WAR SECRETS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1927, Page 2

WAR SECRETS

REMARK AB LK D 1 SCI .OKU 1 {ES. [ Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Dec. 13. Room forty was by the Admiralty Department devoted in war time to intercepting and decoding enemy wireless. It was so-called to prevent people inquiring into its activities and thus allowing secrets to leak out. \ erv few officials or officers of the fleet were aware of its existence and it was the best kept secret, of the war.” said Sir Alfred Ewing, now Principal of Edinburgh University, and formerly Director of Naval Education, whom Air Churchill at the outbreak of the war requested to handle enemy ciphers. 'I lie Department grew until it staffed fifty cryptographers. Sir Alfred Ewing, addressing the Philosophical Institute of Edinburgh, apologised tor eavesdropping, which, lie said, was usually ignoble, hut in war time became a high vocation. He established many listening posts at which enemy signals were intercepted and telegraphed to Whitehall; often two thousand a day. They knew almost evrything the German Fleet was doing, and the British Fleet was thereby enabled to give battle at Doggerbank and Jutland. From December 1914, the German Fleet did not make a nuiv without the Admiralty knowing before band. Tlie alleged British stupidity was a most valuable asset. Only since the war had Germany discovered how she had been hoodwinked. The Germans frequently changed their ciphei keys, hut ” Room Forty ” became sr expert that the changes made no difference. Zeppelins and submarines o: the way home were particularly tall, tive.

Other recorded messages threw much preliminary light on the Easter rebellion in Ireland. Germany’s offer of alliance with Mexico, when the United States was wavering, reached “ Room Forty,” and was passed on to Ambassador Page in strictest secrecy, and tlie subsequent publication in tlie United States resolved public opinion lor war.