One sunny morning in July, 1916, the German Vice-consul of Vigo was
sitting in his office opposite the wharves of the little Spanish
port. The voluminous contents of his mail-bag lay before him, and
at the moment in question his eyes were intently fixed on a long,
official-looking document--a type-written folio sheet bearing a list of
names, preceded by a memorandum. As he read on, his expression became
more and more serious. Twice he read the document through, pondering
awhile over one of the names. Then he hastily pressed the electric-bell
button on his desk.
The Vice-Consul's clerk, Hermann Fischer, appeared instantly, note-book
and pencil in hand.
"It's too soon yet for the correspondence, Fischer," said the
Vice-Consul, "but I've got here a list of those eleven officers who
were arrested the other day, and who are interned at Pampeluna. I want
you to fetch the Navy List and look up one of the names--Lieutenant
Karl Koch. It looks familiar to me."
Fischer was back in a trice with the desired volume, and, having hunted
out the right man from a multitude of Kochs, proceeded to read forth
the biographical information to the attentive Vice-Consul: "Karl Koch,
born 1873, at Düsseldorf; educated Frankfort and Heidelberg; joined the
Imperial Navy 1890; U-boat lieutenant 1914."
"That'll do!" interjected the official. "I thought it must be the same
man. He and I were at Heidelberg together. Dear old Karl! To think
it has fallen to my lot to do him a good turn! As a matter of fact,
Fischer, we've got to see that Koch and certain others are made as
comfortable as possible during their captivity amongst these blessed
Spaniards. And if there's a chance of doing something more than
that--well, all the better. On that point I've got an answer to this
official communication to dictate to you. Perhaps, as you're here,
you'd better take it down at once; then you can code it and get it on
the wires for the Embassy at Madrid without delay."
Whereupon the Vice-Consul of Vigo proceeded to dictate his secret
message, which showed how very wide his consular duties had become in
wartime--duties such as only Teutonic diplomatic agents are expected to
carry out.
Some people, in relating the part the Vice-Consul played in the
adventure in which Lieutenant Karl Koch and his companions became
involved, contend that it was this officer who was the prime mover;
that it was he who got into touch with the Vice-Consul, who promised
all possible support. But I have reason to believe it was the other
way about, and that the _deus ex machina_ of the whole affair--from
the very moment that the German Vice-Consulate received official
information anent Koch's arrest and internment to the purchase of the
_Virgen del Socorro_ and her departure on her perilous Odyssey--was the
Vice-Consul, whose fortuitous acquaintanceship with the lieutenant of
the submarine (captured and interned in circumstances which need not
here be dwelt upon) redoubled his official zeal. If that is not so,
what of the indiscretions of his clerk Hermann Fischer? What of those
of the intermediaries through whom the Vice-Consul got possession of
the _Virgen del Socorro_? What of the convincing evidence of the hotel
and lodging-house keepers of Vigo who, all unknowingly, harbored the
fugitives? What of the incriminating documents in the Vice-Consul's own
handwriting, or that of his clerk, which I am assured came into the
possession of the Spanish authorities?