The Secrets of the German War Office-Dr Armgaard Karl Graves Secret Agent-1914-267pgs-POL

8/2/2019 The Secrets of the German War Office-Dr Armgaard Karl Graves Secret Agent-1914-267pgs-POL

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THE SECRETS OF THE

GERMAN WAR OFFICE


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No. 17 34 f. 4 .

i 1 . L ~ i r u a

Vft' c u t s c b e s - - l R e t c b

DR . GRAVES' SECRET SERVICE CARL)

" U d o v o n W e d e l l " i s t h e s e c r e t s e r v i c e s i g n a t u r e o f C o u n t P o t h o

v o n \ V e d e l , p r i v y c o u n s e l o r t o t h e K a i s e r

T h e s e a l i s v i s i b l e f r o m t h e f r o n t w h e n h e l d t o t h e l i g h t


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THE SECRETS OF THE

GERMAN WAR OFFICE

B yDR. ARMGAARD KARL GRAVESw i t h t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n o fEDWARD LYELL FOX

FIFTH PRINTING

NEW YORKMcBRIDE, NAST & COMPANY

1 9 1 4


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C o p y r i g h t , 1014, byILLUSTRATED SUNDAY MAGAZINESC o p y r i g h t , 1 0 1 4 , by +P. F . COLLIER & S o x

Copyright, 1914, byMcB&xn , NAST & CO.

Second Printing September, 1914

Third Print ing September, 1914

Fourth Pri nting September, 1914

Fifth Pri nting September, 1914

Published August, 1914


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FOREWORDIn v i e w o f t h e g e n e r a l w a r i n t o w h i c h E u r o p e h a s

b e e n p r e c i p i t a t e d j u s t a t t h e m o m e n t o f g o i n g t o p r e s s ,

i t i s o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o n o t e t h a t t h e c o m p l e t e d

m a n u s c r i p t o f t h i s b o o k h a s b e e n i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e

p u b l i s h e r s s i n c e J u n e 1 s t . Further comment on Dr .

G r a v e s ' q u a l i f i c a t i o n s t o s p e a k a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y i s u n -

n e c e s s a r y ; t h e c h a p t e r s t h a t f o l l o w a r e a s t r i k i n g

commentary on his sources of information .

Trn PUBLISHERS

A u g u s t 7 , 1 9 1 4 .


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CONTENTSCHAPTER PAGE

I How I BECAME A SECRET AGENT 1

I I THE MAKING OF A SECRET AGENT 17

III INTO THE EAST . 38IV AT THE SUBL IME PORTE . . . 55V THE GRAND DU KE'S LETTER 76VI THE INTRIGUE AT MONTE CARLO 04VII THE KAISER PREVENTS A WAR 112

VIIITHE ISOLATION OF FRANCE . . 130IX IN THE BALKAN COUNTRY 147X MY MISSION AND BETRAYAL IN ENGLAND 167XI T o NEW YORK FOR ENGLAND 203

XII "THE GERMAN WAR MACHINE" . 219XIII ARMING FOR PEACE OR WAR 251


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General von Moltke .

THE ILL U STRATIONS

Dr . G r a v e s ' S e c r e t S e r v i c e c a r d . . . . F r o n t i s p i e c eFACING

PAGN

Kai ser Wilhelm II8R e p r o d u c t i o n o f a f a t e f u l p i e c e o f ` Count v on Wedel's

handwriting34, * G e A e r a l v o n H e e r i n g e n . . . . . 20404


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THE SECRETS OF THE

GERMAN WAR OFFICE


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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN

WAR OFFICE

I

HHOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENT

" O J e r u m , j e r u m , j e r u m , q u e m o t a t i o r e r u m . "

ALF pa st th ree was heard booming fro m

s o m e c l o c k t o w e r o n t h e t w e l f t h d a y o f J u n e ,

1 9 1 3 , w h e n M r . K i n g , t h e L i b e r a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m

S o m e r s e t , w a s g i v e n t h e f l o o r i n t h e H o u s e o f C o m -

mons . Mr. K i n g p r o c e e d e d t o m a k e a s e n s a t i o n .H e d e m a n d e d t h a t M c K i n n o n W o o d , t h e H o u s e S e c -

r e t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d , r e v e a l t o t h e Ho u s e t h e s e c r e t s o f

t h e s t r a n g e c a s e o f A r m g a a r d K a r l G r a v e s , G e r m a n

s p y .

A brief word of expla nation may be necessary .

S u p p o s e d t o b e s e r v i n g a p o l i t i c a l s e n t e n c e i n a

S c o t c h p r i s o n , I h a d a m a z e d t h e E n g l i s h p r e s s a n d

p e o p l e b y p u b l i c l y a n n o u n c i n g m y p r e s e n c e i n N e w

Y o r k C i t y .Mr. K i n g a s k e d i f I w a s s t i l l u n d e r g o i n g i m p r i s o n -m e n t f o r e s p i o n a g e ; i f n o t , w h e n a n d w h y I w a s r e -

l e a s e d a n d w h e t h e r I h a d b e e n o r w o u l d b e d e p o r t e d

1


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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEa t t h e e n d o f m y t e r m o f i m p r i s o n m e n t a s a n u n d e s i r -

a b l e a l i e n .

Permit me to quote verbatim from the Edinburgh

Scotsma n o f J u n e 1 2 , 1 9 1 3 :

T h e S E C R E T A R Y F O R S C O T L A N D r e p l i e d-rav es wasr e l e a s e d i n D e c e m b e r l a s t . I t w o u l d n o t b e i n a c c o r d -

a n c e w i t h p r e c e d e n t t o s t a t e r e a s o n s f o r t h e e x e r c i s e

o f t h e p r e r o g a t i v e . I h a v e n o o f f i c i a l k n o w l e d g e o f

h i s n a t i o n a l i t y . The sentence did not include any

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i n f a v o r o f d e p o r t a t i o n .MR. K I N G - W a s h e r e l e a s e d b e c a u s e o f t h e s t a t e o fh i s h e a l t h ?

The SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND- b e l i e v e h e w a s i nb a d h e a l t h , b u t I c a n n o t g i v e a n y o t h e r a n s w e r .MR. KING-Were any conditions imposed at thet i m e o f h i s r e l e a s e ?

The SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND- think I hav ed e a l t w i t h t h a t i n m y a n s w e r . ( C r i e s o f " No . " )MR. K I N G -C a n t h e r i g h t h o n . g e n t l e m a n b e a l i t -t l e m o r e e x p l i c i t ? (Laughter . ) We are anxious t o

h a v e t h e t r u t h . U n l e s s t h e r i g h t h o n . g e n t l e m a n c a n

g i v e m e a n e x p l i c i t a n s w e r a s t o w h e t h e r a n y c o n d i -

tio ns were impo sed I will p ut down the q uestion

a g a i n . (Laughter . )

The SPEAKER interv ened at th is sta ge, and the

s u b j e c t d r o p p e d .

Heckling began at this point ; word was q uickly

s e n t t o t h e S p e a k e r , a n d h e i n t e r v e n e d , r u l i n g t h e s u b -

j e c t c l o s e d .

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HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENTN o w c o n s i d e r t h e S e c r e t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d ' s s t a t e -

ment. "It wo uld not be in accordance with prece-

d e n t t o s t a t e r e a s o n s f o r t h e e x e r c i s e o f p r e r o g a t i v e . "

I n o t h e r w o r d s , h i g h o f f i c i a l s i n E n g l a n d h a d f o u n d

i t a d v i s a b l e s e c r e t l y t o r e l e a s e m e f r o m B a r l i n n e y

P r i s o n b y u s i n g t h e r o y a l p r e r o g a t i v e . Wh y? La ter

you will know .

A l s o , c o n s i d e r t h e S e c r e t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d ' s s t a t e -

m e n t t h a t h e h a d n o o f f i c i a l k n o w l e d g e a s t o m y n a -

t i o n a l i t y - s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t , a s y o u w i l l r e a l i z e .

There are three things which do not concern the

r e a d e r : M y o r i g i n , n a t i o n a l i t y a n d m o r a l s . There

a r e t h r e e p e r s o n s a l i v e w h o k n o w w h o I a m . One of

t h e t h r e e i s t h e g r e a t e s t r u l e r i n t h e w o r l d . None o f

t h e t h r e e , f o r r e a s o n s o f h i s o w n , i s l i k e l y t o r e v e a l m y

i d e n t i t y .

I d e t e s t s e n s a t i o n a l i s m a n d w i s h i t c l e a r l y u n d e r -

s t o o d t h a t t h i s i s n o s t u d i e d a t t e m p t t o c r e a t e m y s -

t e r y . T h e r e i s a c e r t a i n d e a d l i n e w h i c h n o o n e c a n

cross with impunity and none but a fool would at-

tempt to. Powerful gov ernments hav e found it ad-

v i s a b l e t o k e e p s i l e n c e r e g a r d i n g m y a n t e c e d e n t s . Acase in point occurred when McKinnon Wood, Secre-

t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d , r e f u s e d i n t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s

to give any information whatsoever about me, this

after pressure had been brought to bear on him by

t h r e e m e m b e r s o f P a r l i a m e n t . Either the Home Sec-

retary knew nothing a bout my antecedents, or his

t r a i n e d d i s c r e t i o n c o u n s e l e d s i l e n c e .

I w a s b r o u g h t u p i n t h e t r a d i t i o n s o f a h o u s e a c -

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEt i v e l y e n g a g e d i n t h e a f f a i r s o f i t s c o u n t r y , f o r h u n -

d r e d s o f y e a r s . As an only son, I was promptly and

e f f i c i e n t l y s p o i l e d f o r a n y t h i n g e l s e b u t t h e s t a t i o n i n

life which should hav e been mine - but never has

b e e n a n d , n o w , n e v e r c a n b e . I u s e d t o h a v e h i g h a s -

p i r a t i o n s , b u t p r o m i s e s n e v e r k e p t s h a t t e r e d m o s t o f

m y i d e a l s . T h e h a r d k n o c k s o f l i f e h a v e m a d e m e a

f a t a l i s t , s o n o w I s h r u g m y s h o u l d e r s . " Che sar a

s a r a . " I ha ve ha d to lead my own life and, all

c o n s i d e r e d , I h a v e e n j o y e d i t . I ha ve crowded into

t h i r t y - n i n e y e a r s m o r e s e n s a t i o n s t h a n f a l l t o t h e l o t

o f t h e a v e r a g e h a l f a d o z e n m e n .

F o l l o w i n g t h e c u s t o m o f o u r h o u s e , I w a s t r a i n e d

a s a m i l i t a r y c a d e t . T h i s m i l i t a r y a p p r e n t i c e s h i p

w a s f o l l o w e d b y t h r e e y e a r s a t a f a m o u s gymnasi um,

w h i c h f i t t e d m e f o r o n e o f t h e o l d c l a s s i c u n i v e r s i t i e s

of Europe . A n d a f t e r s p e n d i n g s i x s e m e s t e r s t h e r e , I

t o o k m y d e g r e e s i n p h i l o s o p h y a n d m e d i c i n e . Not a

b a d a c h i e v e m e n t , I t a k e i t , f o r a y o u n g c h a p b e f o r e

r e a c h i n g h i s t w e n t y - s e c o n d b i r t h d a y . I ha ve alwa ys

b e e n f o n d o f s t u d y a n d h a d a s p e c i a l a p t i t u d e f o r s c i -

e n c e s a n d t h e l a n g u a g e s . O n o n e o c c a s i o n I a c q u i r e d

a fair knowledge of Singalese and Tamul in three

months .

From the university I returned home . I h a d a l -

ways been obstinate and willful, not to say pig-

h e a d e d , a n d b e i n g s t e e p e d i n t a l e s o f w r o n g s d o n e t o

m y h o u s e a n d c o u n t r y , a n d w i t h t h e c r a s s a s s u r a n c e

o f a y o u n g s p r i g f r e s h f r o m u n t r a m m e l e d u n i v e r s i t y

l i f e , I b e g a n t o g i v e v e n t t o u t t e r a n c e s t h a t w e r e n o t

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HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENTa t a l l t o t h e l i k i n g o f t h e p o w e r s t h a t w e r e . Soon

m a k i n g m y s e l f o b j e c t i o n a b l e , p a y i n g n o h e e d t o t h e i r

p r o t e s t s , a n d o n e t h i n g l e a d i n g t o a n o t h e r , m y f a m i l y

f o u n d i t a d v i s a b l e t o s e n d m e i n t o u t t e r a n d c o m p l e t e

o b l i v i o n . T o t h e m I a m d e a d , a n d a l l s a i d a n d d o n e ,

I w o u l d r a t h e r h a v e i t s o .

A f t e r t h e c o m p l e t e r u p t u r e o f m y h o m e t i e s , I b e -

g a n s o m e d e s u l t o r y g l o b e t r o t t i n g . I knocked about

i n o u t - o f - t h e - w a y c o r n e r s , w h e r e I o b s e r v e d a n d a b -

s o r b e d a l l s o r t s o f t h i n g s w h i c h b e c a m e v e r y u s e f u l i n

m y s u b s e q u e n t c a r e e r . A n a t i v e , a n d b y t h a t I m e a n

a n i n h a b i t a n t , o f n o n - E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s a l w a y s f a s -

c i n a t e d m e , a n d I s o o n l e a r n e d t h e w a y o f d i s a r m i n g

t h e i r s u s p i c i o n a n d w i n n i n g t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e -a p r o -c e e d i n g v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o a E u r o p e a n . A f t e r a t i m e I

f o u n d m y s e l f i n A u s t r a l i a a n d N e w Z e a l a n d , w h e r e I

t r a v e l e d e x t e n s i v e l y , a n d c a m e t o l i k e b o t h c o u n t r i e s

thoroughly . I h a v e n e v e r b e e n i n t h e w e s t e r n p a r t o f

the United States, but from what I ha ve heard and

r e a d I i m a g i n e t h a t t h e l i f e t h e r e m o r e c l o s e l y r e -

s e m b l e s t h e c l e a n , h e a l t h y , o u t d o o r l i f e o f t h e A u s -

t r a l i a n s t h a n a n y o t h e r l o c a l i t y .

I was j ust on the point of beginning extensive

t r a v e l s i n t h e S o u t h S e a I s l a n d s , w h e n t h e s i t u a t i o n

i n S o u t h A f r i c a b e c a m e o m i n o u s . Wa r seemed immi-

nent, and following my usual bent of sticking my

n o s e i n w h e r e I w a s n o t w a n t e d I m a d e t r a c k s f o r t h i s

p o t e n t i a l s e a t o f t r o u b l e . I c a u g h t t h e f i r s t s t e a m e r

for Cape Town . l a n d i n g t h e r e a m o n t h b e f o r e t h e o u t -

b r e a k o f w a r . On hor seback I made my way in easy

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEs t a g e s u p t o t h e R a n d . Here ha ppened one of those

i n c i d e n t s , w h i c h , a l t h o u g h s m a l l i n i t s e l f , a l t e r s t h e

c o u r s e o f o n e ' s l i f e . Wha t t oo k p lace when I rode

i n t o a s m a l l t o w n o n t h e R a n d k n o w n a s D o o r n K l o o f

o n e c h i l l y m i s t y m o r n i n g , w a s w r i t t e n i n t h e b o w l o f

f a t e .

Doorn Kloof is well named ; i t m e a n s C0 t h e h o o f o ft h e D e v i l . " A s t r a g g l i n g c o l l e c t i o n o f c o r r u g a t e d

i r o n s h a n t i e s s e t i n t h e m i d d l e o f a g r a y i s h s a n d y p l a i n

a s b a r r e n o f v e g e t a t i o n a s t h e s h o r e s o f t h e D e a d S e a ,

s w e l t e r i n g h o t a n h o u r a f t e r s u n r i s e , c h i l l y c o l d a n

h o u r a f t e r s u n s e t , p o p u l a t e d b y a b o u t f o u r h u n d r e d

B o e r s o f t h e o l d n a r r o w - m i n d e d u l t r a D u t c h t y p e w i t h

as much imag ination as a grasshopper -t h a t i sDoo rn Kloof .

W h e n I r o d e i n t o t h e v i l l a g e I w a s i n a d e c i d e d l y

bad temper . H u n g r y , w e t t o t h e s k i n , t h e d i s m a l a s -

p e c t o f t h e p l a c e , t h e a b s e n c e o f a n y t h i n g r e s e m b l i n g

a h o t e l , t h e i n c i v i l i t y o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s , a l l c o n t r i b -

uted to shorten my, by no means long, temper . I

was r ipe for a r ow . As I rode down the solitary

s t r e e t I f o u n d a b i g b u r l y Dop per f l o g g i n g b r u t a l l y a

h a l f - g r o w n n a t i v e b o y . This humanitaria n had the

u s u a l B o e r v i e w t h a t t h e s a m b r o c k i s m o r e e f f e c t i v e

t h a n t h e B i b l e a s a c i v i l i z i n g m e d i u m . After con-

v i n c i n g h i m o f t h e t e c h n i c a l e r r o r o f h i s m e t h o d , I

a t t e n d e d t o t h e b l a c k b o y , w h o s e b a c k w a s a s r a w a s

a b e e f s t e a k . Kim completely adopt ed me and he is

w i t h m e s t i l l . I c h r i s t e n e d h i m K i m , a f t e r K i p l i n g ' s

h e r o , f o r h i s B a s u t o n a m e i s u n p r o n o u n c e a b l e . He

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HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENTh a s r e p a i d m e o f t e n f o r w h a t h e c o n s i d e r s t h e s a v i n g

o f h i s l i f e. Not many months later Kim was the un-

c o n s c i o u s c a u s e o f a r a d i c a l c h a n g e i n m y d e s t i n y . I

h a v e c e a s e d t o w o n d e r a t s u c h t h i n g s .

B y t h e t i m e K i m h a d l e a r n e d s o m e o f t h e d u t i e s o f

a b o d y s e r v a n t w e h a d r e a c h e d P o r t N a t a l . War ha d

b r o k e n o u t a n d I v o l u n t e e r e d w i t h a N a t a l f i e l d f o r c e

i n a m e d i c a l c a p a c i t y . Field hospit al work took me

w h e r e t h e f i g h t i n g w a s t h i c k e s t . During the battle

o f t h e M o d d e r R i v e r a m o n g t h e f i r s t o f t h e w o u n d e d

b r o u g h t i n w a s o n e o f t h e m a n y f o r e i g n o f f i c e r s f i g h t -

i n g o n t h e B o e r s i d e . It wa s Kim wh o fo und him .

T h i s o f f i c e r ' s w o u n d w a s f a i r l y s e r i o u s a n d n e c e s s i -

ta ted close attention. Thr oug h cha nce remar ks

d r o p p e d h e r e a n d t h e r e , t h e o f f i c e r p l a c e d m y i d e n t i t y

c o r r e c t l y. It developed that he was Maj or Freiherr

v o n R e i t z e n s t e i n , o n e o f t h e f e w w h o k n e w t h e r e a l

r e a s o n s o f m y e x i l e .

I n o n e o f o u r i n n u m e r a b l e c h a t s t h a t g r e w o u t o f

o u r g r o w i n g i n t i m a c y , h e s u g g e s t e d m y e n t e r i n g t h e

s e r v i c e o f G e r m a n y i n a p o l i t i c a l c a p a c i t y . He urged

t h a t w i t h m y t r a i n i n g a n d s o c i a l c o n n e c t i o n s I h a d e x -

ceptional equipment fo r such work . Moreover, he

s u g g e s t e d t h a t m y s e r v i c e o n p o l i t i c a l m i s s i o n s w o u l d

give me the knowledge and influence necessary to

checkma te the intriguers who were keeping me from

my own . T h i s w a s t h e c o m p e l l i n g r e a s o n t h a t m a d e

m e u l t i m a t e l y a c c e p t h i s p r o p o s a l t o b e c o m e a S e c r e t

Agent o f Germa ny . N o d o u b t , i f t h e C o u n t h a d l i v e d ,

I would ha ve ga ined my ends thro ugh his guidance

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEa n d i n f l u e n c e , b u t h e w a s k i l l e d i n a r i d i n g r a c e , t h r e e

y e a r s a f t e r o u r m e e t i n g i n t h e V e l d t , a n d I l o s t m y

b e s t f r i e n d . B y t h a t t i m e I w a s t o o d e e p i n t h e S e c r e t

Service to pull out, although it was my intention

more than once to do so . A n d c e r t a i n p r o m i s e s r e -

g a r d i n g m y r e s t o r a t i o n i n o u r h o u s e w e r e n e v e r k e p t .

Coming to a p ar tia l understanding with Count

R e i t z e n s t e i n , I b e g a n t o w o r k i n h i s i n t e r e s t s . The

Boer War ta ught Germany many things a bout the

E n g l i s h a r m y a n d a f e w o f t h e s e I c o n t r i b u t e d . As a

p h y s i c i a n I w a s a l l o w e d t o g o m o s t a n y w h e r e a n d n o

q u e s t i o n s a s k e d . I b e g a n t o c o l l e c t l i t t l e i n s i d e s c r a p s

o f i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e d i s c i p l i n e , s p i r i t a n d

equipment of the British troo ps . I observed that

m a n y C o l o n i a l o f f i c e r s w e r e o u t s p o k e n i n t h e i r c r i t i -

c i s m s . A l l t h e s e p o i n t s I r e p o r t e d i n f u l l t o C o u n t

R e i t z e n s t e i n w h e n I d r e s s e d h i s w o u n d . One day he

s a i d

"Don't for get now . A f t e r t h e w a r , I w a n t t o s e e

y o u i n B e r l i n . "

In my subsequent eagerness to pump more details

f r o m t h e C o l o n i a l o f f i c e r s , I t o o c r i t i c i s e d , a n d o n e

d a y I w a s t o l d L o r d K i t c h e n e r w a n t e d t o s e e m e .

" D o c t o r , " h e s a i d c u r t l y , w h e n I w a s u s h e r e d i n t o

his tent, "you ha ve twenty-four hours in which to

lea v e cam p "

Whether tha t mandate was a result of my joining

i n w i t h t h e C o l o n i a l o f f i c e r s ' c r i t i c i s m , o r b e c a u s e m y

s e c r e t a c t i v i t y f o r C o u n t R e i t z e n s t e i n h a d b e e n s u s -

p e c t e d , I c a n n o t s a y . But knowing the ways of the

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HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENT

um a n o f K h a r t o u m , " I m a d e h a s t e t o b e o u t o f c a m p

w i t h i n t h e t i m e p r e s c r i b e d .

L a t e r I l e a r n e d t h a t t h e C o u n t , b e i n g c o n v a l e s c e n t

and paroled, was sent down to Cape Town . A f t e r

t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f P r e t o r i a , I g o t t i r e d o f r o u g h i n g i t

a n d m a d e m y w a y b a c k t o E u r o p e , f i n a l l y l o c a t i n g i n

B e r l i n f o r a p r o l o n g e d s t a y . I k n e w B e r l i n , a n d h a d

a f o n d n e s s f o r i t , h a v i n g s p e n t p a r t o f m y y o u t h t h e r e

i n t h e c o u r s e o f m y e d u c a t i o n . I t h a s a l w a y s b e e n a

h a b i t o f m i n e n o t t o s e e m a n x i o u s a b o u t a n y t h i n g , s o I

s p e n t s e v e r a l w e e k s i d l i n g a r o u n d B e r l i n b e f o r e l o o k -

i n g u p C o u n t R e i t z e n s t e i n . O n e d a y I c a l l e d a t h i s

r e s i d e n c e , T h i e r g a r t e n s t r a s s e 2 3 . I f o u n d t h e C o u n t

o n t h e p o i n t o f l e a v i n g f o r t h e r a c e s a t H o p p e g a r t e n .

H e w a s o n e o f t h e c r a c k s p o r t s m e n o f P r u s s i a a n d

n e v e r m i s s e d a m e e t i n g . H e s u g g e s t e d t h a t I g o t o t h e

t r a c k w i t h h i m , a n d w h i l e w e w a i t e d f o r t h e s e r v a n t

t o b r i n g a r o u n d h i s t u r n - o u t , h e r e n e w e d h i s p r o -

p o s a l s a b o u t m y e n t e r i n g P r u s s i a n s e r v i c e .

" I expected you long ago," he said . " I ha ve

s m o o t h e d y o u r w a y t o a g r e a t e x t e n t . W e a r e l i k e l y

t o m e e t o n e o r t w o o f t h e S e r v i c e C h i e f s o u t a t t h e

t r a c k , t h i s a f t e r n o o n . I f y o u l i k e , I ' l l i n t r o d u c e y o u

t o t h e m . "

uI s t h e r e a n y l i k e l i h o o d o f m y b e i n g r e c o g n i z e d ? "

I a s k e d . ` 1 Y o u k n o w , C o u n t , i t w i l l b e i m p o s s i b l e f o r

me t o g o u n d e r m y t r u e f l a g . "

H e a s s u r e d m e t h e r e w a s n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t c h a n c e .

1 1 Y o u r i d e n t i t y , " h e e x p l a i n e d ,a

n e e d b e k n o w n t o

b u t o n e p e r s o n . "

9


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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEL a t e r I w a s t o k n o w w h o t h i s i m p o r t a n t p e r s o n a g e

was .

" V e r y w e l l , " I a g r e e d ;a

w e ' l l t r y i t . "

T h e C o u n t a l w a y s d r o v e h i s o w n t u r n - o u t , a n d i n -

v i t e d m e t o c l i m b u p o n t h e b o x . When his attention

was not occupied with his reins and returning the

s a l u t e s o f p a s s e r s - b y , f o r h e w a s o n e o f t h e m o s t p o p u -

l a r m e n i n B e r l i n , w e d i s c u s s e d m y p r i v a t e a f f a i r s .

The Count showed a keen interest and sympathy in

t h e m a n d h i s p r o p o s a l b e g a n t o t a k e f a v o r a b l e s h a p e

in my mind. As he predicted, we met some of the

S e r v i c e C h i e f s a t t h e t r a c k . I n d e e d , a l m o s t t h e f i r s t

p e r s o n s w h o s a l u t e d h i m i n t h e s a d d l e p a d d o c k w e r e

Capta in Zur See von Tap pk en and a gentleman who

wa s intro duced to me a s Herr v on Riechter . The

Count introduced me as Dr . v o n G r a v e r , w h i c h I s u b -

s e q u e n t l y a l t e r e d w h e n e v e r t h e o c c a s i o n a r o s e t o t h e

English Gra ves . A f t e r c h a t t i n g a b i t , C a p t a i n v o n

Tapp ken made an appointment with me at his bureau

i n t h e K o e n i g e r g r a t z e r s t r a s s e 7 0 , t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f

t h e I n t e l l i g e n c e D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I m p e r i a l N a v y i n

B e r l i n , b u t m a d e n o f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e t o t h e s u b j e c t

t h a t a f t e r n o o n . I noticed though tha t Herr v on

R i e c h t e r p u t s o m e p o i n t e d a n d l e a d i n g q u e s t i o n s t o

m e , r e g a r d i n g m y t r a v e l s , l i n g u i s t i c a t t a i n m e n t s , a n d

g e n e r a l k n o w l e d g e . H e m u s t h a v e b e e n s a t i s f i e d , f o r

I s a w s o m e s i g n i f i c a n t g l a n c e s p a s s b e t w e e n h i m a n d

t h e C a p t a i n . T h e r e p e a t e d e x c l a m a t i o n s o f " G r o s -

s a r t i g ! " and " C o l o s s a l ! " s e e m e d t o e x p r e s s h i s e n -

t i r e s a t i s f a c t i o n .

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19/267

HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENTF o l l o w i n g m y u s u a l b e n t , I d i d n o t c a l l a t K o e n -

igergr at zerstra sse 70 as the Cap ta in suggested .

A b o u t t h r e e d a y s p a s s e d a n d t h e n I r e c e i v e d a v e r y

c o u r t e o u s l y w o r d e d l e t t e r r e q u e s t i n g m e t o c a l l a t m y

e a r l i e s t c o n v e n i e n c e a t h i s q u a r t e r s a s h e h a d s o m e -

t h i n g o f i m p o r t a n c e t o t e l l m e . I c a l l e d .

Koenigergratzerstrasse 70 is a typical Prussian

b u i l d i n g o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . S o l i d b u t u n p r e t e n t i o u s ,

i t i s t h e v e r y e m b o d i m e n t o f P r u s s i a n e f f i c i e n c y , a n d

l i k e a l l o f f i c i a l b u i l d i n g s i n G e r m a n y i s w e l l g u a r d e d .

T h e d o o r k e e p e r a n d c o m m i s s a i r e , a t a c i t u r n n o n - c o m -

m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r , t a k e s y o u r n a m e a n d w h o m y o u w i s h

t o s e e . H e e n t e r s t h e s e l a t e r i n a b o o k , t h e n t e l e -

phones to t he person required and you are either

u s h e r e d u p o r d e n i e d a d m i t t a n c e . W h e n s e n t u p , y o u

a r e i n v a r i a b l y a c c o m p a n i e d b y a n o r d e r l y -t d o e snot matter how well you are known -who does notleav e you unti l the door ha s closed behind you .

W h e n y o u l e a v e , t h e r e i s t h e s a m e p r o c e d u r e a n d t h e

v e r y d u r a t i o n o f y o u r v i s i t i s e n t e r e d a n d c h e c k e d i n

t h e d o o r k e e p e r ' s b o o k .

I was a d m i t t e d immediately. After p a s s i n g

through three anterooms containing private secre-

t a r i e s n o t i n u n i f o r m , I w a s s h o w n i n t o C a p t a i n v o n

T a p p k e n ' s p r i v a t e o f f i c e . H e w o r e t h e u n d r e s s r a n k -

ing uniform o f the Imperia l Nav y . T h i s i s s i g n i f i -

c a n t , f o r i t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f a l l t h e b r a n c h e s o f t h e

P r u s s i a n S e r v i c e t o f i n d o f f i c e r s i n c h a r g e . T h e s e c r e -

t a r i e s a n d m e n o f a l l w o r k , h o w e v e r , a r e c i v i l i a n s ; t h i s

f o r a r e a s o n .T h e h e a d s o f a l l d e p a r t m e n t s a r e G e r -

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20/267

THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEm a n o f f i c e r s , r e c r u i t e d f r o m t h e o l d f e u d a l a r i s t o c -

r a c y , l o y a l t o a d e g r e e t o t h e t h r o n e . T h e y f i n d i t i n -

c o m p a t i b l e , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e i r l o y a l t y , t o s o i l t h e i r

h a n d s w i t h s o m e o f t h e w o r k c o n n e c t e d w i t h a l l g o v -

e r n m e n t d u t i e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f t h e S e c r e t S e r v i c e .

T h o u g h p l a n n i n g t h e w o r k , t h e y n e v e r e x e c u t e i t . To

b e s u r e , t h e r e a r e e x - o f f i c e r s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e S e c r e t

S e r v i c e , m e n l i k e v o n Z e n d e n , f o r m e r l y a n o f f i c e r o f

the Zweiter Garde Dragoner, but with some few ex-

ceptions they ar e usually men who h av e gone to

smash . N o a c t i v e o r c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r d o e s S e c r e t

S e r v i c e w o r k .

Von Tappken greeted me very tactfully . This is

a n o t h e r t y p i c a l a s s e t o f a P r u s s i a n S e r v i c e o f f i c e r ,

e s p e c i a l l y a n a v a l m a n , a n d i s q u i t e c o n t r a r y t o t h e

usual characteristics of English officials, whose

b r u s q u e n e s s i s t o o w e l l a n d u n p l e a s a n t l y k n o w n .

A f t e r o f f e r i n g m e a c h a i r a n d c i g a r s , C a p t a i n v o n

Tappk en began chatting .

" W e l l , D o c t o r , " h e s a i d , " ha ve you made up your

m i n d t o e n t e r o u r S e r v i c e ? F o r a m a n f o n d o f t r a v e l -

i n g a n d a d v e n t u r e , I p r o m i s e y o u w i l l f i n d i t t r e m e n -

d o u s l y i n t e r e s t i n g . I h a v e c a r e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d y o u r

e q u i p m e n t a n d e x p e r i e n c e a n d f i n d t h a t t h e y w i l l b e

o f m u t u a l b e n e f i t . "

I a s k e d h i m t o e x p l a i n w h a t w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d o f

m e , b u t h e r e p l i e d

" B e f o r e m y e n t e r i n g u p o n t h a t , a r e y o u a d v e r s e t o

telling me if you ha ve made up your mind to enter

t h e S e r v i c e ? "

1 2


21/267

HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENTI t w a s a f a i r q u e s t i o n , a n d I r e p l i e d

" Y e s , p r o v i d e d n o t h i n g w i l l b e d i r e c t l y r e q u i r e d o f

m e t h a t i s a g a i n s t a l l e t h i c s . "

I n o t i c e d a p e c u l i a r s m i l e c r o s s i n g h i s f e a t u r e s .

T h e n , l o o k i n g m e s t r a i g h t b e t w e e n t h e e y e s a n d u s i n g

t h e s h a r p , i n c i s i v e l a n g u a g e o f a G e r m a n o f f i c i a l , h e

d e c l a r e d

" We make use of the same weapons that are used

a g a i n s t u s . W e c a n n o t a f f o r d t o b e s q u e a m i s h . The

i n t e r e s t s a t s t a k e a r e t o o v a s t t o l e t p e r s o n a l e t h i c a l

q u e s t i o n s s t a n d i n t h e w a y . Wha t would be required

o f y o u i n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e , i s t o g a i n f o r u s i n f o r m a -

t i o n s u c h a s w e s e e k . The means by whi ch you gai n

t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l b e l e f t e n t i r e l y t o y o u r o w n d i s -

c r e t i o n . We expect results . We place our previo us

k n o w l e d g e o n t h e s u b j e c t r e q u i r e d , a t y o u r d i s p o s a l .

Y o u w i l l h a v e o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n t o a s s i s t y o u , b u t y o u

m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t w e c a n n o t a n d w i l l n o t b e a b l e

t o e x t r i c a t e y o u f r o m a n y t r o u b l e i n w h i c h y o u m a y

become involv ed . Be pleased to understand this

c l e a r l y . T h i s s e r v i c e i s d a n g e r o u s , a n d n o o f f i c i a l a s -

sista nce or help could be giv en under a ny cir -

cumsta nces . "

T o m y c o s t , I l a t e r f o u n d t h i s t o b e t h e t r u t h . Sof a r , s o g o o d . Capta in von Tappken had neglected to

m e n t i o n f i n a n c i a l i n d u c e m e n t s a n d I p u t t h e q u e s t i o n

t o h i m .

He replied promptly

" T h a t d e p e n d s e n t i r e l y o n t h e s e r v i c e p e r f o r m e d .

In t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e y o u w i l l r e c e i v e a r e t a i n i n g f e e

1 3 -


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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEo f 4 0 0 0 m a r k s ( $ 1 0 0 0 ) a y e a r . You will be allowed

10 mark s ($2 . 5 0 ) a d a y f o r l i v i n g e x p e n s e s , w h e t h e r

i n a c t i v e s e r v i c e o r n o t . F o r e a c h i n d i v i d u a l p i e c e o f

w o r k u n d e r t a k e n y o u w i l l r e c e i v e a b o n u s , t h e a m o u n t

o f w h i c h w i l l v a r y w i t h t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e m i s s i o n .

L i v i n g e x p e n s e s a c c r u i n g w h i l e o u t o n w o r k m u s t n o t

exceed 40 mar k s ($ 10) a da y . The amount of t he

b o n u s y o u a r e t o r e c e i v e f o r a m i s s i o n w i l l i n e a c h

c a s e b e d e t e r m i n e d i n a d v a n c e . There is one other

t h i n g . O n e - t h i r d o f a l l m o n e y s a c c r u i n g t o y o u w i l l

b e k e p t i n t r u s t f o r y o u a t t h e r a t e o f 5 p e r c e n t . i n -

t e r e s t . "

I l a u g h e d a n d s a i d

" W e l l , C a p t a i n , I c a n t a k e c a r e o f m y o w n m o n e y . "

H e p e r m i t t e d t h e s h a d o w o f a s m i l e t o p l a y a r o u n d

his mouth .

"Y o u m a y b e a b l e t o , " h e s a i d , " b u t m o s t o f o u r

a g e n t s c a n n o t . W e h a v e t h i s p o l i c y f o r t w o r e a s o n s

I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , i t g i v e s u s a d e f i n i t e h o l d u p o n o u r

men . S e c o n d l y , w e h a v e f o u n d t h a t u n l e s s w e s a v e

s o m e m o n e y f o r o u r a g e n t s , t h e y n e v e r s a v e a n y f o r

t h e m s e l v e s . I n t h e e v e n t o f a n y t h i n g h a p p e n i n g t o a n

agent who leaves a family or other relativ es, the

m o n e y i s h a n d e d o v e r t o t h e m . "

I l a t e r c u r s e d t h a t r u l e , f o r w h e n I w a s c a p t u r e d i n

E n g l a n d t h e r e w e r e 3 0 , 0 0 0 m a r k s ( $ 7 , 5 0 0 ) d u e m e a t

t h e W i l h e l m s t r a s s e a n d I c a n w h i s t l e f o r i t n o w .

C a p t a i n v o n T a p p k e n l o o k e d a t m e i n q u i r i n g l y , b u t

I h e s i t a t e d . It wa s not on account of moneta ry

c a u s e s , b u t f o r p e c u l i a r l y p r i v a t e r e a s o n s - t h e d i -

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HOW I BECAME A SECRET AGENT

l e m m a o f o n e o f o u r h o u s e b e c o m i n g a s p y . The Cap-

t a i n , u n a w a r e o f t h e p e r s o n a l e q u a t i o n t h a t w a s o b -

s e s s i n g m e b e f o r e g i v i n g m y w o r d , e v i d e n t l y t h o u g h t

t h a t h i s f i n a n c i a l i n d u c e m e n t s w e r e n o t a l l u r i n g

enough .

" O f c o u r s e , " h e c o n t i n u e d , " t h i s s c a l e o f p a y i s

o n l y t h e b e g i n n i n g . A s y o u r u s e t o u s a n d t h e i m -

p o r t a n c e o f y o u r m i s s i o n s i n c r e a s e s , s o w i l l y o u r r e -

muneration . T h a t d e p e n d s e n t i r e l y o n y o u . "

H e r a i s e d h i s e y e b r o w s i n q u i r i n g l y .

" V e r y w e l l , " I s a i d . 1 1 1 a c c e p t . "

H e h e l d o u t h i s h a n d . " You ma de up your mind

q u i c k l y . "

" I t i s m y w a y , C a p t a i n I t a k e a t h i n g o r l e a v e

i t . "

"That's what I like, Doctor ; a q u i c k , d e c i s i v e

mind . "

T h a t s e e m e d t o p l e a s e h i m .

" V e r y w e l l . T o b e o f u s e t o u s , y o u w i l l n e e d a l o t

o f t e c h n i c a l c o a c h i n g . A r e y o u r e a d y t o s t a r t t o -

morrow? "

" Now, Capta in . "

" V e r y g o o d , " h e s a i d , " b u t t o - m o r r o w w i l l d o . Be

h e r e a t t e n A. M . T h e n g i v e u s d a i l y a s m u c h o f y o u r

t i m e a s w e r e q u i r e . "

H e c a l l e d i n o n e o f h i s s e c r e t a r i e s , g a v e h i m c o m -

m a n d b r i e f l y a n d i n a f e w m i n u t e s t h e m a n w a s b a c k

w i t h a n o r d e r f o r t h r e e h u n d r e d m a r k s .

" T h i s , D o c t o r , i s y o u r f i r s t m o n t h ' s l i v i n g e x -

p e n s e s . R e t a i n i n g f e e s a r e p a i d q u a r t e r l y . "

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEA s I p o c k e t e d t h e c h e c k I r e m a r k e d

" C a p t a i n , p e r s o n a l l y w e a r e t o t a l s t r a n g e r s . Howi s i t t h a t y o u s e e m s o s a t i s f i e d w i t h m e ? "

A g a i n h i s p e c u l i a r s m i l e w a s n o t i c e a b l e .

" T h a t i s o u t s i d e o u r u s u a l b u s i n e s s p r o c e d u r e , " h e

s a i d . " I ha ve my instructio ns from a bove and I

simply act on them . "

I w a s y o u n g t h e n , a n d c u r i o u s s o I a s k e d

" W h o a r e t h o s e a b o v e a n d w h a t a r e t h e i r i n s t r u c -

t i o n s ? "

N o s o o n e r h a d I p u t t h a t q u e s t i o n t h a n I l e a r n e d

m y f i r s t l e s s o n i n t h e S e c r e t S e r v i c e . A l l t r a c e s o f

g e n i a l f r i e n d l i n e s s v a n i s h e d f r o m v o n T a p p k e n ' s f a c e .

I t w a s s t e r n a n d s e r i o u s .

"My b o y , " h e s a i d s l o w l y , " l e a r n t h i s f r o m t h es t a r t a n d l e a r n i t w e l l . D o n o t a s k q u e s t i o n s . Don o t t a l k . Think ! You will soon learn tha t there

a r e m a n y u n w r i t t e n l a w s a t t a c h e d t o t h i s S e r v i c e . "

I n e v e r f o r g o t t h a t . It was my first lesson in

S e c r e t S e r v i c e .

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I I

THE MAKING OF A SECRET AGENT

THE av erage man or woman has only a ha zy idea

wha t Europea n Secret Servi ce and Espi onage

really means and accomplishes . S h o r t s t o r i e s a n d

novels, writ ten in a backgro und of diplo macy and

s e c r e t a g e n t s , h a v e g i v e n t h e p u b l i c v a g u e i m p r e s s i o n s

a b o u t t h e w o r l d o f s p i e s . B u t t h i s i s t h e f i r s t r e a l

u n v a r n i s h e d a c c o u n t o f t h e s y s t e m ; t h e c l a s s o f m e n

and women emplo yed ; t h e m e a n s u s e d t o o b t a i n t h e

d e s i r e d r e s u l t s a n d t h e r i s k s r u n b y t h o s e c o n n e c t e d

w i t h t h i s s e r v i c e . Since the days of Moses who em-

p l o y e d s p i e s i n C a n a a n , t o N a p o l e o n B o n a p a r t e , w h o

i n a u g u r a t e d t h e f i r s t t h o r o u g h s y s t e m o f p o l i t i c a l

e s p i o n a g e , p o t e n t a t e s , p o w e r f u l m i n i s t e r s a n d h e a d s

o f d e p a r t m e n t s h a v e f o u n d i t n e c e s s a r y t o o b t a i n e a r l y

a n d c o r r e c t i n f o r m a t i o n o t h e r t h a n t h r o u g h t h e u s u a l

o f f i c i a l c h a n n e l s . To gain this knowledge they hav e

to employ persons unknown and unrecognized in of-

f i c i a l c i r c l e s . A r e c o g n i z e d o f f i c i a l s u c h a s a n a m -

b a s s a d o r o r a s e c r e t a r y o f l e g a t i o n , e n v o y s p l e n i p o -

t e n t i a r y a n d c o n s u l s , w o u l d n o t b e a b l e t o g a i n t h e i n -

f o r m a t i o n s o u g h t , a s n a t u r a l l y e v e r y b o d y i s o n t h e i r

g u a r d a g a i n s t t h e m . M o r e o v e r , o f f i c i a l e t i q u e t t e p r e -

1 7


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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEv e n t s a n a m b a s s a d o r o r c o n s u l f r o m a c t i n g i n such a

c a p a c i t y .

I n t h i s a g e o f r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t s t h e n e e d o f q u i c k

and accurat e informat ion is ev en more pressing .

E u r o p e t o - d a y i s a s o r t o f a r m e d c a m p , c o m p o s e d o f a

n u m b e r o f n a t i o n s o f f a i r l y e q u a l s t r e n g t h , i n w h i c h

t h e u n i t s a r e m o r e o r l e s s a f r a i d o f e a c h o t h e r . Mu -

t u a l d i s t r u s t a n d c o n f l i c t i n g i n t e r e s t s c o m p e l G e r -

m a n y , E n g l a n d , F r a n c e a n d R u s s i a t o s p e n d b i l l i o n s

of money each year on arma ments . Germa ny builds

o n e b a t t l e s h i p ; England lays down two ; F r a n c e a d d s

t e n b a t t a l i o n s t o h e r a r m y ; G e r m a n y a d d s t w e n t y . So

t h e r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h k e e p s o n a f a i r l e v e l . But with

ra pid constructio ns, new i nventions of weapons,

a r m o r , a e r i a l c r a f t , t h i s a p p a r e n t e q u a l i t y i s c o n -

s t a n t l y d i s t u r b e d . Here also enters the personal

policy and ambitions and pet schemes of the indi-

v i d u a l h e a d s o f n a t i o n s a n d t h e i r c a b i n e t s . Because

t h e r e i s a c o n s t a n t f e a r o f b e i n g o u t d i s t a n c e d , e v e r y

gov ernment in Europe is trying its utmost to get

ahead of the other . T h e y , h e n c e , k e e p a s t r i n g e n t

watch on each other's movements . T h i s i s p o s s i b l e

o n l y b y a n e f f i c i e n t s y s t e m o f e s p i o n a g e , b y t r a i n e d

m e n a n d w o m e n , w i l l i n g t o r u n t h e r i s k s a t t a c h e d t o

t h i s s o r t o f w o r k .

F o r r i s k s t h e r e a r e . I h a v e b e e n i m p r i s o n e d t w i c e ,

once in the Balkans at Belgrade, once in England .

I h a v e b e e n a t t a c k e d f i v e t i m e s a n d b e a r t h e m a r k s

o f t h e w o u n d s t o t h i s d a y . E s c a p e s I h a v e h a d b y t h e

dozen. All my missions were not successes, mor e

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C r i g h t U n d r r z v o o kKAISER \VILHELM II

T h e v i s i b l e h e a d o f G e r m a n y ' s m i g h t y w a r m a c h i n e i s c a l l e d I ) e r

G r o s s e G e n e r a l S t a b , b u t t h e r e a l d i r e c t i n g g e n i u s

i s t h e E m p e r o r h i m s e l f


28/267


o f t e n , f a i l u r e s , a n d t h e f a i l u r e s a r e o f t e n f a t a l . For

i n s t a n c e

Early in the morning of June 11, 1903, the plot

w h i c h h a d b e e n b r e w i n g i n S e r v i a e n d e d w i t h t h e a s -

s a s s i n a t i o n o f t h e k i n g , q u e e n , m i n i s t e r s a n d m e m b e r s

o f t h e r o y a l h o u s e h o l d o f S e r v i a . I s h a l l n o t g o i n t o

t h e u n d e r c u r r e n t p o l i t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e s e a t r o c i -

t i e s a s I h a d n o a c t i v e p a r t i n t h e m , b u t I w a s s e n t

do wn by my g o v e r n m e n t l a t e r t o a s c e r t a i n a s f a r a s

possible the pr ime movers in the intri gue which

p o i n t e d t o C o l o n e l M a s h i n a n d a g a n g o f o f f i c e r s o f

th e Six th Regiment . A l l t h e s e r e g i c i d e s r e c e i v e d

Russian pay, for King Alexa nder h ad become dan-

g e r o u s t o R u s s i a , b e c a u s e o f h i s f l i r t i n g w i t h A u s t r i a .

B e s i d e s , h i s o w n i d i o t i c b e h a v i o r a n d t h e f l a g r a n t i n -

d i s c r e t i o n s o f Q u e e n D r a g a h a d b y n o m e a n s e n d e a r e d

h i m t o h i s p e o p l e .

I s t u c k m y n o s e i n t o a r e g u l a r h o r n e t s ' n e s t a n d

s o o n f o u n d m y s e l f i n a m o s t d a n g e r o u s p o s i t i o n . I

was a rrested by the prov isional government on the

o r d e r o f L i e u t e n a n t C o l o n e l N i g l i t s c h o n a m o s t f l i m s y

c h a r g e o f t r a v e l i n g w i t h f a l s e p a s s p o r t s . I n t h o s e

t i m e s a r r e s t s a n d e x e c u t i o n s w e r e t h e o r d e r o f t h e

day. T h e o l d S e r v i a n p r o v e r b o f " Od Roba Ikad Iz

Groba Nik ad " ( O u t o f p r i s o n , y e s ; o u t o f t h e g r a v e ,

n e v e r ) w a s f u l l y a c t e d u p o n . T h e r e w e r e r e a l l y n o

i n c r i m i n a t i n g p a p e r s o f a n y d e s c r i p t i o n u p o n m e , b u t

m y b e i n g s e e n a n d a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h p e r s o n s o p p o s e d t o

t h e p r o v i s i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t w a s q u i t e e n o u g h t o p l a c e

m e b e f o r e a d r u m h e a d c o u r t - m a r t i a l .

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEI w a s s i t t i n g i n t h e C a f e P e t i t e P a r i s i a n w i t h L i e u -

t e n a n t N i k o l e v i t c h a n d M o n s . K r a s t o v , a m e r c h a n t o f

B e l g r a d e , w h e n a f i l e o f s o l d i e r s i n c h a r g e o f a n o f f i c e r

p u l l e d u s o u t o f o u r c h a i r s a n d w i t h o u t a n y f u r t h e r

a d o m a r c h e d u s t o t h e C i t a d e l . The next morning we

w e r e t a k e n s e p a r a t e l y i n t o a s m a l l r o o m w h e r e t h r e e

m e n i n t h e u n i f o r m o f c o l o n e l s w e r e s e a t e d a t a s m a l l

i r o n t a b l e . No questions were asked .

" Y o u a r e f o u n d g u i l t y o f a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y p e r s o n s . Y o u w e r e f o u n d p o s s e s s i n g a p a s s -

port not your own . Y o u a r e s e n t e n c e d t o b e s h o t a t

sundown . "

T h e w h o l e t h i n g a p p e a r e d t o m e f i r s t a s a j o k e , t h e n

a s a b l u f f , b u t l o o k i n g c l o s e l y i n t o t h o s e h i g h - c h e e k -

b o n e d , n a r r o w - e y e d f a c e s w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y

close-crop ped brutal heads, the humor ous a spect

d w i n d l e d r a p i d l y a n d I t h o u g h t i t a b o u t t i m e t o m a k e

a counter mov e . Without betraying any of my in-

ward qualms-a n d b e l i e v e m e , I b e g a n t o h a v e s o m e-- I s a i d q u i e t l y

1 1 1 t h i n k y o u w i l l f i n d i t a d v i s a b l e t o i n f o r m M .

Z o l a r e v i t c h " (t hen minister of War) " tha t Count

W e r i n g r o d e s e n d s h i s r e g a r d s . "

I s a w t h e m l o o k i n g r a t h e r c u r i o u s l y a t e a c h o t h e r

a n d t h e n t h e c e n t e r i n q u i s i t o r f i r e d a l o t o f q u e s t i o n s

a t m e , i n a n s w e r t o w h i c h I o n l y s h r u g g e d m y s h o u l -

d e r s .

" T h a t ' s a l l I h a v e t o s a y , m o n s i e u r . "

I was shov ed back in my cell . About f our th at

a f t e r n o o n o n e o f t h e o f f i c e r s c a m e t o s e e m e .

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1 1 Your message has not been sent . My comr ades

w e r e a g a i n s t s e n d i n g i t , b u t I a m r e l a t e d t o Z o l a r e -

v i t c h . S o i f y o u c a n s h o w m e s o m e r e a s o n , I s h a l l

t a k e y o u r m e s s a g e . "

I ga ve him some reason . So much so tha t he did

n o t l o s e a n y t i m e g e t t i n g u n d e r w a y . I n f a c t , i t w a s

a v ery pale, perturbed officer who rushed out of

m y c e l l . I d i d n ' t w o r r y m u c h , b u t w h e n a t a b o u t 7 . 3 0

t h e c e l l d o o r o p e n e d a n d t w o s e n t r i e s w i t h f i x e d b a y -

o n e t s a n d c a r t r i d g e p o u c h e s e n t e r e d , p l a c e d m e i n t h e

c e n t e r a n d m a r c h e d m e i n t o t h e c o u r t y a r d , w h e r e t e n

m o r e l i k e w i s e e q u i p p e d s o l d i e r s i n c h a r g e o f a n o f f i c e r

a w a i t e d m e , I f e l t s o m e w h a t g r e e n . I k n o w a f i r i n g

squa d when I see one . I knew if my message ever

reached responsible quarters, nothing could ha p-

pen to me ; b u t t h e s e w e r e m o t l e y t i m e s a n d a l l s o r t s

o f d e l a y s m a y h a v e h a p p e n e d t o t h e o f f i c e r .

1 1 R i g h t a b o u t w h e e l " a n d m y s e l f i n t h e c e n t e r , w e

m a r c h e d o u t o f t h e c o u r t y a r d t o a l i t t l e h i l l t o t h e

w e s t o f t h e C i t a d e l .

An old stone building- probably a decayed mon-

a s t e r y , f o r I n o t i c e d s e v e r a l c r u m b l e d t o m b s t o n e s -w a s e v i d e n t l y s e l e c t e d f o r t h e p l a c e o f e x e c u t i o n

. Ona l i t t l e r o u g h , f o u r - f o o t , s t o n e w a l l w e h a l t e d , a n d t h e

o f f i c e r , p u l l i n g o u t a d o c u m e n t , b e g a n r e a d i n g t o m e a

r a t h e r l e n g t h y p r e a m b l e i n S e r v i a n .

U p t o t h e n n o t a w o r d h a d b e e n s p o k e n . I l e t h i m

f i n i s h a n d t h e n p o l i t e l y r e q u e s t e d h i m , a s I w a s n o t a

S e r b a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d h i s l i n g o ,

t o t r a n s l a t e i t i n t o a c i v i l i z e d l a n g u a g e , p r e f e r a b l y

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEGerma n or French . He seemed somewhat sta rt led

a n d g a v e m e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t h e w a s l e d t o b e l i e v e

I w a s a S e r b . I u s e d s o m e v e r y f o r c i b l e G e r m a n a n d

French, both o f which he was able to understa nd,

p o i n t i n g o u t t o h i m t h a t s o m e o n e , s o m e w h e r e , m a d e a

thundering big blunder which somehow would ha ve

t o b e p a i d f o r . H e w a s c l e a r l y i l l a t e a s e , b u t s a i d ,

" I h a v e t o o b e y m y i n s t r u c t i o n s . " I h a d t o l d h i m o f

m y m e s s a g e t o t h e m i n i s t e r , a n d a l t h o u g h i t w a s q u i t e

o b v i o u s I w a s s p a r r i n g f o r t i m e h e s e e m e d i n n o w a y

i n c l i n e d t o r u s h t h e e x e c u t i o n . Five minutes went ;

ten minutes went and looking at his wa tch, which

s h o w e d f i v e m i n u t e s t o e i g h t ( a l t h o u g h i t w a s f a s t g e t -

t i n g d u s k , I c o u l d s e e t h a t w a t c h - d i a l d i s t i n c t l y ) ,

s h r u g g i n g h i s s h o u l d e r s a n d s a y i n g , " I c a n d e l a y n o

l o n g e r , " h e c a l l e d a s e r g e a n t , w h o p l a c e d m e w i t h m y

s h o u l d e r s t o t h e w a l l a n d o f f e r e d m e a h a n d k e r c h i e f .

I d i d n ' t w a n t a h a n d k e r c h i e f . A few sha rp o rders

and twelve Mauser tubes pointed their ugly black

s n o u t s d i r e c t l y a t m e .

I h a t e t o t e l l m y s e n s a t i o n j u s t t h e n . F r a n k l y , I

f e l t n o t h i n g c l e a r l y . T h e o n l y t h i n g I r e m e m b e r d i s -

t i n c t l y w a s t h e t h i r d m a n i n t h e s e c o n d f i l e h e l d h i s

g u n i n r a t h e r a s l i p s h o d m a n n e r , a i m i n g i t f i r s t a t m y

m i d r i f f , n e x t p o i n t i n g i t a t m y n o s e - w h i c h s t r a n g e l y

enough caused me intense annoyance . How lo ng we

stood thus I don't know . The next thing I remem-

b e r w a s a r a t t l e o f g r o u n d i n g a r m s a n d t h e s i g h t o f

t w o o t h e r o f f i c e r s , e x c i t e d l y g e s t i c u l a t i n g w i t h t h e o n e

i n c h a r g e o f t h e f i r i n g s q u a d . A l l t h r e e p r e s e n t l y

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c a m e t o w a r d s m e a n d o n e p u l l i n g o u t a f l a s k o f c o g n a c

w i t h a p o l i t e b o w o f f e r e d m e a d r i n k . I n e e d e d i t ; b u t

d i d n ' t t a k e i t . All this ti me I had been standing

m o t i o n l e s s w i t h m y a r m s f o l d e d a c r o s s m y b r e a s t . I

h e a r d o n e s a y t o t h e o t h e r , " Nitchk a Curacha " ( n o

cowa rd) . If he ha d only known .

I n d e e d , h a d I a n t i c i p a t e d s u c h a n e x p e r i e n c e , h a d I

know n the th ings I know now I doubt if I would

have been so pleased with the results of my first

v i s i t t o K o e n i g e r g r a t z e r s t r a s s e 7 0 , w h e r e t h e I n t e l l i -

gence Department of the German Admiralty is quar-

t e r e d . W i l l t h e r e a d e r s t e p b a c k w i t h m e i n t h e n a r -

r a t i v e t o t h e d a y o f m y o f f i c i a l l y j o i n i n g t h e S e r v i c e ?

R e t u r n i n g t o m y h o t e l a f t e r m y i n t e r v i e w w i t h C a p -

t a i n v o n T a p p k e n i n h i s o f f i c e , I b e g a n t o r e f l e c t .

I h a d n o t e n t e r e d t h e S e r v i c e o u t o f p u r e a d v e n t u r e

or for monetary reasons alone . Money has never

appealed to me as the all-powerful thing in life .

I h a v e a l w a y s h a d e n o u g h f o r c r e a t u r e c o m f o r t s a n d

a s f o r a d v e n t u r e I h a d h a d m y f i l l d u r i n g t h e B o e r

War and my world wanderings . N o , I h a d j o i n e d t h e

G e r m a n S e c r e t S e r v i c e f o r q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t r e a s o n .

I w a s t h i n k i n g o f t h e i n f l u e n c e s t h a t h a d p r e s s e d m e

o u t o f m y d e s t i n e d g r o o v e , b y e v e r y h u m a n r i g h t m y

o wn . I remember how sa nguine Count Reitzenstein

was tha t th rough t he Service I ought t o ga in the

p o w e r I h a d l o s t . B u t a s I s a t i n t h e h o t e l r o o m h a d

o c c u l t p o w e r s b e e n g i v e n m e , I n e v e r w o u l d h a v e t a k e n

u p S e c r e t S e r v i c e w o r k . B u t o n e i s n o t q u i t e a s w i s e

a t t w e n t y - f o u r a s a t t h i r t y - n i n e .

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEW e l l s a t i s f i e d w i t h m y p r o s p e c t s , I a r o s e e a r l y t h e

next morning and walk ed briskly to Capta in Tapp-

k e n ' s o f f i c e . P u n c t u a l l y a t t e n o ' c l o c k I a n n o u n c e d

m y s e l f a t t h e A d m i r a l t y a n d a f t e r t h e u s u a l p r o c e -

d u r e w i t h t h e d o o r m a n , I w a s r e c e i v e d b y H e r r v o n

S t a m m e r , p r i v a t e s e c r e t a r y o f C a p t a i n T a p p k e n . Avery astute and calculating gentleman is Herr v on

Stammer . Suav e, genia l, ta lka tiv e, he has t he

p l a u s i b l e a n d u n s t u d i e d a r t o f e x t r a c t i n g i n f o r m a -

t i o n w i t h o u t c o m m i t t i n g h i m s e l f i n t u r n . A marv el-

o u s e n c y c l o p a e d i a o f d e v i o u s S e c r e t S e r v i c e f a c t s , a n

i d e a l t u t o r .

W h e n w e w e r e a l o n e i n h i s o f f i c e , v o n S t a m m e r b e -

g a n b y s a y i n g a b r u p t l y

"From now o n, you must be enti rely and abso-

l u t e l y a t o u r S e r v i c e . Y o u w i l l r e p o r t d a i l y a t t w e l v e

n o o n b y t e l e p h o n i n g a c e r t a i n n u m b e r . A t a l l t i m e s

y o u m u s t b e a c c e s s i b l e . Y o u w i l l p a y c l o s e a t t e n t i o n

t o t h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e s

" A b s o l u t e s i l e n c e i n r e g a r d t o y o u r m i s s i o n s . No

c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h m i n o r o f f i c i a l s b u t o n l y w i t h t h e r e -

spectiv e heads of departments or to wh omever you

a r e s e n t . You will ma ke no memora nda nor carry

written documents . Y o u w i l l n e v e r d i s c u s s y o u r a f -

f a i r s w i t h a n y e m p l o y e e i n t h e S e r v i c e w h o m y o u m a y

meet . Y o u a r e n o t l i k e l y t o m e e t m a n y . I t i s s t r i c t l y

a g a i n s t t h e r u l e s t o b e c o m e f r i e n d l y o r i n t i m a t e w i t h

any ag ent. You must a bsta in from intoxicating

l i q u o r s . You a re not p ermitted to ha ve any women

a s s o c i a t e s . You w ill be know n to us by a number .

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Y o u w i l l s i g n a l l y o u r r e p o r t s b y t h a t n u m b e r . Al-

w a y s a v o i d t e l e p h o n i n g , t e l e g r a p h i n g a n d c a b l i n g a s

m u c h a s p o s s i b l e . I n u r g e n t c a s e s d o s o , b u t u s e t h e

c i p h e r t h a t w i l l b e s u p p l i e d t o y o u . "

He went on to giv e numerous other minor details

a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s , e l a b o r a t i n g t h e s y s t e m , b u t w h i c h

might prove wearisome here . I w a s i n h i s o f f i c e a l l

t h e f o r e n o o n , a n d w h e n h e u s h e r e d m e o u t I h a l f e x -

p e c t e d t o b e c a l l e d i n t o v o n T a p p k e n ' s p r e s e n c e t o

b e s e n t o n m y f i r s t m i s s i o n . I n s t e a d o f t h a t , I h a d t o

w a i t f i v e m o n t h s b e f o r e I w a s g i v e n m y f i r s t w o r k a n d

an exceedingly unimportant thing it was . Dur ing

those five months I was kept at a steady grind of

s c h o o l i n g i n c e r t a i n t h i n g s . Day after day, week

after week, I was gro unded in subjects tha t were

e s s e n t i a l t o e f f i c i e n t S e c r e t S e r v i c e w o r k .

B r o a d l y , t h e y c o u l d b e d i v i d e d i n t o f o u r c l a s s e s-top ogr ap hy, tri gonometry, nava l construction and

drawing . T h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e s e y o u w i l l s e e f r o m m y

m i s s i o n s . M y t u t o r s w e r e a l l e x p e r t s i n t h e I m p e r i a l

S e r v i c e . A S e c r e t S e r v i c e a g e n t s e n t o u t t o i n v e s t i -

g a t e a n d r e p o r t o n t h e c o n d i t i o n , s i t u a t i o n , a n d a r m a -

m e n t o f a f o r t l i k e V e r d u n i n F r a n c e m u s t b e a b l e t o

m a k e c o r r e c t e s t i m a t e s o f d i s t a n c e s , h e i g h t , a n g l e s ,

c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e g r o u n d , e t c . T h i s c a n o n l y b e d o n e

b y a m a n o f t h e c o r r e c t s c i e n t i f i c t r a i n i n g . He must

h a v e t h e s c i e n c e o f t o p o g r a p h y a t h i s f i n g e r t i p s ; he

m u s t b e a b l e t o m a k e q u i c k a n d a c c u r a t e c a l c u l a t i o n s

u s i n g t r i g o n o m e t r y , a s w e l l a s p o s s e s s i n g s k i l l a s a

draftsman . In my mission to Port Arthur, where I

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEh a d t o r e p o r t o n t h e d e f e n s e s , I f o u n d t h i s t r a i n i n g

i n v a l u a b l e .

T h e s a m e a p p l i e s t o t h e s u b j e c t o f n a v a l c o n s t r u c -

t i o n . B e f o r e e n t e r i n g t h e G e r m a n S e c r e t S e r v i c e , I

c e r t a i n l y k n e w t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a t o r p e d o a n d

a t o r p e d o b o a t d e s t r o y e r , b u t n a t u r a l l y c o u l d n o t g i v e

a n a c c u r a t e d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f d e -

s t r o y e r s a n d t o r p e d o e s . M y i n s t r u c t o r i n t h i s s u b j e c t

w a s L i e u t e n a n t C a p t a i n K u r t S t e f f e n s , t o r p e d o e x p e r t

o f t h e I n t e l l i g e n c e D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I m p e r i a l N a v y .

A f t e r a m o n t h o f t u t e l a g e u n d e r h i m , I w a s a b l e t o

t e l l t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f t o r p e d o e s , s u b m a r i n e s , a n d

m i n e s , e t c . , i n u s e b y t h e p r i n c i p a l P o w e r s . I could

e v e n t e l l b y t h e p e c u l i a r w h i s t l e i t m a d e w h e t h e r t h e

torpedo that was being discharged was a Whitehead

or a Brennan .

I w a s a l s o d r i l l e d i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f e v e r y k n o w n

k i n d o f n a v a l g u n . D o z e n s o f m o d e l w a r - c r a f t s w e r e

shown to me and expla ined . I saw the model of

every warship in the world. For days at a time I

w a s m a d e t o s i t b e f o r e c h a r t s t h a t h u n g f r o m t h e w a l l s

o f c e r t a i n r o o m s i n t h e I n t e l l i g e n c e D e p a r t m e n t a n d

s t u d y t h e s i l h o u e t t e s o f e v e r y k n o w n v a r y i n g t y p e o f

w a r - c r a f t . I w a s s c h o o l e d i n t h i s u n t i l I c o u l d t e l l a t

a g l a n c e w h a t t y p e o f a b a t t l e s h i p , c r u i s e r , o r d e -

s t r o y e r i t w a s , w h e t h e r i t w a s p e c u l i a r t o t h e E n g l i s h ,

French, Russian or United States Navy. As I sha ll

s h o w i n r e l a t i n g o n e o f m y m i s s i o n s t o E n g l a n d , I w a s

b r u s h e d u p o n t h e s i l h o u e t t e s t u d y o f B r i t i s h w a r -

s h i p s , f o r I h a d t o b e a b l e t o d i s c e r n a n d c l a s s i f y t h e m

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a t l o n g r a n g e . T h e d i f f e r e n t r a n k i n g o f f i c e r s o f t h e

n a v i e s o f t h e w o r l d , t h e i r u n i f o r m s , t h e p e r s o n n e l o f

b a t t l e s h i p s , t h e s y s t e m s o f f l a g s i g n a l s , a n d c o d e s ,

w e r e e x p l a i n e d t o m e i n d e t a i l . I w a s g i v e n l a r g e

b o o k s i n w h i c h w e r e c o l o r e d p l a t e s o f t h e u n i f o r m s

a n d s i g n a l f l a g s o f e v e r y n a v y i n t h e w o r l d . I h a d t o

s t u d y t h e s e u n t i l a t a g l a n c e I c o u l d t e l l t h e r a n k a n d

s t a t i o n o f t h e o f f i c e r s a n d m e n o f t h e p r i n c i p a l n a v i e s .

T h e s a m e w i t h t h e s i g n a l f l a g s . I p o r e d o v e r t h o s e

b o o k s n i g h t a f t e r n i g h t i n t o t h e e a r l y h o u r s o f t h e

morning . My regular hours for tuition were from

t e n t o t w e l v e i n t h e f o r e n o o n a n d f r o m t w o u n t i l s i x

i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . B u t i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o c o m p r e s s

a l l t h e w o r k i n t o t h a t t i m e . I w a s a n x i o u s t o g e t m y

f i r s t m i s s i o n , a n d I p r e s u m e I d i d a g r e a t d e a l o f

cra mming .

M y s t u d y w a s n o t a l l i n B e r l i n . I s p e n t m o s t o f

my time there at Koenigergratzerstra sse 70 and at

the Zeughaus, the great museum of the German Gen-

e r a l S t a f f . B u t t h e r e w e r e s i d e t r i p s t o t h e b i g g o v -

ernment works at Kiel and Wilhelmshafen . T h e r e I

w a s t a u g h t e v e r y d e t a i l o f t h e m e c h a n i c s o f n a v a l c o n -

s t r u c t i o n a n d I w a s n o t p r o n o u n c e d e q u i p p e d u n t i l I

c o u l d t a l k i n t e l l i g e n t l y a b o u t e v e r y u n a s s e m b l e d p a r t

o f a g u n , t o r p e d o t u b e , o r m i n e .

I n t h e c o u r s e o f m y f i v e m o n t h s ' i n s t r u c t i o n u n d e r

the va rious experts of the Prussia n Service I had

m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o o b s e r v e t h e e x h a u s t i v e t h o r -

o u g h n e s s a n d t h e m i n u t e n e s s o f d e t a i l w h i c h t h e G e r -

man General Staff possesses . I did not lose the

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEc h a n c e o f t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y . I r e a l l y d i d o b s e r v e a n d

see more than was intended for me to see . O f t h e

amazing amount of labor, time and money that has

been spent to gather the information contained in

t h e s e c r e t a r c h i v e s o f t h e G e r m a n G e n e r a l S t a f f , t h e

m a r v e l o u s s y s t e m o f w a r t h a t h a s b e e n p e r f e c t e d i n

t h e G e r m a n E m p i r e , I s h a l l t e l l w h e n I c o n s i d e r t h e

s e c r e t s o f t h e W a r M a c h i n e .

N a t u r a l l y , I s o o n c a m e t o k n o w s t i l l o t h e r t h i n g s

than what they taught me . I b e g a n t o c o n s i d e r t h e

w h o l e p r o p o s i t i o n o f S e c r e t S e r v i c e , a n d b e f o r e r e l a t -

ing m y f i r s t i m p o r t a n t m i s s i o n f o r G e r m a n y I s h a l l

t e l l y o u s o m e o f t h e g e n e r a l s e c r e t s o f t h e S y s t e m .

T h e r e a r e f o u r s y s t e m s o f S e c r e t S e r v i c e i n E u r o p e ,

t h e f o u r l e a d i n g p o w e r s e a c h p o s s e s s i n g o n e . First

i n s y s t e m a t i c e f f i c i e n c y i s t h e G e r m a n , n e x t c o m e s t h e

R u s s i a n , t h e n t h e F r e n c h , a n d E n g l i s h . England ha s

a v e r y e f f i c i e n t s e r v i c e i n I n d i a a n d h e r A s i a t i c p o s -

s e s s i o n s , b u t h a s o n l y l a t e l y e n t e r e d t h e E u r o p e a n

f i e l d . Last but not least comes the Internat ional

S e c r e t S e r v i c e B u r e a u w i t h h e a d q u a r t e r s i n B e l g i u m ,

a s e m i - p r i v a t e c o n c e r n w h i c h p r o c u r e s r e l i a b l e i n -

f o r m a t i o n f o r a n y o n e w h o w i l l p a y f o r i t . T h i s s e r v -

i c e i s g e n e r a l l y e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e p r o c u r i n g o f t e c h -

n i c a l d e t a i l s , s u c h a s t h e p l a n s o f a n e w k i n d o f g u n

o r d a t a o n a n e w a n d m i n o r f o r t i f i c a t i o n . Mr. V a n c eT h o m p s o n h a s a l s o c i t e d s p e c i a l m i s s i o n s l i k e t h i s

o n e t h a t f o l l o w s .

N o t o f t e n d o e s t h e c h a n c e c o m e t o l e a v e t h e r e g u l a r

channels of espionage and go forth upon a mission

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o u t o f t h e o r d i n a r y . That chance came a few years

a g o t o t h e R u s s i a n a g e n t s i n B r u s s e l s . I n S t . P e t e r s -

b u r g t h e c h i e f s w e r e d e s i r o u s o f k n o w i n g t h e i d e n t i t y

and names of a g roup of revolutionists who h ad

formed a sort of colony in Montreux, Switzerland .

A French woma n, known sometimes as Theresa Pre-

v o s t ( t h e l a s t I h e a r d o f h e r s h e w a s i n p r i s o n ) w a s

deta iled to the mission. Young a nd clev er wa s

Theresa ; likewise the man who was ordered to ac-

compa ny her, posing as a " b r o t h e r , " C h a r l e s P r e -

v o s t .

T h e c h i e f o f t h e s e R u s s i a n f u g i t i v e s , w h o w e r e d o w n

a r o u n d t h e l a k e o f G e n e v a , b r e w i n g t h e i r d a r k p l a n s ,

was known . H e w a s G o l u c k o f f s k y , a n d h e h a d a s o n

t w e n t y - t w o y e a r s o f a g e -a n i m p r e s s i o n a b l e R u s s i a ns o n . Hence the young a nd pretty Theresa .

I t w a s d e c i d e d b y h e r B r u s s e l s c h i e f s t h a t s h e a s -

s u m e t h e r o l e o f a n h e i r e s s f r o m C a n a d a . F i v e t h o u -

sand fra ncs for preliminary expenses were handed

o v e r t o h e r a n d w i t h C h a r l e s , t h e b r o t h e r , s h e d e -

scended up on Montreux . If you were there at the

t i m e y o u w i l l r e c a l l t h e s o c i a l t r i u m p h m a d e b y t h e

young Canadia n heiress . You ma y even remember

t h a t s h e s e e m e d t o b e i n f a t u a t e d w i t h t h e y o u n g i m -

p r e s s i o n a b l e s o n o f o l d G o l u c k o f f s k y . The day long

t h e y w e r e t o g e t h e r . T h e y w e r e g o i n g t o b e m a r r i e d ,

a n d C h a r l e s P r e v o s t t h e " b r o t h e r , " s t o o d i n t h e b a c k -

ground, chatted amiably with old Goluckoffsky and

h i s f r i e n d s a n d s m i l e d .

Then a s an heiress sho uld, Theresa a nd her

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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICE" b r o t h e r " invit ed Golucko ffsky, his fa mily and

f r i e n d s , t o a p r e - n u p t i a l l u n c h e o n . No expense was

s p a r e d , f o r t h e w i r e s h a d m o a n e d w i t h r e q u e s t s s e n t

t o B r u s s e l s f o r m o n e y . Young Goluckoffsk y was de-

l i g h t e d w i t h h i s f i a n c e e . S h e w a s i n s i s t e n t t h a t a l l

h i s f r i e n d s s h o u l d b e t h e r e , a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s -a l t h o u g h o f c o u r s e h i s d e a r T h e r e s a d i d n o t k n o w t h a t .

H o w t h e s p e l l i n g o f t h e i r n a m e s p u z z l e d h e r . With

gay heart young Goluckoffsky wrote out all their

n a m e s o n a s l i p o f p a p e r s o s h e c o u l d s e n d t h e i r i n v i -

t a t i o n s p r o p e r l y -the names St . P e t e r s b u r g w a n t e dto know .

C a m e t h e d a y o f t h e l u n c h e o n , a g a l a a f f a i r i n t h e

banquet room of the hotel . Theresa looked charm-

i n g ; e v e n t h e g r i m m e s t o f t h e o l d r e v o l u t i o n i s t s w e r e

t a k e n w i t h h e r . O l d G o l u c k o f f s k y b e a m e d u p o n t h i s

s p a r k l i n g f e b r i l e w o m a n , r i c h t o o , w h o w a s t o m a r r y

h i s s o n .

I c e s h a d b e e n s e r v e d w h e n T h e r e s a , h e r p r e t t y f a c e

i n s m i l e s , d e c l a r e d t h a t s h e h a d a s u r p r i s e f o r h e r

g u e s t s . T o h e r i t w a s t h e d a y o f d a y s . Wha t better

t h a n a g r o u p p h o t o g r a p h o f h e r d e a r a n d n e w f r i e n d s ?

How she would treasure it! S t r a n g e l y e n o u g h t h i s

d i d n o t p l e a s e t h e g u e s t s . P h o t o g r a p h s w e r e d a n g e r -

o u s . S u p p o s e , i n s o m e w a y , t h e Okra na g o t h o l d o f

them . T h e y b r e a t h e d e a s i e r , t h o u g h , w h e n T h e r e s a ,

c a l l i n g i n t h e p h o t o g r a p h e r - t h e b e s t i n L a u s a n n e ,

she assur ed th em-i n s t r u c t e d h i m t o d e l i v e r a l lc o p i e s t o M r . G o l u c k o f f s k y , h e r d e a r f a t h e r - i n - l a w t o

be . S o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t s g r o u p e d t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e

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h o t e l l a w n ; t h e p h o t o g r a p h e r p r e s s e d t h e b u l b ; and

everybody laughed .

As quickly as the pho togra pher could print his

p r o o f s t h e y w e r e d e l i v e r e d t o T h e r e s a ; t h a t n i g h t s h e

and her " b r o t h e r " l e f t M o n t r e u x . In two days the

n a m e s o f a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t s i n y o u n g G o l u c k o f f -

s k y ' s h a n d w r i t i n g a n d t h e i r p i c t u r e s w e r e d e l i v e r e d

t o t h e c h i e f i n B r u s s e l s . A s u b s t a n t i a l f e e w a s p a i d

T h e r e s a , b e s i d e s , a n d s h e m u s t h a v e s m i l e d ; s o m e o f

t h o s e y o u n g R u s s i a n s a r e d e l i g h t f u l .

S o m u c h f o r a n e x a m p l e o f t h e c l e v e r w o r k d o n e b y

B r u s s e l s . T h e G e r m a n S e r v i c e , i n w h i c h I s e r v e d o n

a n d o f f f o r t w e l v e y e a r s , h a s t h r e e d i s t i n c t b r a n c h e s -t h e A r m y , N a v y a n d P e r s o n a l , e a c h b r a n c h h a v i n g i t s

o w n c h i e f a n d i t s o w n c o r p s o f m e n a n d w o m e n a g e n t s .

T h e A r m y a n d N a v y d i v i s i o n i s c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e G e n -

e r a l S t a f f o f B e r l i n ( G r o s s e r G e n e r a l S t a b e ) , t h e m o s t

m a r v e l o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e w o r l d . T h e P o l i t i c a l

a n d P e r s o n a l b r a n c h i s c o n t r o l l e d f r o m t h e W i l h e l m -

s t r a s s e , t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e , t h e E m p e r o r i n

p e r s o n , o r h i s i m m e d i a t e P r i v y C o u n c i l o r . The Arm y

a n d N a v y d i v i s i o n s c o n f i n e t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e p r o c u r -

i n g o f h i d d e n a n d s e c r e t i n f o r m a t i o n a s r e g a r d s a r m a -

m e n t s , p l a n s , d i s c o v e r i e s , e t c . T h e p o l i t i c a l b r a n c h

c o n c e r n s i t s e l f w i t h t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f m e e t i n g s b e -

t w e e n p o t e n t a t e s , c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r s a n d s o f o r t h . The

P e r s o n a l b r a n c h , u n d e r t h e d i r e c t c o n t r o l o f t h e P r i v y

C o u n c i l o r , i s u s e d b y t h e E m p e r o r f o r h i s o w n s p e c i a l ,

p u r p o s e s a n d s e r v i c e i n t h i s b r a n c h i s t h e s i n e q u a

non o f t h e s e r v i c e .

3 1


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THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WAR OFFICEThe Personal consists of all classes of men and

w o m en . Princes and counts, lawyers and doctors,

a c t o r s a n d a c t r e s s e s , m o n d a i n e s o f t h e g r e a t w o r l d ,

d e m i - m o n d a i n e s o f t h e h a l f w o r l d , w a i t e r s a n d p o r -

t e r s , a l l a r e m a d e u s e o f a s o c c a s i o n a r i s e s . It ma y

well happen that your interesting acquaintance in

t h e s a l o n o f a n e x p r e s s s t e a m e r o r y o u r c h a r m i n g c o m -

p a n i o n i n t h e t e a r o o m o f t h e R i t z i s t h e p a i d a g e n t

of some government . G r e a t s i n g e r s , d a n c e r s a n d a r -

t i s t s , e s p e c i a l l y o f R u s s i a n a n d A u s t r i a n o r i g i n , a r e

o f t e n s p i e s . N o t a b l y A n n a P a v l o w a , f a m o u s f o r l i g h t

f e e t a n d n i m b l e w i t , s a i d w i t b e i n g r e t a i n e d b y t h e

Russian government at 50,000 rubles per annum .

When Mlle . P a v l o w a t r a v e l s i n G e r m a n y , s h e h a s t h e

h o n o r o f a v e r y u n o s t e n t a t i o u s b o d y g u a r d , t h e g o v e r n -

ment being anxious tha t nothing should happen to

them . P e r h a p s M a d e m o i s e l l e m a y r e m e m b e r a l i t t l e

i n c i d e n t a t t h e P a l a i s d e D a n c e i n B e r l i n-nna v s .H e o f L i c h t e n s t e i n .

O r p e r h a p s M a d e m o i s e l l e w i l l r e c a l l a l i t t l e e p i s o d e

in th e Eis Arena in Berlin during a certai n New

Year's Eve carniva l when the restoration -not the

l o s s - o f h e r m a g n i f i c e n t g o l d c h a t e l a i n e b a g c a u s e d

her much embar ra ssment . T h e c h a t e l a i n e i n q u e s -

t i o n b e i n g d e x t e r o u s l y c o m m a n d e e r e d b y a n e x p e r t i n

s u c h m a t t e r s o f t h e S e c r e t S e r v i c e s q u a d .

I t h a p p e n e d t h a t t h e P e r s o n a l B r a n c h o f t h e G e r -

m a n S e c r e t S e r v i c e w a s e x c e e d i n g l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h a t

g o l d b a g . M a d e m o i s e l l e h a d b e e n c a r r y i n g o n a n a f -

f a i r w i t h a y o u n g o r d n a n c e o f f i c e r o f t h e P o t s d a m g a r -

3 2


42/267

THE MAKING OF A SECRET AGENTI

r i s o n . N o w t h e S e r v i c e d o e s n o t l i k e t o s e e o f f i c e r s ,

e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f t h e o r d n a n c e , b e c o m i n g i n v o l v e d

with la dies like the Pavlowa . On this pa rticular

n i g h t h e h a d p r e s e n t e d h e r w i t h t h e n e w b a g a n d s h e

h a d b e e n i n j u d i c i o u s e n o u g h t o h a v e k e p t i n t h e g o l d e n

r e c e p t a c l e a d a n g e r o u s l y c o m p r o m i s i n g l e t t e r t h a t h e

had enclosed. Injudicious, dear lady! Corsage or

s t o c k i n g s , M a d e m o i s e l l e ; b u t v a n i t y b a g s - n e v e r !

I h a v e r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t

cost the Pavlowa a rather remunerative engagement

i n B e r l i n .

Celebrating the coming of t he New Year, Made-

m o i s e l l e a n d h e r p a r t y w e r e f e a s t i n g i n t h e I c e A r e n a .

I h a p p e n e d t o b e a t n e a r - b y t a b l e , a n d s a w e v e r y t h i n g ;

a s w e l l a s l a t e r h e a r i n g t h e i n s i d e o f i t .

T h e g o l d c h a t e l a i n e l a y o n t h e t a b l e a t h e r e l b o w .

U p o n o b s e r v i n g i t s p o s i t i o n , t h e w a i t e r -a s e c r e ta g e n t o n t h e c a s e-e l i b e r a t e l y t i p p e d o v e r a c h a m -p a g n e g l a s s t h a t s t o o d w i t h i n a f e w i n c h e s o f t h e b a g .

Of course, Mademoiselle was worried lest the wine

r u n o v e r o n h e r g o w n a n d w h i l e t h u s p r e o c c u p i e d , t h e

w a i t e r , s t a m m e r i n g a p o l o g i e s , m o p p e d u p t h e , t a b l e

c l o t h w i t h h i s s e r v i e t t e -mopped up the wine andc l e v e r l y c o v e r i n g t h e b a g f o l d e d i t i n t h e n a p k i n a n d

hurried away . I n t w o m i n u t e s h e h a d o p e n e d i t , a b -

s t r a c t e d t h e l e t t e r f r o m t h e y o u n g o r d n a n c e o f f i c e r ;

a n d w a s b a c

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The Secrets of the German War Office-Dr Armgaard Karl Graves Secret Agent-1914-267pgs-POL