AIR SPYING BEFORE THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 5

AIR SPYING BEFORE THE WAR

(By Clarence Winchester, in the "Daily ' Mail.") The wily Hun always lias/ had, and still has, one of tho finest espionage systems in the -whole world. His methods are more cunning, more elaborate though outwardly simple, more exact and less eiiepicious than those employed by many another State. When I look back to tho days before the great war I marvel at the simplicity of the late Government in regard to nir control. I used to meet many of the famous German pilots who camo to this country, and I used also to meet many German pupils who were hero ostensibly to learn to fly. In Germany there were dozens of wcll-eqiiippeu , echools of" flying, and yet the Gerinnn Government were accustomed to send young Huns to' England to learn to fly at the comparatively inefficient English flying schools. The German Government, too, paid for tho tuition, which could more easily huve been imparted at the numerous schools in the enemy country. What ■was the object? There is only one answer, and that answer is a perfectly obvious ono. The object was espionage German secret service men were enrolled at English Hying schools for tho express purpose of recording the inside progress (or lack of it) of English aeronautics, to make plans and drawings of different aerodromes , and aircraft concerns, to avert suspicion of their other espionage activities, and to secure from English manufacturers aeroplanes which tho British Government would not buy at that time. Many machines manufactured iu this country wore shipped to Germany before the war broke out, and it w.as to the advantage of Germany to secure as many of our aeroplanes as possiblo. . The enemy pilots who were already experienced could photograph any part of this country whon they flow at liberty over it, and, I liavo reason to know that the Hun's now possess a very complete aerial photographic survey of different parts of the British Isles. ' True, various Aerial Acts wore passed, but these could, with caro, be easily evaded. At one time it was iny hobby to take photographs from tho air, and it was significant that a certain Hun pupil was indirectly anxious to secure Homo of my negatives, for which reason I never let him have any. ■ When tho Gorman flying pupils had passed thoir certifiuiilo tests many of thorn Btill remained in this country. Why? I look at my own flying certificate, and I find tho following words printed insido tho "ticket" in six different languages: "Tho Civil, Naval, und Military Authorities, including tho Police, aro rospoctfuilv requested to aid and assist Ihn holder of this Certificate.'" Such an "open sesamo" might bo very iisoful in peaco lime to ;iu English-look-ing Gorman spy, and doubtless tho aeronautical brevet was not wasted in that respect. I am reminded, too, that practically every German pupil I camo across spoko porfoct English. Thoro is opportunity hero for the now committee of tho Air Board to demand elfcctivo reforms whon it considers tho "after-the-war" flying problems. Tho committee is a strong ono and makes one feel quite hopeful. The new rru domiinds that new precautions shnll be taken in regard tn alien airmen, and it; ie to bo hoped that tho Civil Aerial Transport Committee will not overlook the importance of. tho subject.