During 1911 my diplomatic missions piled one upon the other. Of
recent years it was the most tempestuous in European cabinets. The
drama that began with my mission to Monte Carlo and developed through
the swift climaxes of the Moroccan affair, the secret conference
between Germany, Austria and England in the Taunus, that rushed on
through the intrigues that preceded the Balkan War, had now lulled,
gathering its forces perhaps for the final catastrophe, the general
war of all the Powers, which may come this year--or next. To be sure
the terms that the English, German and Austrian ministers had agreed
upon in the Black Forest were now awaiting ratification by their
respective governments. Bear this in mind--"were waiting
ratification"--for it explains the mission that I was called upon to
undertake on November 18, 1911.
I received the usual summons to report at the Wilhelmstrasse. Instead
of being brought before Count von Wedel, I was taken over to
Koenigergratzerstrasse 70, to the German Admiralty Intelligence
Department. 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 me to
England--unwelcome news, this, as you will see. In the usual curt yet
polite manner of German officers, the Captain introduced 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, grooming me in the intricacies of
their respective fields. It was like a rehearsal in the grooming I
had received years ago when taken into the Service and trained for
months. I sat for hours over diagrams with a naval officer on each
side. They brought me before charts that were as big as the wall of
the room. These charts gave the exact dimensions and type of every
vessel in the British navy. Not only that, I was made to study the
silhouettes of all the new and different types of English
warships--why you will see.
Obviously this special training was significant. Part of my mission
to England was to watch the preparations and maneuvers of British
warships at the naval bases on the Scottish coast.
As you may surmise, the situation between England and Germany was
peculiar. The secret treaty of the Black Forest was awaiting
ratification by the heads of the two governments. Of course the mass
of subjects--indeed not ten men in each country--knew aught of what
had transpired near Schlangenbad. Politicians had worked up a war
scare to such pitch that the people of the two nations were ready to
rush into conflict. Only a spark was needed to fire the situation.
Realizing that under the menace of existing conditions, the unforeseen
might happen, the Kaiser was not lessening his secret diplomatic
intrigues; rather he was increasing them. It is a fact that even
though two nations have a secret treaty, they each remain suspicious
of the other. After all, secret treaties have been ruthlessly torn
up. The vigilance of European cabinets must be eternal.
Hence my mission. It was included in my instructions to watch the
movements of British warships off the Scottish coast and promptly
cable the German Admiralty Intelligence Department concerning them.
This is where a study of the silhouette charts would be invaluable.
At night or in a fog or early in the morning I would not be able to
distinguish the British ships by name. But knowing the silhouettes of
all the naval types--for example, certain kinds of dreadnaughts,
powerful cruisers, torpedo boat destroyers--I would be able to tell
what ships were putting to sea. When I had memorized all the charts,
they covered the names of the battle ships thereon and made me repeat
the types. For instance, I would say, "That is a _Queen Mary_ type of
battle cruiser. The other is of the _Ajax_ type. That destroyer is
of the _Viper_ type." And so on. There are well-defined
architectural lines to every group of ships in the British navy and
these silhouettes I learned to know by heart before I was permitted to
leave Berlin.
Moreover, I had to brush myself up in topography and trigonometry. In
England--so I learned from my instructions--it would be necessary to
calculate distances, to take observations on the exact nature of the
newly reconstructed Rossyth base near Edinburgh on the Firth of Forth;
besides keeping in touch with things in Cromarty.
I was to watch especially the new Rossyth base and to report progress
on armaments, new equipment, anything of use to the German Admiralty.
I was to keep tab on all the British Beet maneuvers then in progress
on the Scottish coast. It must be understood that the bases at
Rossyth and Cromarty were Great Britain's answer to Germany's powerful
naval base at Helgoland. So far as Germany's northern coasts are
concerned, the Scottish coast is the most convenient point of attack
for Great Britain. Fearing the unforeseen spark firing the hostile
minds of the people of the two nations, Germany was thus preparing to
be instantly informed of any sudden demonstration by the English
fleets off Scotland. Not a ship could leave either Rossyth or
Cromarty without an immediate cable being sent by me to Berlin,
reporting how many war vessels and of what type had put to sea, also
if possible the reason for the movement.
At the Intelligence Department, I was given carte blanche as to how to
go about my mission. I am frank to say I did not care at all for it.
I had good reason to be wary. The suspicious state of England at the
time, and a stringent law just passed, made this mission very
dangerous as far as your liberty was concerned. There was no danger
of a knife thrust as in the Balkans, but there was of jail. Contrary
to all precepts of British law, there had been rushed through the
House of Commons, the Official Secrets Act, a clause so elastic and
convenient for convictions that a judge could charge a jury to find a
man guilty on suspicion only. As I recall it the gist of it was:
"Any person or persons making or obtaining any document whatsoever,
endangering or likely to endanger the safeguards of Great Britain can
be found guilty notwithstanding there being no consequent proof of any
actual offense. A sentence of seven years penal servitude will be
given the offender."
It does not need a lawyer to point out the tremendous power of
prosecution that this added clause to the statutes put in the hands of
the English government. As I stated, it was rushed through the House
of Commons, but it was necessary. One has to admit that to be fair.
Within six months three German spies had been arrested in England.
There was a plague of them. Knowing this and also knowing the general
efficiency of England's public servants and system, I was rather loath
to stick my head into it. That penalty for being caught--seven years'
penal servitude--loomed ominously, for penal servitude in England is
plain hell. Also, I knew that although no passports are required in
England, they still know pretty well what is going on, especially in
regard to foreigners. It is easy to get into England, but deuced hard
to get out. Also, knowing the secret understanding between the two
governments, I had an uneasy premonition that everything was not quite
right in the state of Denmark. Subsequent events proved to me that
this feeling of mine, very seldom at fault, was correct.
However, strong pressure and great inducements were brought to bear on
me and I undertook the mission, against my better judgment. When I
left Berlin I was thoroughly equipped to carry out instructions.
Every war vessel of the British navy, every fortification, naval base
and depot of supplies was coded in Secret Service ciphers.
Arrangements had been made with the Intelligence Department to
transmit telegrams to addresses in Brussels, Copenhagen and Paris. In
the event of the Brussels channel of communication being closed, I
could resort to either of the others. The Brussels address was
C. V. Noens, Rue de Venise, 34. Noens had instructions to forward any
communications from me to the proper authorities in Berlin, and all
letters from Berlin went from him to a little tobacconist's shop in
London and were there remailed to me in Scotland. Six hours after my
subsequent arrest in Glasgow, Scotland Yard detectives sought the
tobacconist but found him not; nor did they find Noens.
As for the Copenhagen address, that was the proprietor of the Hotel
Stadtkiel. Having had him at my beck and call during a mission to
Copenhagen, I knew him to be in German pay. Marie Blanche, who
conducted a modiste and lingerié shop on the Rue de Rivolie, handled
all my communications to Paris.
I went to Edinburgh by way of Hook of Holland and Folkstone. I went
by way of March, not going through London for a reason. The reason is
that at all times and more especially with the air surcharged with war
scares, all continental steamers and expresses entering London are
closely watched. The general traveler does not know that every Dover,
Calais and Flushing Express is met and watched not only by Scotland
Yard detectives but by special government officers. As a rule, very
little escapes them. Anyone not an Englishman is upon landing likely
to notice an elderly, gray-haired, high-hatted English gentleman who
looks like a retired army officer or cleric and who generally carries
an umbrella. If this clerical looking gentleman decides a foreigner
is suspicious, he is closely shadowed from the moment he enters
London.
Circumventing this by going via March, I arrived in Edinburgh and put
up at the old Bedford Hotel on Prince's Street, a quiet select
Scottish hostelry. I registered under my _quasi_-correct name of
A. K. Graves, H. D., Turo, Australia. My "stunt" was to convey the
impression of being an Australian physician taking additional
post-graduate courses at the famous Scottish seat of medical learning.
After a few days' residence at the Bedford, I installed myself in
private quarters at a Mrs. Macleod's, 23 Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh.
The ordinary expense provided for my residential quarters was $75 a
week. This of course did not include "extras," such as entertaining,
motors, etc.
For the first fortnight I quietly took my bearings, creating a
suggestion that I was a semi-invalid. Having by this time
familiarized 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. Warships going to and from the naval
station pass under it. But more about this bridge later--something
for the benefit of the English Admiralty.
Gradually I worked myself into the confidence of one of the bridge
keepers. I shall not give the man's name for to do so would injure
him and quite unwillingly he gave me facilities for studying the naval
base and furnished me with scraps of information that I wanted to
know. For this he received no money and he was not a traitor to his
country. Through the little acquaintance I struck up with him, I was
able to make a thorough study of the bridge and its structure--a
strategic point, the bridge. Also, through the offices of my good
friend the keeper, I was introduced to some of his "pals" in the
waterguard. Because of my intimate knowledge of Robbie Burns, Walter
Scott, "inside" history of Prince Charlie, and--ahem!--Scottish
proclivity for a drop o' whisky, they accepted me as a half Scotchman.
From the waterguard I obtained more definite information regarding the
Rossyth base. So much for the topographical knowledge which could
only be obtained through personal contact with men who actually knew
every inch of the ground. The charts back in Berlin could not give me
that exact information. The higher scientific data of the
fortifications and the base, I obtained by social intercourse with
high placed officials--officers and engineers at Rossyth--whom I
entertained at various times.
The schooling I had received in the silhouettes presently came in
handy. One night my friend, the bridge tender, learned that the fleet
was getting up steam. Accordingly, I stood on the bridge that night
and waited. At five o'clock in the morning a gray, rainy, foggy
morning, through which the ships moved almost ghost-like, I made out
sixteen war vessels. From their silhouettes, I knew them to be
dreadnaughts, cruisers, and torpedo boat destroyers. At once I filed
a cable by way of Brussels, informing the Intelligence Department of
the German Navy that an English fleet sixteen strong had put to sea.
Subsequently I learned that in describing the sixteen ships I had made
only one mistake.
I may here draw attention and in return for England's fair treatment
of me during my trial, give them gratis, this information. _The Firth
of Forth Bridge constitutes a grave danger to the Rossyth Royal naval
base._
For this reason: Its location between Rossyth and the sea is a decided
menace. In the event of hostilities, in fact before the outbreak of
war, it is no ways impossible to blow up the Firth of Forth Bridge and
bottle all war vessels concentrated at the Rossyth base. They could
thus be bottled up for several days powerless, while a foreign fleet
swept at the Scottish coasts. The British foreign office will
understand what I mean by this: _Look to the middle island._
I found it to be partly intervened with soft, soapy neiss, making
natural ruts and cavities that were ideal for the placing of
explosives. I learned also that along the Edinburgh approach to the
Firth of Forth Bridge were two pieces of ground and houses in reality
owned by Germans although the deeds stood in Scottish names.
Moreover, little fishing hamlets on either side of the bridge harbored
more than one supposed Swedish fisherman but who in reality had his
name still on the German Naval register. In the event of trouble
these men, using explosives stored in the two houses in question,
could have blown the Middle Island to atoms.
After about three weeks I began to be suspicious of being followed.
Arriving home one night I noticed that my dress suit was arranged in a
different way to what I had left it. I called my landlady and
casually inquired 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 faltered. "I remember now. I believe
the tailor was here. One of the servants let him in."
I have no reason to shield Mrs. Macleod, for with true Scottish
thrift she got as much out of me as she could and then afterwards
declared in court that she thought I was a German spy a fortnight
after I had been in her house.
I made it my business to go around to my tailor's within an hour's
time and he contradicted her story. He had not been at the house. To
completely verify my suspicions that I was being shadowed, I went the
next day into the "F and F," a well-known caterer on Prince's Street.
In the writing-room I wrote some letters, one of which I purposely
dropped on the floor. I withdrew to the washroom and returning in
about fifteen minutes noticed that the letter had disappeared. Making
inquiries of "buttons" and of the "desk girl" I learned that a
gentleman had quietly picked up the letter and without reading it had
put it in his pocket and walked away. That settled it. They were
after me.
I hope this particular detective or his superior could read Greek.
For they, or whoever spent their time translating my letter, read an
ancient Greek version of "Mary had a Little Lamb."
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 Constable Ross, and sent in my card bearing
Dr. A. K. Graves, Turo, S. Australia. Presently I was shown into the
chief's 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 Germa spy?"
I saw that it had knocked him off his pine.
"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," he replied.
"Well, Chief, it's hardly likely that anything of such importance
would transpire without your notice."
"What reason have you to believe that you were followed?" he asked.
"Reason in plenty," I replied. "Some agent had even the audacity to
enter my apartments and search my effects. This, as you know, is
absolutely against English law, a warrant being necessary for such
procedure. If you have any reason to take me to be a German spy, go
right ahead now, or let these rather nonsensical persecutions cease.
I have taken this up to now to be rather a good joke, but my sense of
humor has its limit."
Chief Constable Ross became serious, and very bravely said:
"Well, Doctor, you know we've got to obey orders. I'm quite satisfied
though that there has been a mistake made and you shall no further be
annoyed."
He bowed me out. Of course I knew I still would be shadowed which I
did not mind in the least. I reasoned that my visit to the police
might make them slow down a bit. Right along I communicated by cables
and letter with Berlin and went the even tenor of my way. About a
week after my experience with Constable Ross, I received information
that William Beardmore & Co., of Glasgow, were constructing some new
fourteen-inch guns for the British government. That meant a change of
base.
I at once made it my business to go to Glasgow and get particulars. I
installed myself in the Central Station Hotel, and in a few weeks
gained all the information I wanted. It would take too long to detail
how this was done, but you have a very expressive American saying,
"money talks." I had the plans, firing systems, everything of
interest about the new fourteen-inch turret guns. While in Glasgow I
received letters addressed to me as James Stafford. I received two
such letters, and upon my calling at a 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.
The clerk demurred and replied:
"You asked for James Stafford. Under 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 envelope of the well-known chemical firm of
Burroughs & Wellcome, Snowhills, London, E. C.--which paper had been
fabricated for the purpose. Of course the letters were sent from the
Continent to London and there reposted. The stationery of this
chemical firm was fabricated so as to disarm any possible suspicion,
for European post-offices are taught to be suspicious. It would be
perfectly natural for me, a physician in Edinburgh, to receive a
letter from a very well-known chemical concern.
When I left Edinburgh to find out about the fourteen-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 misaddressed but was enclosed in one of the B. &
W. envelopes_--this as I later learned, for a reason.
No one having called for it, the letter was returned to the chemical
company. At their office it was opened and found to contain a
typewritten letter in the German language and five ten-pound notes on
the Bank of England. The contents of the letter, was such as to lead
the firm to call in the police.
On the evening of April 10, I had just put on my evening clothes and
gone to the upstairs writing-room. I was awaiting a party of
gentlemen who were coming to dine with me in the hotel. There came a
"buttons" who announced:
"There's a gentleman downstairs to see you, Doctor."
A premonition stole over me. I knew that my guests would not have
sent for me to come down but would have been announced. I realized
that if I was going to be caught there was no avoiding it. Secret
Service makes a man a fatalist. I took the precaution, however, to
slip inside my dinner coat just under the arm, my little bag of
chemicals, so often handy in an emergency. Then I went downstairs,
one hand was thrust in my pocket, the other folded across my breast so
that I could snatch the little bag of chemicals in an emergency.
I had hardly reached the last step of the grand stairway when four big
plain-clothes men, pounced upon me. I had to do some swift thinking.
I could have flung the chemicals in their faces and escaped, but I
knew I could never get outside of the British Isles without being
caught--outside of Glasgow for that matter. Such resistance would
only incriminate matters still more, so I let my hand fall down to my
side. More for the fun of it than anything else, I guess, I got on my
horse and demanded to know what was the matter.
"You'll soon know," Inspector French declared.
It seems that a woman had just called me on the telephone and the
Inspector, hurrying to the wire, pretended that he was I and tried to
learn something.
He then ordered his men to search me and seemed amazed when they
couldn't find any six shooters, daggers or bombs. I was taken back to
my room and there he began going through my effects, and bundling them
up. I knew I was up against it; but I wasn't going to make it any
easier for them. I requested Mr. Morris, then manager of the hotel,
and another witness to be called into my room. These gentlemen were
kind enough to put down on paper a description of all my effects that
were being taken away by the police. I was extremely careful to see
that they noted and described all papers and written matters of any
kind. There are often produced in court documents that are not found
on a Secret Service agent at the time of his arrest. Inspector
French--I recall him as an uncouth, illiterate bungler who
subsequently tried to get a lot of publicity out of my arrest as if he
himself had detected the whole concern, instead of having it thrust
under his nose by the London chemical company--was preparing to ride
over me roughshod. I insisted that he read the warrant for my arrest
and with much grumbling he finally did so. It had been issued under
the Official Secret Act that had been rushed through the House of
Commons. I was charged with endangering the safeguards of the British
Empire.
I spent the night in the Glasgow 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 Edinburgh
High Court. It is significant that the extreme length of a committal
without trial under British law is one hundred and five calendar days,
which hundred and five days up to the last minute I certainly waited.
They were trying to find out my antecedents but they did not succeed.
A letter from the Lord Provost informed 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
Lordship that as I was unaware of any offense there was no need of any
defense. My attitude was a profound puzzle--which was as I wanted.
If you care to look over the back files of the English and Scottish
newspapers of the time you will read that my trial was "the most
sensational court procedure ever held in a Scottish court of justice."
Now I shall reveal every circumstance of it. For the first time I
shall explain how, why and by whom I was secretly released. Until I
revealed myself in the United States, even the German Foreign Office
thought me in jail.
Against me the crown had summoned forty-five witnesses. They included
admirals, colonels, captains, military and naval experts, post office
officials--I cannot recall all. The press from all parts of
Europe--for all Europe was vitally concerned in this trial--was
represented. My memory shows me again the crowds that packed the big
supreme court building at Edinburgh on the first day of the
proceedings. The imposing names connected with the trial, the strange
circumstances, a spy, moreover a German!--These things brought the
excitement to fever heat.
Presiding was the Lord Justice of Scotland, himself no mean expert in
military matters. The Solicitor General of Scotland, A. M. Anderson,
who prosecuted for the crown, was supported by G. Morton, Advocate
Deputy. The government had indeed an imposing array of bewigged,
black-gowned, legal notables marshaled against me.
Those familiar with English court procedure know the impressive manner
with which justice is dispensed. Punctually at ten on the morning of
July 22, 1912, my trial opened. Clad in his royal red robe with the
ermine collar of supreme justice, the Lord Justice entered the court.
Before him walked a mace bearer, intoning "Gentlemen, the Lord
Justice! Gentlemen, the Court!" After the impressive ceremonies had
been observed, the jury was quickly empaneled, I making several
challenges. Twelve years in the Secret Service naturally has made me
know something of men. I knew that those twelve hard-headed, cautious
Scottish jurymen would demand pretty substantial proof before
convicting. At the time I am frank to say that I did not think there
was a chance of a verdict of guilty being brought in. The evidence
against me was too vague.
Expressing astonishment at my refusal to accept counsel--which was
subsequently forced on me--His Lordship promised to guard my interest
on legal points; and guard it he did. Repeatedly he ruled against the
Solicitor General and challenged him on more than one point. I am
frank in my admiration of British justice. My trial was a model of
fairness.
On the first day I waived examination on all witnesses but the naval
and military experts. I directed my fire against Rear Admiral
T. B. Stratton Adair, who superintended the ordnance factories of the
Beardmore Gun Works in Glasglow. The Admiral a typical English
gentleman of the naval officer type, long, lank with a rather ascetic,
clear-cut Roman head, not unlike Chamberlain in general appearance,
even to the single eye-glass, did not make much of a showing as an
expert witness for the prosecution. The Admiral was called in on
testimony concerning the new fourteen-inch gun. The point they were
trying to establish was that it was impossible for a man to have my
knowledge 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 involve the Admiral in a heated
altercation on the trajectory and penetrating power of the so-much
disputed fourteen-inch gun. One word led to another and
notwithstanding that he ranked at that time as a rear admiral of the
British Navy, the Admiral showed that he did not know as much about
his own guns as I. Backed into this corner he was about to divulge
things in support of his knowledge when he recovered himself, pulled
up suddenly and appealed to the Court.
"Your Lordship, it is against the British Government to have any more
questions on this point in open court."
I maintained that my knowledge of guns was such that I did not need to
spy at Beardmore to obtain the things I knew. Subsequently after
being cross-examined by me another of the government's naval experts
told the court:
"It is quite possible for one with a ballistic knowledge such as the
defendant's to be able with very little data to arrive at accurate
conclusions regarding our new fourteen-inch guns."
_A word of advice to the Admiral._ Do not talk so much when you go
motor boating with pretty young musical comedy girls. You see,
Admiral, I made it my business to see those young ladies in Glasgow.
What an interest they took in you--a great Admiral! It is you,
Admiral, whom I thank for aiding me in securing the right persons from
whom the secrets of your new fourteen-inch guns could be obtained.
A note they found in my effects was introduced as evidence. It read
as follows:
"The firm of William Beardmore and Co., Parkhead, Glasgow. B first
orders F new 13.5 guns F, Navy. Length 51 feet, weight 73 tons. One
foot longer than 12-inch, but 12 tons heavier. Weight of shot, 1,250
lb., 400 lb. more than the 12-inch gun."
The upshot of it was that the first day of the trial ended with
everybody positive that I would not be found guilty on the charge of
obtaining secret information about their guns. Of course all this
information I had obtained.
On the recess I was pleasantly surprised when a court orderly brought
me refreshments from the judge's own table with his Lordship's
compliments. It struck me that I was being treated more like a guest
than a prisoner.
The second day of the trial brought the Burroughs & Wellcome letter
into the testimony--the letter that had been refused me and had in
turn gone back to the Chemical Company. Very gravely Sir Anderson,
Crown Prosecutor, read the contents of this letter aloud. As I recall
the exact wording it was:
_Dear Sir:_
_We are pleased to learn of your successful negotiation 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.
While reading, Sir Anderson held the five ten-pound notes in his hand.
Upon finishing he began a vigorous indictment which in substance he
declaimed in this way.
"On the face of it, this letter does not seem suspicious. But if you
gentlemen will recall the times of Prince Charles' insurrections,
periods whenever intrigues were going on, you will remember that in
communications of this sort a government was always referred to as a
'firm.' If this was an honest business letter why was it enclosed in
the envelope stationery of a company that knew nothing about it? Why
was this letter unsigned? Why was cash enclosed, with it? What was
his firm willing to pay 100 pounds for? Gentlemen, the reasons for
all these things are obvious."
But the letter puzzled not only the court, the jury, the newspapers,
but all England. For the first time I shall now explain it:
It was from the German government. By the "business at hand" they
meant a new explosive and slow-burning powder that was to be used in
the new type of fourteen-inch turret guns 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 incriminating found on
me is because the Secret Agent who knows his business leaves 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 was meant a sample of the explosive.
The "other business at hand" was spoken of as of tremendous
importance, more vital to the safeguards of Britain than the other
points mentioned in the letter.
There were sub-agents working at Cromarty. I did not know who they
were; they simply made their reports to me, signing their German
Secret Service number. I took up their points with Berlin. Well, the
"other business in hand" was to put a certain British army officer
under a monthly retaining fee of 100£ for which in the event of war
he was to commit an act of unspeakable treason and treachery on a
certain harbor defense.
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 Prosecutor does not impress a hard-headed Scotchman. I was
feeling in high spirits indeed, when I saw one of the attendants
approach Sir Anderson and deliver a document that had been handed into
court. I at once recognized 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 produced two 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 deadly
code ever prepared against the safeguards of Great Britain."
And it certainly was. It contained the name of every vessel in the
British Navy, every naval base, fortification and strategic point, in
Great Britain. There were over ten thousand names and opposite each
was written a number. For example, the battle cruiser _Queen Mary_
was number 813.
As I have confessed, I am superstitious. And have I not reason to be?
It was the Burroughs & Wellcome letter that got me caught in the first
place. And my secret code was written in a book issued for the use of
physicians by Burroughs & Wellcome! Both times the B & W mark was
upon me.
Using a magnifying glass I had written in tiny characters my code.
There were so many names it was impossible to memorize them all. Two
opposite sheets of the little memoranda book were used, then the edges
of the pages were pasted together. Whenever I learned the British
warships were going 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 numbers, 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 code
contained such phrases as this:
"Current rumors." "Incoming." "Outgoing." "Clearing for action."
"Have lowered defending nets." "Land fortifications are manned."
"Protective maneuvers are being carried out at sea." "Coal being
carried by rail." "Remarkable influx of Reservists." "Mine flelds
being laid." "All is quiet; nothing important to report." "Liners
are appearing."
The accidental finding of this code of course settled all further
argument. I called no witness for the defense except two or three
personal acquaintances to each of whom I put this question:
"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
government I certainly had never shown any personal feeling or
animosity toward Great Britain.
All of which I figured might aid the cause of clemency. The jury was
not out more than half an hour. I was found guilty of endangering the
safeguards of the British Empire and under the new law that had been
aimed against German spies I was liable to seven years' penal
servitude. Even then my spirits were not down. I had what Americans
call "a hunch."
Just before his Lordship, the Chief Justice, summed up, an
aristocratic, gray-clad Englishman, who never had been in the court
room before, appeared 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' whispered conversation.
His Lordship was nodding repeatedly. This worried me. I felt I was
going to get it good.
But, in substance, his Lordship's verdict was:
"Taking all the circumstances into consideration, the court pronounces
a sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment."
I smiled and said:
"Exit Armgaard Karl Graves."
A murmur of astonishment was audible. Everybody in court was
surprised. I heard gasps all around me, especially among the foreign
newspaper reporters. With everybody expecting seven years of penal
servitude, eighteen months of plain imprisonment was a bombshell.
Why?
I was taken first to Carlton Hill Jail, Edinburgh, and transferred
after two weeks to Barlinney Prison near Glasgow. Considering the
circumstances, I was treated with surprising consideration. The
conditions that had characterized my trial prevailed in the prison. I
soon perceived that the Barlinney prison officials were trying to
sound me in a canny Scotch way--with no result.
"You're foolish to stay in here--You must have something worth
while--Why don't you get out?"
That was the gist of their talks with me from the warders up. I kept
my mouth shut.
Now I shall present information that was denied the House of Commons
upon the occasion of an inquiry into my case.
On the fifth week of my imprisonment I was talten to the office of the
Governor of the prison. As I entered I saw a slight, soldierly
looking English gentleman of the cavalry type--(a cavalry officer has
certain mannerisms that invariably give him away to one who knows).
The Governor spoke first:
"Graves, here is a gentleman who wishes to see you."
The stranger nodded to the Governor and said:
"I may be quite a while. You have your instructions."
"That's all right, sir," replied the Governor.
The Governor left and we were alone. The stranger rose.
"My name is Robinson, Doctor. Please take a seat."
Of course, being a prisoner, I had remained standing.
Robinson began some casual conversation.
"How are they treating you?"
"I have no complaints to make."
"Is the confinement irksome to you?"
"Naturally." I looked him straight in the face. "I am a philosopher.
Kismet, Captain."
"Oh--ho" he exclaimed. "You address me as Captain. Wherefor this
knowledge? We have never met."
"No," I replied. "But I have associated too long with various types
of army officers not to be able to detect a British cavalry officer.
Formerly of an Hussar regiment, I take it?"
He laughed for some time. He continued feeling his way in this
manner. Then suddenly he changed front. Point blank he asked me:
"Now, old chap, we know that you worked for Germany against us. We
also know that you are not a German. Is there any reason why you
should not work for us? Any private reason?"
"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
entertained by a man who has been in my work. We go into it with our
eyes open, well knowing the consequences if 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 just bears out what we have been able to
ascertain about you. It puzzled us how a man of your known 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 show a sort of listless, almost an indifferent attitude.
If I may put it this way, you seemed in noways 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
intention on the part of your employers to have you caught--what
then?"
This did not startle me either. I had an idea of that all along. It
is why I played my cards so quietly, why I did not accomplish in
England everything I had a chance to accomplish. I did not grin this
time.
"Under those circumstances," I said, "I am open to negotiations. But
I am rather deaf and my vision is 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."
"Captain, I have not the slightest doubt but that you will. But let
it be understood, please, that it's a waste of time as long as I am
behind bars."
"Leave that to me," he said and we shook hands.
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. All through my trial and in
Barlinney I had been playing a part. When the occasion demanded I
could be as cool as I was with Captain Robinson. But that was a
strain and it took it out of me. During these following days I was
nervous; I had insomnia; I paced my cell at night. The feeling of a
jail is cold and thick.
But as I expected, another week brought Captain Robinson again. This
time it was late in the evening after all the prisons were shut up
tight. The Lieutenant-governor himself took me into the Governor's
office. No other warder or prison official observed us.
"Well, Doctor," was the way Robinson 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 us--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
government."
He did so to my complete satisfaction. As I guessed, I had come to
learn so much of Germany's affairs that I was dangerous. To betray me
in such a way that I would not suspect and squeal was a clever way to
close my mouth for seven years in jail or until the Black Forest 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
release," I added. "Here is my suggestion. I must leave the
execution of it to you. The impression I conveyed around Edinburgh
was that my health is rather indifferent. So it is also believed here
in the prison. On those grounds it should be an easy matter for you
to have me ostensibly transferred to another prison; instead of which,
have me taken wherever you wish to. I see no necessity that outside
the Lieutenant-governor, the Governor and yourself, any one need know
of it."
"Yes, yes," said Robinson. "That coincides with my own ideas and
plans." Presently he departed and I went back again to my cell.
At half-past five the next morning, I was aroused by the
Lieutenant-governor. He was alone. There were no warders in sight.
In the Governor's office I found all my clothes and effects ready and
laid out for me. These I addressed and left with the
Lieutenant-governor. We took a taxicab for the Caledonian Station in
Glasgow. Few people were abroad in Glasgow at that time of day and
there was no danger of recognition. The trip to London was
uneventful. At Euston Station we were met by Captain Robinson. We
went into a private waiting-room where Captain Robinson signed a paper
for the Lieutenant-governor. It was what amounted to a receipt for
the prison's delivery of me into his hands. Then the
lieutenant-governor left us; then Robinson left, after handing over an
envelope containing cash and instructions.
I was alone and free. I could then and there have disappeared.
Obviously the English government trusted me fully.
My first move was to register at the Russel Square Hotel. Opening the
envelope in my rooms, I found it contained ten pounds and the
following instructions:
"Telephone at 10.30 to-morrow morning, this number Mayfair--"
I telephoned the Mayfair number and was told to hold the wire. Then
Captain Robinson got on the phone and told me to meet him at luncheon
that day at one o'clock at the Imperial Hotel. There another
gentleman joined us--a Mr. Morgan, whom I easily judged and afterwards
knew to be of the English Secret Service. Presently Morgan told me
that I was to drive with Captain Robinson to Downing Street that
afternoon.
"One of our ministers wishes to see you," he explained.
We drove to Downing Street, Captain Robinson and I, and stopped before
the historic governmental building. After we had signed the book that
all visitors to "Downing Street" must sign, I was ushered into an
anteroom and Robinson took his leave. My name appears on this book as
Trenton Snell, and if the English government challenges a statement
that I shall subsequently make, let them produce the "Downing Street"
book for the date I shall mention, let them have a handwriting expert
compare the name "Trenton Snell" with my handwriting.
I make this statement for what followed is of tremendous importance.
After a twenty-minute wait, which impressed me as being different from
the slam-in-and-slam-out methods of the Wilhelmstrasse, I was shown up
a flight of stairs. The attendant knocked on the door, opened it and
announced "The gentleman."
I was facing Sir Edward Grey.
He was seated behind a big green-covered mahogany desk. I noticed
that the room seemed like a private library; books, memorandas,
letters and dispatch cases littered not only the desk but the tables
and chairs. The eye was struck by a huge piece of furniture, a tall
leather-covered easy chair. I present these details for obvious
reasons.
Sir Edward, looking small in the big armchair, was seated with his
legs crossed. He was reading some document and without a sign of
recognition he kept me standing there, it must have been ten minutes.
I noticed that he glanced at me now and then above the top of the
paper. Abruptly he told me to have a seat. When I said that I
preferred to stand, he nodded and pulling open a drawer took from it a
folder that, as subsequent events verified, I suspected to be a report
on me. There was another period during which he seemed to be unaware
of my presence, and I took advantage of it to size up my man. He
impressed me as being one of those intolerable, typically English
icicles, which only that nation seems able to produce in her public
servants. Presumably through a century-long contact with the races of
the East, the English diplomat of the Sir Edward Grey type presents
the bland, imperturbable, non-committal, almost inane expression of
the Oriental that hardly gives one any criterion of the tremendous
power of perception and concentration beneath the mask.
After twirling his fingers, he said:
"I presume you are familiar with Germany's naval activity."
"Up to a certain point, sir."
"What point?" he asked quickly.
"I am familiar only with the Intelligence Department of the
Admiralty," I replied.
"Their system?" he asked. "Is it so extensive and efflcient as we
have been led to believe?"
"That cannot be exaggerated."
At this Sir Edward began to throw out innuendoes to which I replied in
like vein. The interview was not progressing. Finally he came out
with what was in his mind.
Do you know if any officials or naval officers are selling or
negotiating to sell information to Foreign Intelligence Departments?"
Although he had not said English officers or officials, I knew what he
meant, but I made up my mind not to tell everything I knew.
"There are such," I replied.
It had the effect of making him look at me in a most startled manner.
"How do you know that? On what grounds do you make that assertion?"
His agitation was ill-concealed.
"I have no specific proof," I replied--(which I had)--"but from
information that has been gained, from plans that have been
secured--plans like those of your battleships _Queen Mary_ and
_Ajax_--it is obvious that these things have been done with the
cooperation of high officials of your country."
He pressed me for further details, but I withheld them. I could have
told him a pretty story about the plans of the _Queen Mary_ and
_Ajax_. He fell to studying a rather voluminous report; then he began
anew with his innuendoes. I guessed what was coming. Although his
speech was more prolonged than I shall now present it, this is the
gist of what he asked:
"Were you ever present at conferences attended by high officials?
Were you, for instance, at the Schlangenbad 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 very
question showed that it was useless for me to deny that I had been at
the Black Forest conference. Possibly Churchill, recalling my meeting
him during the Boer War, had dropped a word about this coincidence to
his Lordship. Naturally I told him I possessed 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 Forest meeting--(not at all improbable with
the conditions existing in England's cabinet at that time)--or else he
wanted to learn if I knew the tenor of that conference. In either
ease it was one of those occasions where I deemed it wise to keep my
own counsel.
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 his thought, led me to
suspect that Sir Edward Grey was in noways sure in his own mind or
favorable to the German-English alliance. With men like his Lordship,
personal antipathy plays a powerful part in such matters.
He then began to try to make me divulge the contents of any personal
dispatches I had carried for the German Emperor.
"Do you know," he asked abruptly, "if the German Emperor ever
communicates with Viscount Haldane?"
"Yes, sir."
He leaned forward eagerly.
"How and under what circumstances?"
"Why, I thought it common knowledge that they often correspond. They
are good friends."
"Not that. I mean direct secret communications between them,
concerning affairs of the state."
I denied any knowledge of this, although I knew it to be so.
He began his fishing around again and his hints found me very stupid.
My unsatisfactory answers seemed to displease Sir Edward Grey, for
with true British discourtesy he abruptly began working at something
on his desk and without even saying good day, let a commissaire bow me
out.
A few days later I received definite instructions from Captain
Robinson. I was to go on my first mission in the interests of the
British Secret Service and subsequently another mission brought me to
New York, where I resigned from service permanently.