GERMAN SPY SYSTEM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 13978, 6 February 1920, Page 5

GERMAN SPY SYSTEM.

GOOD WORK BY BRITISH SERVICE [By Electric telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) (Aus. and N.Z. -Cable Assn.) Received February 6, at- 0.35 a.m. LONDON. February o. The Morning Post gives an interesting record of Germany's spy system and the British counter espionage organisation, which was so effective by the summer of .1915 that seven spies were taken in one. fortnight, thus paralysing Germany's schemes to re-establish her spy system in Britain. A feather in the cap of the organisation was the capture of the Dutchmen Janssen and Roos. Suspicions were aroused by numerous telegrams from naval ports to The Hague apparently ordering cigars. This was considered remarkable, as sailors were not in the habit of smoking cigars, so the senders were arrested. Janssen and Roos were examined, when they claimed to be travellers on behalf of Dierks and Co., of The Hague. When examined Janssen and Roos gave contradictory explanations and the prosecution showed that Dierks' address was the same as that of the German secret service in Holland. Next day Roos endeavored to commit suicide by cutting his manacled wrists with the broken glass of a. door. The. cigars code was found to refer to naval secrets. "Havanas" meaning light cruisers and "Coronas" battleships. Janssen and Roos were convicted and shot at the miniature rifle range in The Tower. They faced the firing parties bravely. _ Neutrals in Holland and elsewhere thus learned that .an espionage mission to England was most difficult, and thenceforward Germany only sent casual spies, who pretended to be commercial travellers and tried to get away before their movements aroused suspicion.