COST OF-SPYING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1933, Page 6

COST OF-SPYING

ECPIONACE DISCLOSURES.

CODES FOR “THE NEXT WAR.”

Disclosures of espionage by secret agents of Germany, Great Britain. France and Soviet Russia are nude in a hook, “Four Spies Speak,” by Heinz Ecke, published in London. The four contributors are anonymous, but the compiler vouches for the truth of what they write. Germany, it appears, revived her intelligence service in 1920. One of its first exploits was to plant a spy at French headquarters during uie occupation <>f the Ruhr. 'T.< “During tlie war,” it is stated in the hook, “the expenditure on espionage naturally rose heavily. The last two years of war were the worst. In 191718 the German intelligence costs were about 25,000,000 marks a month. England, which paid better than Germany, probably. spirit from £1,500,000 to £1,800,000 a month, while France’s expenditure can hardly have been less. To-day the above-mentioned countries manage with about a fifth of their war expenditure for .each month.

FRANCE'S INTEREST IN TANKS

•" “Tlie photographs and details of the latest type of .British tank will, find the best market in France where they will fetch something like £l5O. As Germany has far less interest in tanks, she will rpnly .pay.between £25 and £4O. Italy’s price niay bo calculated at. something between those offered by the other two, but under certain eireuinstanxos Russia will pay as high a sum as France. Tlie United States will pay even more, but, there the spy must share liis gains, with a middleman.”

According to tlie French contributor, important developments in artillery are. now in progress. “It will not he long, before all field artillery is likely to be adapted for use against aircraft; it will also be possible to fire various types of shells from one gun. At present America i.s experimenting, with a quick-firing gun, worked by electricity, which will bo able to discharge .14110 rounds a minute.

“France has a finished model of a 10mm cahbre gun worked by motor power, which will am it 1400 rounds a minute. This weapon is mounted on an armoured car, which has room to curry the enormous supplies of munitions needed for such a wen non.

“This invention, which possesses the jtyaximjjra inabj.litv, : 'should be “a good rival for..the slower tanks. The machinegun. .is worked by a dynamo taking its power from the car’s engine’; the'sahae power;-works ifyradintor that keeps the gun’s barrel at a normal temperature.”

IN ENEMY ARCHIVES

. Among other sensational statements in the hook is one to the effect that jdl secret _ 1 id it v codes prepared" foY use. in. .“the next war” have found ••archives. . .. 7 “it is,,a. gcgegail custom to inspect suedi safes once a yep-j*- to-’aspertajn yvtyether .the- .niotyjlisation.--paoersl have iiecn tampered with, and during the ,fc.>v. ygniyy ttye Briti-sh -autlloriti'es ■ invariably discovered -signs. that: their, future war codes had been in the hands of photographers.

.... ‘.‘The cqc!es: ..were .changed in eonsequence, but/ its, sjiety discoveries, are "ever trumpeted abroad; the,employers Of- the, photographers may .experience:. spme sad disillusionment,s when thenext war breaks out.”