“THE MICE ARE DANCING.”

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3377, 5 January 1920, Page 5

“THE MICE ARE DANCING.”

A STORY OF THE BRITISH SECRET SERVICE. Two stories—formerly held -back for censorship reasons—are adduced as proofs of the smartness of the British Secret Service in the latest number of “South Africa.” In the earlier days of the war some English ladies wanted to leave Berlin. They had a most uncomfortable time waiting in a queue at the station. They were sub jected to insults by a crowd, ..chiefly women. One man, dressed like an artesan, selected a lady and her daughter for most objectionable attention. He was very drunk, and kept shouting to them in the most lurid language abominable things about England, and especially saying in the purest German, “Go and tell your d Kitchener this and that.” When he thought he had got the point of telling something well into their minds, he said in a low, clear, sober, steady voice In English to the elder lady, “Tell

Lord Kitchener at once that the mice are dancing round the mulberry bush,” and kept lurching against them as if drunk. The lady told some military friends in London of her unpleasant experience, and, acting 0 n the advice of an. officer, she went to the War Office and told her story to Lord Kitchener, repeating the English words. The Field Marshal, hardily waiting for the conclusion, wrote something on .a- piece of paper, and, calling a messenger, said: “Tell Colonel to speak to me.” When Colonel appeared Lord Kitchener handed him a slip of paper he had written on, saying, “Colonel , there's your message; attend to it immediately. 'Lord Kitchener thanked the lady, and a few days afterwards she received a cheque for 100 guineas. Now for a London story, a tall one, it must he admitted* One evening three officers, all in the glory of red tabs, entered a train, on the underground railway. It was noticed that four or five men in mufti also came into the compartment. Almost as soon as the train started, they slipped in front of the officers, covered them with revolvers, and called, “Hands up.‘” Up they went at But one of the. Germans—'for they were German spifes —whipped out his own • revolver and shot himself dead. The two other Huns joined their companion very soon after.