ONE'S COLLEAGUES--SOLVING THE RIDDLE--PREPARING THE TRAP--THE LONELY SENTRY AND THE MYSTERIOUS BOATMAN--CAPTURE, ARREST, SEARCH AND FIND--THE INCRIMINATING DOCUMENT--INSTANT DEPORTATION--EXULTATION--NEXT, PLEASE 107

CHAPTER VII

FIGHTING GERMAN AGENTS WITH FAKED WEAPONS

DANGER WARNING--DISGUISED TEUTONS--HAIR-TESTS--OBSERVATION FROM WITHOUT--CLEVER FEMALE GUARD--DEPORTED HUN AGENTS--TOO MANY WRECKS--BOOT CHANGE TRICK--FLIGHT--PATIENCE UNREWARDED--NIGHT WORK AT THE DOCKS--A SUDDEN ATTACK--ODDS OF THREE TO ONE--PIPE-FAKING FOR MAKE-BELIEVE REVOLVER--A STERN CHASE--AMERICAN RUSE BAFFLES PURSUERS--THE SANCTUARY OF CONVIVIALITY 118

CHAPTER VIII

ESCAPING FROM THE CLUTCHES OF A VERY CLEVER LADY

DISGUISES--IMPORTANCE OF HANDS--SERVICE ON A BALTIC TRADER--"IDLE, DIRTY, GOOD-FOR-NOTHING SCAMP"--A TENDER-HEARTED LADY--A FASHIONABLE GATHERING--THE ENGLISH DUDE--THEIR SECOND MEETING--SUSPECTED--CLEVER FENCING--WHALES WITH IRON SKINS--ALLIANCE OFFERED--A WOMAN SCORNED--MEDITATION--FLIGHT 128

CHAPTER IX

WILD-FOWLING EXTRAORDINARY AND TRAWLING FOR SUBMARINES IN NEUTRAL WATERS

GERMANY'S WESTERN COAST--SHOOTING WILD-FOWL AND BEING SHOT AT--AN INTREPID SPORTSMAN--COLLAPSED ZEPPELIN--ESCAPING WAR PRISONERS--CARELESS LANDSTURMERS--A SUPPOSED-TO-BE NORWEGIAN SKIPPER--NATIVE CURIOSITY--DARE-DEVIL CHRISTIAN--A MYSTERIOUS SHIP--GOOSE-STALKING OVER A LAND MINE--TOO NEAR DEATH TO BE PLEASANT--THE NOCTURNAL SUBMARINE RAIDER--NIGHT TRAWLING FOR STRANGE FISH--ENEMY'S SECRET RECONNOITRING EXPOSED AND THWARTED 137

CHAPTER X

THE MYSTERIOUS HARBOUR

FRONTIER PROWLING--STARTLING RUMOURS--TERRIBLE WEATHER--EVADING SENTRIES--MAPPING THE WORKS--REFUGE WITH SMUGGLER--CONFIDENCES ON SUPER-SUBMARINES AND ZEPPELINS--A COUNTRY INN--PREPARING DESPATCHES--FORCIBLE INTRUSION--ARRESTED FOR A GERMAN SPY--SEARCH AND INTERROGATION--SUMMARY TRIAL--TRICKING THE SEARCHERS--COMMITTED FOR TRIAL--ESCAPE 148

CHAPTER XI

MAD GAMBLING AND A BIG BRIBE

KALEIDOSCOPE CHANGES IN SECRET SERVICE AGENT'S LIFE--CALLED TO NORWEGIAN CAPITAL FOR ORDERS--ENFORCED IDLENESS--A WAR GAMBLER--HUGE CREDITS--TWISTING THE TAIL OF THE BRITISH LION--AVERTING POSSIBLE WAR--FRENZIED FINANCE--A COLOSSAL BRIBE--TOP-HEAVY ARGUMENT--NEWSPAPER INFLUENCE--A GOOD BARGAIN FOR ENGLAND--MILLIONAIRE IN THREE DAYS 161

CHAPTER XII

SHADOWED BY POLICE

POSING AS A JOURNALIST--CREDENTIALS--SUBTLE SUGGESTIONS--SUSPICIONS--A FALLEN STAR--SOLD TO THE POLICE--INSTINCTIVE WARNINGS--TEMPTATION--INTERCEPTED ADULATIONS--A SERIOUS BLOW--TESTS--DANGER SIGNALS--FLIGHT--HERR SCHMIDT--DOUBLE TRACKING--ARREST WARRANT POSTPONED 170

CHAPTER XIII

DODGING FRONTIER GUARDS AND SEARCHING FOR ONE'S SELF

FRONTIER GUARDS--SMUGGLERS--RIGOROUS SEARCHES--UNEARTHING VALUABLE GERMAN SECRETS REGARDING SUPER-ZEPPELINS, SUBMARINES AND THE PARIS BIG CANNON--A LOQUACIOUS WAITER--HEAD-MONEY FOR MY CAPTURE--25,000 MARKS, DEAD OR ALIVE--LOOKING FOR ONESELF--A CAPTURE--CROSSING THE SCHLESWIG FRONTIER--A FRIEND IN NEED--DANGEROUS ENTERPRISE--KIEL HARBOUR--SAFE RETURN 180

CHAPTER XIV

AVOIDING COLD MURDER

SWARMS OF BAGMEN--JESUITICAL METHODS--MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES--UNACCOUNTABLE ACCIDENTS--AVOIDING A DUEL--FASCINATED BY A HUNGARIAN--A LUDICROUS TRAVELLER--FRACAS AT A THEATRE--INSULT, ASSAULT AND CHALLENGE--CHOOSING WEAPONS--DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME--FIXING DETAILS--EARLY TRAVELLING--DÉNOUEMENT--"AM TAG" 190

CHAPTER XV

ESCAPING FROM A SUBMARINE

A SHIP OF ILL-OMEN--ATTACKED--HELL LET LOOSE--PANIC--FIGHT FOR THE BOATS--COWARDLY CONDUCT--POWERLESS TO ACT--SHRAPNEL AT SEA--SURRENDER--TAKING CHARGE OF SHIP AND CARRYING ON--VALUE OF SMOKE BOXES--TERRIBLE ANTICIPATIONS--LAND AT LAST--REMINISCENCES UNTOLD 200

CHAPTER XVI

THE CASEMENT AFFAIR

GRAVE IMPUTATIONS--NORWEGIAN CHARACTERISTICS--CASEMENT'S LETTER TO SIR EDWARD GREY--IRISH INTERESTS--SURREPTITIOUS VISITS TO THE EMBASSY--ENVOYÉ EXTRAORDINAIRE--£10,000 FOR CASEMENT'S SERVANT--CASEMENT'S EXPLANATIONS, COMMENTS, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER ALLEGATIONS--SIR F. E. SMITH ON CASEMENT'S LIFE AND ACTIONS--A BAD MISTAKE 211

CHAPTER XVII

PERTAINING TO MYSTERY SHIPS

"YOU BRITISH WILL ALWAYS BE FOOLS AND WE GERMANS SHALL NEVER BE GENTLEMEN"--SILHOUETTE LIFEBOAT FOR GUN-COVERING--A SECRET OF THE WAR EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED--MORE IDEASFOR MYSTERY SHIPS DESCRIBED--SECRET THANKS--SUCCESSFUL RESULTS FROM CAMOUFLAGE AT SEA--THE GRATITUDE OF THE ADMIRALTY 225

CHAPTER XVIII

THE SINKING OF THE "LUSITANIA" BY GERMAN TREACHERY

HOW THE DASTARDLY DEED WAS PLANNED--COMMEMORATION MEDAL PREMATURELY DATED--SINKING ANNOUNCED IN BERLIN BEFORE THE VESSEL WAS ATTACKED--GERMAN JOY AT THE OUTRAGE--BRITISH SECRET CODE STOLEN--VIOLATIONS OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY--FALSE MESSAGES--AUTHORITY FOR THE FACTS 235

CHAPTER XIX

MINISTERIAL, DIPLOMATIC, AND CONSULAR FAILINGS

MINISTERS SELECTED BY INFLUENCE, NOT MERIT--GERMAN EMBASSIES HEADQUARTERS OF ESPIONAGE--HOW ENGLISH EMBASSIES HAMPERED SECRET SERVICE WORK--BERNHARDI ON THE BLOCKADE--ENGLAND'S OPEN DOORS--A MINISTER'S FAILINGS--BRITISH VICE-CONSUL'S SCANDALOUS REMUNERATION--ALIEN CONSULS--HOW ITALY WAS BROUGHT INTO THE WAR--HOW THE SYMPATHIES OF TURKEY AND GREECE WERE LOST--THE FAILURE OF SIR EDWARD GREY--ASQUITH'S PROCRASTINATION 239