ESPIONAGE IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 25 November 1914, Page 6

ESPIONAGE IN ENGLAND.

GERMAN SPY SYSTEM. j AMAZING REVELATIONS. j London, October 9. I The Home Office told the public to-day what the authorities have done in regard to German spies and espionage. The official statement says:— , "It was clearly ascertained five or six years ago that the Germans were making great eil'orts to establish a system of espionage in this country. In order to trace and thwart these efforts, a Special Intelligence Department was established by the (Admiralty and- the War Office, which has since acted in the closest cooperation with the Homo Office and Metropolitan Police and the principal provincial police forces. In 1011, by the passing of the Official Secrets Acts, 1911, the law with regard to espionage, which liad hitherto been confused and defective, was put on a clear basis, and extended so as to embrace every possible mode of obtaining and conveying to the enomy information which might be useful in war.

"The Special Intelligence Department, supported by all the means which could be placed at its disposal by the Home Secretary, was able in three years, from 1911 to 1914, to discover the ramifications of the German secret service in England. "In spite of enormous efforts and lavish expenditure of money by the enemy, little valuable information passed into their hands.

AKREST OF SPIES. "On August 4, before the declaration of war, instructions were given by the Home Secretary for the arrest of twenty known spies, and all were arrested. This figure does not cover a large number (upwards of 200) who were noted as under suspicion, or to be kept under special observation. The great majority of these were interned at, or soon after, the declaration of war. None of the men arrested in pursuance of the order issued on August 4 has yet been brought to trial, partly because the officers whose evidence would have been required were engaged in urgent duties in the early days of the war. but mainly because the prosecution, by disclosing the means adopted to track out the spies and prove their guilt would have hampered the Intelligence. Department in its further efforts. They were, and still are, held as prisoners under the powers given to the Secretary of State by the Aliens Restriction Order.

"One of them, however, who established a claim to British nationality, lias now been formally charged, and, the reasons for delay no longer existing, it is a matter for consideration whether the same course should now be taken with regard to some of the other known spies.