U.S. Secret Service

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 February 1918, Page 4

U.S. Secret Service

SILENT AND SURE. HOW A PACIFIST WAS CAUGHT. A German agent, arrested in the United States, who found that every movement he' had made for several weeks was known to the Secret Service, exclaimed bitterly, "This is worse than Russia.''

He was right —from his point of view, writes Hamilton Fyfe in the "Daily Mail.'' Our point of view is different. For the Allies the American Secret Service is better than that of Russia —the "Ochrana," beloved by sensational novelists—ever was. It is far more energetic. It is more intelligent. And it cannot be bribed. The head of it —Mr Bielaski, a Pole by origin—was asked one day how it had discovered so much about German plotting both before and after the United States was at war. Not a week passes without some fresh revelation. Mr Bielaski said drily, "We work .without a brass band." This Secret Service is secret. Its agents are everywhere. Not a pleasant feeling, even if you have nothing to conceal, that eyes may be watching you that your goings out and comings in may all be noted down. For those who are plotting and spying a very uncomfortable feeling indeed! Here is an example of the method ofworking "without a brass band." A pacifist was arrested. He had beeir talking in a train. When ho got out a man followed him and took him into custody. "But why?" the pacifist inquired, putting _a bold face on it. ' "You have I just been making a speech in the car," the Secret Service man replied quietly. | "Well, what of it?" his prey blus-

tered. -"You have been malting that speech a number of times. You made it in the train from B — to M — last Thursday; you made it again the next day between P— and F—. Twice this week I have heard it before to-df.y." "But I don't remember youl' face," the pacifist faltered, unable to deny. NETWORK OF SURVEILLANCE. Once a suspect comes under the notice of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation he is surrounded by an ingenious and imperceptible network of surveillance. Mr Bielaski's agents are about his path and about his bed. They spy out all his ways. "Shadowing" is an art which has been raised to a very high degree of nicety in the United States. Bielaski is an interesting character. He-is not in the least like the detective chiefs of fiction. He is known as a "crank on exercise." He works in his garden before breakfast or takes a long walk in the pleasant country round Washington. He has been a devotee of hard physical training for many years. Now, at thirty-live, he is a model of fitness.

One day a visitor with a grievance began to talk loudly about what he would do to Bielaski if*he were not in his office. Bielaski stood up. "Don't let that worry you," he said politely. The angry one looked at his broad shoulders and taut figure—and bade him good day. "Übique" (Everywhere) might be the motto of tho United States Secret Service as it is of the Royal Artillery. 'And its übiquity is so unobtrusive. The local detectives usually have their calling stamped all over them. The Federal Force is never noticeable. I know men belonging to it who pass in all companies without remark. Their clothes are well cut their manners well bred. As soon as a detective becomes known, through carelessness or boasting, Bielaski has no further use for him. That is why the American Secret Service has found out so much. On relinquishing his command at Aldershot, Sir A. Hunter paid a high tribute to the value of sport in the training of the soldier. Writing to the Southern Counties Cross-country Association, of which ho was president, he said: "We can claim to have done a good deal to the army; indeed, to the manhood of tho British Empire, and with the unquestionable good there is not a particle of evil mixed. . Games have been used to develop nerves, muscles, and wits, so that, a recruit is a better man-at-arms with full command of himself and his weapons,and consequently a more efficient fighter. Hard to kill, impossible to defeat; that is what our men are, whether from the Homeland or overseas. Our power to win is improved, not hindered, by the athletic sports and games.' Sir A. Hunter's loss to Aldershot does not mean that the men will get less sport. Cross-counry races will soon be started again, and meantime there is more enthusiasm than ever for boxing. The principle on which boxing is being encouraged is "play for your side, and not for ycftirself." In order to ensure that largo numbers v. ill take part in the competitions, though they may not reach the finals, tho events will be on the team principle. There are to bo three events of six weights each —for officers and cadets, non-commissioned officers and men, and non-commissioned officers ad men under nineteen years of age —and each unit will have one representative at each weight. The scoring is to be by marks, with the provision that any man disqualified will forfeit all he has scored for Ms side. In the usual way the competitions will be reduced by heats, and then there is to be one great "final" night. It is considered to be an excellent scheme, and should bring to the front many boxers of hitherto unappreciated skill.