GERMAN SPY SYSTEM

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14368, 21 May 1920, Page 6

GERMAN SPY SYSTEM

WHY IT FAILED IN BRITAIN. While the outbreak of Jhc great war found Britain unprepared in many rospccts, the steps taken by Iho authoritirs for dealing with the Herman spy peril displayed remarkable perspicacity. The Morning Post Has published "■ series of articles on Hie Gorman spy system, written from authentic information by Mr Sidney Theodore Foisted (copyright), of which the Press Association is permitted to give t ! ie following summary:— The outbreak of the great European war found Germany without a spy system in this country. The reason for this did not lie at llicdonr of the notorious Rteinhauer, head of die Gorman Secret Service, bill rattier al that of certain far-seeing English gentlemen. Acting on the assumption that it is easier to deal with a known peril than an uncertain one. we forbore to arrestnumerous spies in this country, but contented ourselves with keeping in touch with their numerous activities, and manifesting personal interest in their correspondence. Folllnq the Spy Tree. Karl Gustav Krnost, the Xorth London barber who was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude in November, 191-1. was the pivot on which the German spy system in this land lo a large exl"iit tnrnerl. lie received from Berlin about 200 letters a month for reoosfintr. mainlv to Gorman spies scattered throughout tin 1 country. All his letters were earofif.lv opened and photographed, and thereby we became possessed of the comohde genealogical tree of the German soy system in Ureal Britain. August ith. 191 i, came. The spy tree, compiled with such -painstaking care from Ernest's letters, was felled to the ground. Instructions were wired all rouii I England to chief constables lo arrest the spies, and of the 2'2 known lo have been at large only one escaped, coing through the port of Hull. From (he places mentioned there Is little difficulty in surmising it was naval information the Germans wauled. No criminal proceedings were taken. The spies wore conveyed to an internment camp. Tt was not in our interest thai the break-down of its spy system should be known to Germany, and the Expeditionary Force was transported lo France 17 days before the enemy nccainc aware of ils presence.