SPYING ON THE PRESIDENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 181, 9 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPYING ON THE PRESIDENT.

BERXSTORFF'S BUTLER AT A CLUB S PRIVATE BANQUET. An extraordinary example of German espionage recently caiue to l.ght at Washington. The chief Washington correspondents have a dining dub called the Gridiron Club. Its dinners are attended as a rule by leading public men and are held in strict privacy. I ho result is that the speeches are usually frank, for American politicians recognise above all others the \alno of getting their views in a (onfidential way betore the leading journalists.

The President was tlie guest of honour at a banrpit <.n Saturday, March I He and his fellow-gueMs spoke very plainly about cm rent problems, The surprise and cliagrin of the club to find that Count BernstorfF's butler had been' among the waiters (an be imagined. As a matter of fact, no harm was done, as the dub. with (lie leave of the President. afterwards published the President's speech, but Count Bernstorff could not have known of the imminence of tl is departure from tradition before the banquet.

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