In the usual curt yet polite manner
of German officers, the captain intro
duced me to three naval experts. One
was a construction officer, another in
the signaling department, the third an
'. expert on explosives and mines. One
at a time they took me In hand, groom
ing me in the Intricacies of their re
spective fields. It was like a rehearsal
in the grooming I had received years
.ago when taken into the service and
todned tor months. I sat for hours
over diagrams with a naval officer on
each side. They brought me before
'charts that wereas big as the wall of
•the room. These charts gave the ex
act dimension* and type of every ves
sel in the British navy. Not only that,
1
1
Moreover, I had to brush myself up
4 in topography and trigonometry. In
England—so I learned from my in
«tructlon»—It would be necessary to
calculate distances, to take observa
tions on the exact nature of the newly
reconstructed Eossyth base near Edin
burgh oa the FMk of Forth besides
keeping in touch with things in Cro
marty.
I was to watch especially the new
•Rossyth base and to report progress
on armaments, new equipment, any
thing of use to the German admiralty.
?I was to keep tab on all the British
fleet maneuvers then in progress on
-the Scottish coast.
'i When I left Berlin I was thoroughly
Vt equipped to carry out instructions.
Every war vessel of the Britich navy,
every fortification, naval base and de
pot of supplies was coded In secret
•v service ciphers.
I arrived in Edinburgh and put
up at the old Bedford hotel on Prin
cess street quiet select Scottish hos
telry. I registered under my quasi
correct name of A. K. Graves, M. D.,
Revelations of the Kaiser's
Personal Spy
By Dr. Armgaard Karl
My Mission and Betrayal in
England.
November 18, 1911, I received the
usual summons to report at the Wil
helmBtrasse. Instead of being brought
before Count von Wedel, I wu taken
over to Koenlggratserstrasse 70, to
the German admiralty Intelligence de
partment. Here I met my old chief,
Captain Tappken, head of the naval
branch of the intelligence department.
The captain briefly informed me that
It had been deemed advisable to send
ue to England—unwelcome news,
this, as yon will see.
I was made to study the silhouette of
all the new and different types of
EngHsh warships—why, you will see.
Obviously this special training was
significant. Part of my mission to
England was to watch the prepara
tiont and maneuvers of British war
ships at the naval bases on the Scot
tish coast
A Strained Situation.
The situation between England and
Germany was ticklish. Politicians
had worked up a war scare to such a
pitch that the people of the two na-
dons were ready to rush into conflict.
Only a spark waB needed to fire the
situation. Hence my mission.
It was included in my instructions
to watch the movements of British
warships oil the Scottish coast and
"promptly cable the German, admiralty
intelligence department concerning
them.
Tare, Australia. My "stunt" was to
convey the Impression of being an
Australian physician taking additional
post-graduate courses at the famous
Scottish seat ef medical learning. Aft
er few days' residence at the Bed
ford, I installed myself in private
quarters at a Mrs. Macieod's, 23 Craig
lea drive, Edinburgh.
For the first fortnight I quietly
took my bearings, creating a sugges
tion that I was a aeml-invalld." Having
by this ttaie famffcarised myself with
Edinburgh and surroundings, I made
frequent trips to the Firth of Forth
upon which was located the Rossyth
base. Now, across the Firth there is
a long bridge. It Is between the
Rossyth base and the North sea. War
strips coins to art from the naval sta
tien pass under it
GradnaBy I worked myself Into, the
confidence of one of the bridge keep
«rs. I shall not give the man's name,
'/idr to do sb wouMlnjure him, and
quite unwittingly he gsve me facili
ties tor studying the naval base and
me with scraps of informa
tion that 1 wanted to know
The schooling I had received In the
». silhouettes presently came in handy.
om night my friend, the bridge tend
«r, learned (tat the fleet wss getting
up steam. Accordingly, I stood on
-(-the bridge that night and waited. At
Ave o'clock In the morning a gray,
rainy, foggy ssorning, through which
the ships moved almost ghost-like, I
made out 1C war vessels. From their
.. silhouettes, I knew them to be dread
naughts, cruisers, and torpedo boat
Destroyers. At once I filed a cable
hy way of Brussels, informing the (n
V^teUlgence department of the German
inavy that an English fleet 16 strong
had put to sea. Subsequently, I
learned that la describing the 16 ships
1 had made only one mistake.
A a 1 a
Ir "snWous of being followed. Ar»
ji,
Graves
WLo, fbr« Number of Years Prior to His Arrest and
Betrayal in England in 1912, was Emperor
William's Most Trusted Personal Spy.
(Copfddu. 10(4. hv Mm Whsslar Syadiesla, laej
riving home one night I noticed
my dress suit was arranged In a dif
ferent way to what I had left it I
called my landlady and casually In
quired if my tailor had been there.
She said, "No, Doctor."
"Well," I replied, "what reason have
you then to rearrange my clothes?"
Her face reddened and she seemed
flustered.
"I wasn't in your room," she 'fal
tered. "I remember now. I believe the
tailor was here. One of the servants
let him in."
I made It my business to go around
to my tailor's within an hour's time
and he contradicted her story. He bad
not been at the house.
I recognized it as an occasion where
I had to make a right royal bluff. I
went at once to police headquarters in
Edinburgh. I asked for Chief Con
stable Ross, and sent in my card bear
ing Dr. A. K. Graves, "uro, S. Austra
lia. Presently I was- shown into the
chiefs room and was received by a
typical Scottish gentleman. I opened
fire in this way:
"Have you any reason to believe
that I am a German spy?"
I saw that it had knocked him off
his pins.
"Why, no," he said, startled. "I
don't know anything at all about it"
"It's not by your orders, then, that
I am followed?"
"Certainly not," be replied.
He bowed me out. Of course. 1
knew I still would be shadowed, which
I did not mind in the least
A Wrongly Addressed tetter.
About a week after my experience
with Constable Ross, I received infor
mation that William Beardmore & Co.,
of Glasgow, were constructing some
new 14-inch guns for the British gov
ernment That meant a change of
base.
I at once made it my business to go
to Glasgow and get particulars. I in
stalled myself in the Central station
hotel, and In a few weeks gained all
the information I wanted. While in
Glasgow I~ received letters addressed
to me as James Stafford. I received
two such letters, and upon calling at
the General Post Office for a third, I
was informed that there was a letter
for A. Stafford.
"Oh, yes,.that is my letter," I said.
$he clerit demuh*ed~and replied:
"You asked for James Stafford. Un
der those circumstances I cannot hand
you this letter. It Is against the postal
law."
Not being in a position to raise a
question, I let It go at that, never for
a moment thinking that my employers
would be so culpably careless as to
put any incriminating evidence In the
mail. Events proved that that is just
what they did. Moreover, I later came
to know why that particular -letter
was addressed not to James but to
A!
Stafford. All my previous letters were
addressed to me as Dr.
A.
K. Graves
and were enclosed In the business en
velope of a well-known chemical firm
of Snow Hill, London, E. C.—which
paper had been fabricated for the pur
pose. Of course, the letters were sent
from the continent to London and
there reposted.
When I left Edinburgh -to find out
about the 14-inch guns, I gave our
people in London instructions to use
plain envelopes and to address them
to James Stafford, G. P. O., Glasgow.
The first two letters were addressed
correctly and plain envelopes were
used. The third was not only mis
addressed, but was enclosed in one of
the Chemical company's envelopes—
this, as I later learned, for a reasoa
No one having called for It the let
ter was returned to the chemical com
pany. At their office it was opened
and found to contain a typewritten
letter In German language and five
ten-pound notes on the Bank of Eng
land. The contents of the letter was
such as to lead the firm to call in the
police.
"There's a Gentleman Down 8talrs to
8ee You."
On the evening of April 14, I had
just put on my evening clothes sad
gone to the upstairs writing-room.'
was awaiting a party of gentlemen
who were coming to dlnewith me In
the hotel. There came a "buttons"
who announced:
"There's a gentleman downstairs to
se you. Doctor."
A premonition stole over me. I
knew that my guests would not have
sent for me to come down hut would
have been announced. I realised that
if I was going to he caught then was
no'avoiding It Secret-service mikes'«
man a fatalist
I had hardly reached the last step of
the grand stairway when tour big
plain-clothes men pounced upon me.
More tor the fun of It than anything
else, 1 guess, I got on my horse aad
demanded to know what was the mat
ter.
"You'll soon know." Inspector French
declared.
The 8earch—and Prison.
He then ordered his men to search
me and seemed amased when they
couldn't find any six shooters, daggers
or bombs. 1 was taken back to my
V"
I room and there he began going through
my effects and| bundling them up.
city prison, and was taken the next
day before a magistrate and formally
committed to a sheriff's court On
July 12 my case came up before the
sheriff's court Waiving preliminary
examination, I was committed for trial
to the Ktotaburgh high eourt It Is
significant that the extreme length
of a committal without trial under
British law Is 105 calendar days, which
106 days up to the last minute I cer
tainly waited. They were trying to
find out my antecedents, but they did
not succeed.
A letter from the Lord Provost In
formed me that all material for my
defense should be In his hands a day
before the trial. I had no defense. I
neither denied nor admitted anything.
I replied to his i^minhip that as I was
unaware of any offense there was no
need of any defease. My attitude was
a profound puzzle—which was as I
wanted.
Scotland's "Moft Sensational Court
Procedure.?/.
If yen care to look- over, the back
files of the English and Scottish news
papers «f the time, you will read that
my: triad was "the moBt sensational
$ourt procedure ever held in a Scottish
court of. justice."
Now 1 shall reveal every circum
stance of it. For the first tftne I shall
explain how, why and by whom I was
secretly released. Until I revealed my
self in the United States, even the
German foreign office thought me in
jail.
Agaipst me the crown had sum
moned 45 witnesses. They included
admirals, colonels, captains, military
and naval experts, post office officials
I cannot recall aH. The press from all
parts of Europe—for all Europe was
vitally concerned in this trial—was
represented.
Presiding was the Lord Justice of
Scotland, himself no mean expert in
military matters. The Solicitor Gen
eral of Scotland, A. M. Anderson, who
prosecuted for the crown,' was sup
ported by G. 'Morton, Advocate Depu
ty. The government had indeed an
imposing array of bewigged,/* black
gowned, legal notables marshaled
against me.
A Word to an Admiral.
On the first day I waived examina
tion on all witnesses except the naval
and military experts. I directed my
fire -against Rear Admiral T. B. Strat
um-Adair,- who superintended Jhe' ord
nance factories of the Beardmore Gun
works in Glasgow.
The admiral was called it) on. testi
mony concerning the new 14-inch gun.
The point' they were'trying-to estab
lish was that it was -impossible for
a man to Have my knowfedge of these
guns unless he had Obtained' it first
hand from the 'works In Glasgow. Of
course, that brought the testimony
into technicalities. I managed to in
volve the admiral in a heated altei
tion on the trajectoty and' $enetri^
"power at the so-much disputed 14-inch
gun..,.
I maintained that my knowledge of
guns was such that I did not need to
spy .St Beardmore to obtain the Hiinga
I "knew.
The secopd day of the trlaTbrought
the Chetaical company letter into the
testimony—the letter that had been
refused me and had in turn gone back
to!th£ Qkemical company. Very grave
ly Sir A. M. Anderson, Crown Prosecu
tor, read the contents of this letter
aloud. As I recall tip exact wording
it was':.
**We arepteased.to learn your suc
cessful .'negotiations' of the business at
hand Be pleased to send us an early
sample. As regards the other matter
in hand I do not know how useful it
will be to us. In any case my firm is
not willing to pay you more than 100
In this case."
It was unsigned.
What the tetter Really Meant
While reading, the prosecutor held
the five ten-pound notes In his hand.
Upon finishing he began a vigorous in
dictment which in substance he de
claimed in this way:
"On the teoe of It the letter does
not seem suspicious. But If you gen
tlemen will recall the times of Prince
Charles' insurrections, periods when
ever Intrigues were going on, you will
remember that in communications of
this sort a government was always re
ferred to a*a 'firm.' If this was an
honest-business letter why was it en
closed in the envelope stationery of a
company that knew nothing about it?
Why was tills letter unsigned? Why
was cash Inclosed with It? What was
his firm willing to pay 100 pounds for?
Gentlemen, the reasons for all those
things are obvious."
Bat die letter puszled not only the
oomt, the Jury, the newspapers, but
all England. For the first time I
tfow e*tIato it:
It was from the German govern
ment By the "business at hand"
they meant a new explosive and slow
burning powder that was to be used
la the new type of 144nch turret p1""
being made in Glasgow. Some of that
explosive was In my possession. The
fact that It was not discovered in my
effects, nor was anything else incrim
inating found on me. Is because the
secret agent who knows his business
leases nothing about but he "plants"
things, that Is to say, leaves them in
a safe deposit vault with the key in
the hands of a person with power of
attorney.
By the "sample" In the letter wss
meaata sample of the explosive. The
"other business at hand" spoken of
was of tremendous importance, more
vital to the safeguards of Britain than
the other points mentioned in the let
ter.
There were sub-agents working at
Cromarty. I did not know who they
t"
-"-a.
V*°J.* V",
were ey simply made their reports
to me, signing their German secret
I spent the night In the Glasgow^ service number. I took ud their Mint*
71*
B«^ln
Well, the "other business
in hand was to put certain British
army officers under a monthly retain
ing fee of £100 for which in the event
to® was to commit an act of
unspeakable treason and treachery on
a certain harbor defense.
Caught!
I had judged my jurymen right for
they were very little Impressed by this
letter. It was all too vague and even
the fluent language of a Crown Prose
cutor does not impress a hard-headed
Scotchman. I was feeling In high
spirits indeed, when I saw one of the
attendants approach Sir A.
M.
Ander
son and deliver a document that had
been handed Into court. I at once recog
nized it and my heart dropped into my
shoes. The Solicitor General read the
document and smiled. I knew they
had me.
In addressing the court the Solicitor
General producedUwo pieces of thin
paper—the same that had been brought
in on the previous afternoon.
"I have got to show the court"
he said impressively, "the most dead
ly code ever prepared against the safe
guards of Great Britain."
And it certainly was. It contained
the name of every vessel In,the British
navy, every naval base, fortification
apd strategic point, in Great Britain.
There were over ten thousand names
and opposite each was written a num
ber. For example, the dreadnaught
Queen Mary was number 813.
Using a magnifying glass I had writ
ten in tiny characters my code. There
were so many names it was impossible
to memorize them all. Two opposite
sheets of the little memorandum book
were used, then the edges of the pages
Were pasted together. Whenever I
learned the British warships were go
ing to put to sea, I slipped .the book
in my pocket, went to a position of
vantage where I could make out the
silhouettes of the warships, classified
them in my mind, and then writing
out a cable put down the code num
bers, say in this way:
214, 69, 700,. 910, 21—(Necessary
words were filled In by the A. B. C.
code.)
This message was sent by way of
Brussels or Paris to the Intelligence
department of the German Admiralty
in Berlin and told them what warships
were putting to sea or arriving at
Rossyth.
The.Puzzle of.the 8entence.
The accidental finding of the code
of course settled all further argument.
I ealled no witness for the defense ex
cept two or three personal acquaint
ances, to each of whom I put this queS'
tlon:
"What is your knowledge of my
attitude as regards England?"
They all.declared.'that even if I was
a spy in .the pay of any foreign gov
ernment,.! certainly had never shown
any personal feeling or animosity
AU of which I figured might aid the
cadse of clemency. The. jury was not
out more than half an hour. I was
found guilty of endangering the safe
guards of t|te British empire and un
der the new law that had been aimed
agilnst German spies I was liable to
seven years' penal servitude. Even
then my spirits were not down. ?, had
what Americans call "a hunch.".
Just before his Lordship, the Chief
Justice, summed up, an aristoeratic,
gray-clad Englishman, who never had
been in the court room before, ap
peared and was courteously, almost
impressively, conducted to the bench.
I noticed that the Chief Justice bowed
to him with unction and they had
about two minutes' whicpered conver
sation. His Lordship was nodding
repeatedly. Tlils worried me. felt
I was going to get it good.
But in substance, his Lordship's
v.efdlct was:
"Taking all the circumstances into
eonslderation, the court pronounces a
sentence of 1JB months' Imprisonment"
I smiled and said:
"Exit Armgaard Kari Graves.^
A Caller.
I was taken first to Carlton Hill jail.
Edinburgh, aaijft transferred after two
weeks to Barjinney prison near Glas
gow. Consuming tile etrnunstanese, I
was treated with suijplsliis consider
ation. The conditions that had char
acterized my trial prevailed la the
prison. I soon perceived that the Bar
linney prison Ja^tys jirere t^tng to
sound in ajHuuiy Scotch way—with1
no result
"You're foolish to stay la here—
You must have something worth
while-rWby don't you get ostf
That was ihe gist of their, tgjjks with
me from the warder*, up. ltept ny
mouth shut. Vi*
Now I shall present lnfqnsation that
was denied the house eommonh
upon the. oopsslon of\fM( :w
my case.
Into
On the fifth week.,of my
ment I was taken to the office
governor of the prison. As I
I saw a slU$t, soldierly
llsh gentienwa of the csiuhry type—
(a avilry offlcor hfti. cortui man|ir
isms that invariably give hlm jngji?
to one who knowrt* »The comamf
spoke first
"Graves, here is a gentleman who
wishes to see you."
The stranger nodded to the gov
ernor and said:
"I may be quite a white. You have
your instructions."
•That's all right, sir," replied the
governor.
The governor left and we were
alone. The stranger rose.
Of course, being a prisoner, I had
remained standing.
Robinson began some casual conver
sation.
"How
are
they
treating
you?"
vj
If'"
/,
-4
rf'lMl.lk
"I have no complaints to make."
"Is the confinement Irksome to -Uin
you?"
"Naturally."
Then suddenly he changed front.
Point blank he asked me:
"Why Not Work for UsT"
"Now, old chap, we know that yqu
worked for Germany against us. We
also know that you are not a German.
Is there any reason why you should
not work for ub? Any private rea
son?"
"Captain," I said, "you of all men
ought to know that the betrayal of
your employers for a monetary or a
liberty reason alone Is never enter
tained by a man who has been In my
work. We go into it with our eyes
open, well knowing the consequences
it we are caught. We do not squeal if
we are hurt"
For a time he looked at me very
earnestly.
"H-m," he said. "That Juat bears
out what we have been able to ascer
tain about you. It puzzled us how a
man of your ability acted the way you
did. From the moment you landed In
England, all the time you were doing
your work, even after your arrest, in
prison and in court you showed a
Bort of lIstleBB, almost an indifferent
attitude. If 1 may put it this way,
you seemed In no wayB keen to go to
extremes in any possible missions you
might have had." He paused. "We
think you could have done more than
you did The mildness of your
sentence, has it surprised you?"
I grinned.
"Nothing surprises me. Captain."
His manner became very earnest.
"Supposing," he said, "we show you
that it was a quasi-deliberate Inten
tion on the part of your employers
to have you caught—what then?"
This did not startle me either. I
had had an idea of that all along.
"Under these circumstances," I said^
"I am open to negotiations. But I am
rather deaf and my vision 1b very
much obscured as long as I see bars
.In front of my window."
The captain smiled.
"Well, Doctor, I may see you again
soon."
The Proof I Asked for.
I was taken back to my cell. I am
frank to admit that I didn't sleep much
for the next two or three nights.
But as I expected, another week
brought Captain Robinson again. This
time it was late in the evening after
all the prisoners were shut up tight.
The lieutenant-governor himself took
me into the governor's office. No
other warder or prison official ob
served us.
"Well, Doctor," was the way Rob
inson greeted me, "I have something
-definite to propose to you. You can
be of use to us. You have still sixteen
months of your sentence to serve.
Are you willing to give these sixteen
months of your time to ub—terms to
be agreed upon later? I am prepared
to supply you with proofs that you
were deliberately put away, betrayed
-by your employers, the German gov
ernment.'
He did so to my complete BatlB
faction. A» I guessed, I had come to
learn so much- of Germany's affairs
that I was dangerous. To betray me
in su4h a way that I would not suspect
and squeal was a clever way to close
my mouth for seven years in jail or
until vital plans had matured.
"How would you suggest that we
go about it?" he asked.
"To be of the slightest degree of use
to you, nobody must know of my re
lease/' I added. "Here is my sugges
tion. I must leave the execution of it
to you. The impression I conveyed
around Edinburgh was that my health
is rather indifferent So tt is also be
lieved here in prison. On these grounds
it should he an easy matter for you to
have me ostensibly transferred to an
other prison Instead of which, have
me taken wherever you wish to. I see
no necessity that, outside the lieuten
ant-governor, the governor and your
self, any one need know of it"
"Yes, yes," said Robinson. "That co
incides with my own ideas and plans."
Presently he departed and I went back
agate co my cell.
Alone and Free.
At half-past five the neipt morning, 1
'waS.fWUBed by the lleutenant-gor
erauw Ha waa alone. There were no
•warder* in sight. In the governor's
office I found all. my clothes, and effects
ready and MflLput for me. These
addressed speft with the lieutenant
governor. flR took a taxlcab for the
Caledonian station In Glasgow.
9be trip tapondon was uneventful.
A{
l!uston
station we were met by
Captain Robinson. We went into a
prime waiting-room where Captain
Robinsdn slgnetffa paper .or the lieu
tenantrgovernor. lt was what amounted
to reoelpt tor the prison's delivery
of -me "into Us hapds. Then the-lleu^
tenant-governor l|ft us then Robin
son left after^nipding over an en
velope containimLjpuh and instruc
tions.
My first to register at
the Russel flfHte hotel. Opening
the envelope Jjfclny rooms, I found it
contained tep.
{pounds and the follow
lug inBtruetMis:
"Telephonist.10:30 tomorrow morn
ing, this nuifker Mayfalr—"
I telephonil the Mcyfalr number
aad was told to hold the wire. Then
Captain Robinson got on the 'phone
and told me to meet him at luncheon
at one o'clock at the Imperial hotel
on Trafalgar Square. There another
gentleman joined us—a Mr. Morgan,
whom 1 easily judged and afterwards
knew to be of the English secret serv
ice. Presently Morgan told me that I
was to drive with Captair Robinson to
Downing street that afternoon.
"One of our ministers wishes to
sseyos,'
We drove to Downing street, Cas
Rohinann\aad. !«cand stopped he
fore the historic governmental build
ing. After we had signed the book
that all visitors to "Downing street''
must sign, I was shown Info an'ant e
room and Robinson took his leave..JUy
name appears on this book as Trenton
Sneil, and If the English government
challenges a statement that I Bball.Bub*
sequently make, let them produce .the
'Downing street" book for the date
I shall mention, let them hnve'a hand
writing expert compare the name
Trenton Snell" with my handwriting.
I make this statement, for what fol
lowed is of tremendous importance.
8lr Edward Grey.
After a twenty-minute wait which
impressed me as being different from
the slam-Ui-and-slam-out mqthods of
tho WilhelmBtraBse, I was ihown up
a flight of stairs. The attendant
knocked on the doar, opened It and
announced, "the gentleman."
I was facing Sir Edward Grey.
"I presume you are familiar with
Germany's naval activity."
''Up (o a certain point, sir."
"What point?" he asked quickly.
"1 am familiar only with tfci Intel
ligence department of the admiralty."
I replied.
Their system?" he asked. "Is tt so
extensive and efficient 'as we havo
been led to believed'
"That canont be exaggerated."
A 8tartled Foreign Minister.
At this Sir Edward began. to
throw out Innuendoes .to which I're*
piled in like vein. The interview was
not progressing. Finally ho.came out
with what was In his m'nd.
Do you know if any officials or ji»
val officers are selling or negotiating
to Sell information to foreign intelli
gence departments?"
Although he had not said English
officers or officials, 1 knejp. .what be
meant, but I made up my mltMt'not to
tell everything I knew.
"There are such," 1 replied.
It bad the effect of making htm
look at me In a most startled man
ner.
"How do you know that? On what
grounds do you make that as
sertion His agitation was iltaon*
cealed.
"1 have no specific proof," 1 replied
—(which I had)—"but from fnforma
tion that has been gained from plane
that have been secured—plans like
those of your dreadnaughts Queen
Mary-and Ajax—it-is obvious that
these things have been done with ihe
co-operation of high officials of_.your
country."
He pressed me for further details,
but I withheld them.
"Were you ever present at confer
ences attended by high offlcialsT
Were you, for instance, at the Schlan
genbad meeting? Have you any data?
Any documentary evidence of having
been there?"
I was not a bit startled. I had
guessed it would be that. His **nr
question! sjioyed ttytt it was useless
for me to'deny that I bad been at the
Black Forest conference where Ger
many bad tried her hOBt to isolate
France by winning over England. Pos-.
sibly Churchill, recalling my meeting
him during the Boer war, had dropped
a word about this coincidence .to his
Lordship.
Naturally I told him I poBsesrfed no
such data. Still, I did not like the
trend of his talk. I began to suspect
that this British minister was doing
one of two things. Either he did not
know everything about the Black For*
est meeting—(not at all improbable
with the conditions existing in Eng
land's cabinet at that time)—or else
he wanted to learn if I knew the tenor
of that conference.. .In either case, it
was one of those occasions where 1
deemed it wise to keep my own coun
sel.
After many searching questions
upon the French system and her army
and navy, he began to try to lead me
to make comparisons between their
strength and England's, these being
based upon my personal observations.
This, and the whole trend of Ms
thought led me to suspect .that 8ir
Edward Grey was In noways sure he
bis own mind of, or favorable to, the
proposed Odrman-Bngllsh alUaone.
With men like-hie. lordship, personal
antipathy plays a powerful part la
such, matters.
Unsatisfactory Fishing*
He then began to try to make ma
divulge the contents of any personal
dispatches 1 had carried for the Oe
man emperor.
"Do you know," he asked abruptly.
"If the German emperor ever commu
nicated with Viscount Haldasef
"Yes, sir."
He leaned forward eag^ty.
"How, and under what circum
stances?"
"Why, 1 thought it. common knowl
edge that they often corresponded
They are good friends."
"Not that 1 mean direct secret
communications between them, ooa
ceraing affairs of the state
1 denied any knowledge of Ihl^'al*
ttfough l.knew it to be SD.
He began fishing around sgaln,
aad his hints found me very stopM.
My unsatisfactory answers seemed
to displease Sir Edward Grey, for
with true British discourtesy he ab
ruptly began working at something
on his desk and without even saying
good day, let a commlssaire bow me
out
A few days later !, received definite
instructions from Captain Robinson.
1 was to go on my first mission ia
the interests of the British, secret
service and subsequently another mis
sion brought me to New York, where
1 resigned from servlc^