WOMEN SPIES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3403, 6 February 1920, Page 6

WOMEN SPIES.

ELUSIVE .';I)VI?I\"TURESSES.

EXPENSIVE HOUSES IN WI-EST END. ' ‘ ' ’ “We feared women spies 11111011 more than we did men spies dllrillg the war, for they were more diflicult to detect, and noiv Women are as elusive as crooks as they were as spies,“ said an oflicer attached =to the special branch of Scotland Yard.

I It was this department, under the i capable directorship of Sir Basil Thomson, that was responsible for the tracking of spies. The number of emissaries of the K'a.i~ser for which the special branch was able to account in this country is almost incredible, and light is now being thrown on its work behind the scenes by the number of german spies who are now being deported to the Fatherland. ~

SPY PARTIES. . There were few male spies unknown. to the special branch, and they were only arresfied afftpr their inxtentiwns had been ascértaincd. " ‘VVllzl.t, however, baffled the police was to discover the Women traitors. This was a. tas}' full of obstacles; for the methods used against fiche male spies could not be applied £0 women. Moreover, xrhey were .‘n'ot merely G‘crlna.ns, pr Aus-J trians, but even English, Belgian, French, or women of other nationali—J ties.

They would rent. an expensive house in Mayfair, entertain lavishly, and spend money indiscriminately. Their I guests would consist of naval and mili- ¥ tary ofiieers, and officials of the various Ministries. In order not to arouse sus‘picions, they would be greatly inter‘ested in war work. Indeed, in the majority their entertainmeiitis would be originated to benefit so-me war charity or other. ~ To all appearances the hosts would seem trustworthy, a.nd the fact that persons filling ‘hi-gh positions wer.e numbered among their friends cl7e'3.ted the greatest possible confidence. Consequently no one would Sfffjixite any ulter—ior motive to any casual question ask ed of a guest by the hcst, and in this way at times some important information would uneonsciously be divulged. Various pretexzs would be invented to communicate with other countries, and the integrity" of the person sending the messages being known to be of the highest, they were nr;-vel' suspected.

5 SOLD THEIR SERVICES. I "But. the special branch were al\\'ays galert, ‘and ;~;0vc1'a1 women spies were sr:level'cly caught and punished in the manner they deserved. There were, however, barriers to face which were well nigh impenetrable. It is superfluous 'ro I'o}>c-at hm'o that our secret scwxico the best in the world, buf ob'»'iously unknown to patriots, thcre existed a fww women living in an latnlosphcl'o of luxury who ostensibly acted to the world as true Britishers and pro-Allies. but who were actually adventuressesr undertaking German espionage.

Had ‘our Government sought their services they would. as I'e|a.dily have acted for this country as‘ for the Kaiser, money and luxury being their principal aims. ‘

Thcy were, of course, aware of 1110 shrewdness and alertness of our Se-

cret Service, but is was not ‘the first hazardous task they had undertaken in which it was necessary to evade the police. And to everybody their movements appeared innocent 'ul;t'il Mdme, Bertha Trost, the society be'a'u—ty specialist. and Mdlle. Janotha, the

Kaisel".~: accomplished c.‘ourt pianist, wer trapped, in addition to several other women all over the country_, At the beginning of the war gaming houses and other establishments Of Iviee were under the control -of these 3d.Ventul'eSSeS, but as the war pl'o- - the police kept. eontiiiuous observation on the houses, and the ~delinquent.s thought of safer 111051119 }for securing inforlnla,tion. TURNING TO OTHER CRL\:[]'<]. Spying now being an obsolete pl‘o- - the adventuresses who were fortunate enough to have escaped thei clutches of the police, are finding 3"! outlet for their undesirable activities in other directions. These ex-Spies are new engageo in! running some night. clubs, gaming, houses, and hotels for the I>lll'Do9€ Of immorality, etc. But the real criminals always take care that their identity is Well concealed. During the war they escaped being shot and now they merely risk imprisonment _