THE GERMAN SECRET SERVICE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1918, Page 8

THE GERMAN SECRET SERVICE.

PROPAGANDIST METHODS REVEALED.

The subtle and dangerous methods used by the German propagandists in attempting to undermine the war spirit in the countries of the Allies have been revealed from, time to time since August, 191 4, but even now are not always realised to the full. Eai ly this year the French newspaper '•Petit Parisien" published a number of revelations dealing with recent discoveries of these enemy methods, translations of which are subsequently reproduced in a section of the London press. In an article relating to the revelations made by the -'Petit Parisien," the Paris correspondent of the London ''Morning Post" on the 6th February this year wrote as follows : "The first of tlie documents published to-day is a circular of the German Government explaining how its agents should attempt to corrupt representatives of Entente conntries.. Thisi circular, which is signed 'Konig,' is document No. 33 issued by the information bureau to

the naval staff, and was sent out on the 28th November", 1914. It runs : Naval Headquarters to Naval Agents.—You will immediately mobilise all controlling agents and all destructive agents in commercial ports which will transport our material to England, France, Canada, the United States and Russia; also in places where there are depots for Avar material, and where naval units are stationed. It is indispensable by means of third persons, having no relations with German officials or representatives, to get agents to organise explosions on ships bound for enemy countries. The propaganda will aim at bringing about social movements, accompanied by strikes, revolutions, and civil war, and conflict. You will have to protect, and aid by all possible means those who are at the head of bureaux of propaganda. They will furnish you with all the necessary credentials. "The next attempt deals with an attempt to destroy the Russian ■ Army. The circular referred to is signed 'Risser,' and was issued on the 2nd November, 1914. It is as fol- . lows \ ■ — Imperial Bank of Representatives of the Nyabanken at'Stockholm, a"d to Agents of the Diskonto Gessellschaft and the Deutsche Bank.—ln order to bring about delay and confusion in the loading and departure of enemy vessels it is specially recommended that attention should be given to the dockers, among whom should be found a large number of escaped criminals and anarchists. To German and neutral counting house representatives, and to agents in enemy countries charged with the sending and receiving of war material. — The necessary sumsi for buying and I corrupting persons will be placed at I your disposal on your demand. jj '"A further circular concerning I particularly the organisation of destruction in the Tinted States is signed by 'Dr. Rischer. Army Councillor,' and is dated 15th January, 1915. It states: Headquarters to Military Agents in the United States. —Enclosed is a circular of 2nd November. 1914. for your information and necessary ac- E lion as to work on United States 1

territory. Your attention is drawn g to the possibility of recruiting | anarchist working class organisa- 1 tions. 1 "Several of the documents refer to I the organisation of a 'defeatist' pro- 1 paganda in the form of strikes, revo- I

| lutionary movements and civil war. On 23rd February. 1915, the fallowt inji - circular was issued, signed 'Bertelme': Director of Press, to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors, Ministers Plenipotentiary, and Consuls in Neutral Countries.—Your attention is drawn to the fact, that there has been founded on territoiy to which you are attached special bureaux for organising propaganda in countries, that are at war with Germany. At the present moment negotiations between authorised agents of the Imperial Bank and the revolutionaries Zinovieff and • Lunartcherski shall concern the armies at the front. If the agents of the Imperial Bank approach your banks we beg you to open them tile necessary credits, which will be covered at Berlin immediately on your demand.