THE BLACK COW MYSTERY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 255, 11 December 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BLACK COW MYSTERY.

A particularly ingenious example of the methods employed by German spies at. tho iroiit for communicating information to their troops i : . given in tho " Telegram 1110 ol the Pas-de-Calais. Tho German Intelligence Department has taken a lea' from the book of the gipsies and wandering beggars, who otten havo a code of sigik> which they write oil walls and fences.

A favourite s gn of the German spies, who pose as innocent-looking peasants apparently amusing themselves with bits Oi chalk, is a black cow. This animal, crudely sketched iu black crayon on walls aud gates and lenccs. was frequently noticed by the trench as they passed, and was so badly drawn that it aroused 110 suspicion. 1 lie only remark it called lorth was that it was much out of proport on. Some nines it was small, sometimes large, now rampant, now eouciiant, and ol ten tho horns were ridiculously long 111 comparison with the lest of the annual, it was not a case ot bad drawing. The only tilings that mattered were the size and tho direction 111 winch it laced. Ihy I'ronoh officers havo now discovered the secret of this system cf s'gnals which are apparently ihe> exclusive possession of General von kluck's army.

A little cow signified that the road was only weakly defended; a moderatesized cow meant that tho Allied troops were in the neighbourhood; a large cow was a warning that there were earthworks or trenches, near by. UlO direction 111 which the cow a head poiuted indicated where the danger was. It it pointed into the air. tnat meant that tho Germans had better reconnoitre the ground by aeroplane betore advancing. Tho black cow trick is henceforth useless, but tho enemy "ill doubtless invent 0 ..or apparently innocent signals.

It is interesting to recall that in most of the great battles which were ioughi loiiL- ago, tho majority of tliem were over in a day. The following gives the duration of some famous engagement:.; Waterloo hour". Sedan the big fighting")... l-'i hour'-. (iravelotto 'J liouo. Mars-la Tour 1° bouts. Kooniggratz ... hour-. Alma ' hour,. Leipzig Gettysburg ... ... • dau-.