They Used the Same Espionage System Years Ago

Encore

When Neville Chamberlain made his pilgrimage in a vain effort to appease the wrath of der fuehrer, he was allowed to retaln his umbrella when feckless negotiations were ended. But there was one thing he left behind him of which he knew not for a long period. That was a phonograph record in which, in no uncertain terms, he announced his opinion of Stalin and all his works.

The Nazi group coaxed Chamberlain to speak right out in meeting before they got down to the real business at hand; and Chamberlain spoke, never realizing that his every word was being recorded in wax. Nor did he learn of it until Russia had thrown in with Germany. Then British intelligence officers learned that the fatal record with its explosive remarks had been presented to Stalin with the compliments of der fuehrer.

There was nothing new in this trick and had Chamberlain been endowed with a gnat's worth of the precaution ordinarily practised by England's vaunted diplomats, such an impasse need never have occurred. For the trick was practised --and most successfully-even before the first World War.

Alfred Redl

One of the most famous of spics to operate in charge of other secret service workers was Alfred Redl,! who overstepped himself and died by his own hand. He was associated with the Austro-Hungarian general staff and in many respects resembled his present-day counterparts of Germany; he was a free spender, a licentious homosexual and, in the end, a traitor to his own cause. Of humble origin, he became master of a dozen languages. He assumed a veneer of refinement and by one method or another ingratiated himself into the inner circle of the service.

For five years he was head of the Austro-Hungarian bureau as

was

By HARLOWE R. HOYT director of intelligence, He alert in running down the enemies of his own land and many a spy fell into his net and ended his career before a firing squad. But even then Redl was doing an about face, He served Austro Hungary and Russia as well. Neither knew of his duplicity.

Vienna in those days had the finest offices for spy-catching to be found on this sphere. Germany was not long in copying their methods but to Redl must go much of the credit for adapting diverse mediums to the best purpose. One of these was the phonograph. In his office was a hidden dictaphone by which every word of conversation was recorded in an adjoining room. There was no question as to what was said or by whom. The wax imprint told the story.

Records

But this was onzy a beginning. There were at least two cameras always on duty. These, too, were hidden but so placed that the visitor at some time must come within their focus. There was a treated cigarette box to retain the fingerprints of a suspected person. There were dispatch cases marked "secret and confidential" to tempt

the unwary and lead to their downfall. In such a web Redl sat like some grim spider, inviting his flies to destruction.

There is every evidence that Redl might have lived and died undiscovered but' for his unfortunate success. His brilliant record inspired his superior to have him transferred to Prague. There was a colonelcy with increased financial returns connected with the honor and he gladly accepted. But before he left, he penned a volume. I was a record of his methods. There were actual cases quoted as examples and nothing was left to the imagination of his successor. Redl was proud of his accomplishments and determined to insure all honor as his own.

It was his ill-fortune that Maximilian Ronge was appointed his successor. Ronge had little use for Redl because of his sexual weaknesses and was determined, more than ever, to surpass the record of his predecessor.

And Ronge succeeded far beyond his expectations. For he not only unmasked Redl but handed him the revolver with which he blew out his brains.

(This is the first of two articles)