GERMAN SPY SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 5 January 1915, Page 4

GERMAN SPY SYSTEM.

THE PART OF LODY. EXECUTIVE ABILITY. The German spy, Lieutenant Lody, who was shot at the Tower of London, seems to have represented the executive side of the German spy system in England. His duty was to carry a plot through to disguise himself, and be everywhere, with a shrewd head, working his way into secret places. Behind him, mapping out ground, was Georges Stcinhauer. Lody was brave and skilful, quick to sustain a false character, always revelant and useful in his reports. But he and the rest of the agents danced always on wires worked by the hand of Stcinhauer. | Stcinhauer had a liberal education in the business Six years age he waß ser- | ving in the German police force, but his I subtlety and lightness of touch marked him out for neater things. He was transferred to the navy and took an elementary lesson in espionage. His promoI tion seems to have been rapid. He learnt the attitudes of a man of honor, mastered figures and facts, and soon had the strings of the system in his own hands. He has flitted intangibly into court in ) the course of every recent spy trial in England, states the London Daily Mail. His workmen have been caught while he has remained anonymous and free. It is a matter for thankfulness that the police are now in full possession of his history and of his method of attack. Whether lie will fall into atrap is doubtful, but it is certain that England will not see him again in the near future, Lody was probably a man of gentler ■birth than "bis master. He did not serve in the police, T)ut entered the navy from his home in Berlin. Whether he devoted himself intentionally to spying from the outset does not seem to be clear. It may 'be that opportunities for extensive travel and for social intercourse caused him to drift to the secret service as much by accident as from design.

It was a fine touch that made him speak English with a hint of American ■accent. It served to explain his apparent love of travel and his intelligent gift of inquiry in the right direction. He know England and Scotland with a mastery that would have surprised his ■friends in any 'but an American visitor.

Hut lie did not rely simply upon the plea of a friendly curiosity. Ho came ■and went with parties of Americans, as fine of the chief guides of the Eeise'bureau attached to the Hamburg-Ameri-can liinc. To these duties lie brought a great knowledge of American travellers -acquired by him in a course of study as n steward in the fteamship Hamburg. Twice lie toured the world as a guide.

Til August he went for the last time to England as Charles A. Tnglis. and wii.lv in a. few weeks the police had .fixed him with suspicion and laiii snares for his capture.