BRITAIN’S SECRET SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1937, Page 12

BRITAIN’S SECRET SERVICE

HAVING A BUSY TIME. Britain’s Secret Service Depart-ment—M.l.s.-—is working overtime, coping with the vast international espionage net work that has recently come into existence. Within a guarded room at the War Office arc secrets which only a handful of people in the world are allowed [to know.. ■ Agents in the pay of foreign overnments are being offered rich prizes for secerts of Britain’s £1,500,000,000 rearmament drive. But 'L1.5., working closely with the Special Political Branch of Scotland Yard and Room -10 0.8.. the Admiralty's Intelligence Department, keeps our secrets really secret.

• Last year a curt item in the national estimates revealed that Secret Service expenditure had been increased from £lBO,OOO to £250,000. The expenditure is being increased still further. Day and night 30 men work in the “Black Chamber” of M.l.5 —the Cryptographic Bitreau where code messages picked up in various parts of the world are deciphered. Near-by is a “picture gallery,” where photograprs of known or spspected spies are filed. Close watch is kept on all aliens entering the country. Secret Service men are planted among rearmament workers; doubtful recruits who wish to join the Services are scrutinised. But the most valuable work is done by outside agents—known to nobody except a few rich officials—who in all parts of tho world are working to add to tho store of secrets -In this quiet Whitehall room.