Читать книгу Secrets of German Espionage - Bernard Newman - Страница 21

It is interesting to compare the description of an English spy school, given by one of the students. It was located, he asserted, in a country house in Devonshire, popularly known as “Black Castle.” The German spy course was for a period of eight weeks, the British for three years, and by his account the training was remarkably thorough. The highest standard of physical condition was insisted upon: gymnastic exercises were pursued constantly, so that every prospective agent became something of an acrobat. Every man must learn to swim, to ride, and to drive any make of car: he had to show ability in climbing trees and scaling walls of houses—the mansion was ivy-covered and offered excellent practice; he was given instruction in boxing and ju-jutsu. In the evening his training was of a lighter type: since a spy must be able to move in any circle, the students dressed for dinner, were served by waiters, and, if necessary, were taught social manners. They had to learn to dance, to play bridge—even how to frequent night-clubs with the necessary air. At the other end of the social scale, they were given instruction—should they need it!—in the code of conduct of the public-house and other plebeian haunts. A successful spy must be able to go anywhere without attracting attention. Serious attention was given to languages. French and German were essential, and there was usually instruction in some other language should the student show any special aptitude—in those days, before the war of 1914-18, the British were particularly anxious for agents who spoke Russian!

Skilled instructors gave lessons in draughtsmanship, so that the spies should be able to commit to paper what they saw. The class-rooms contained models of ships—mostly German—with plans and silhouettes. There were also models and drawings of forts and guns; in this respect especially the instruction was most thorough.

Communications were likewise given the most detailed attention. While the students were given necessary instruction in the use of codes, they were at the same time taught that the safest method of communication is by the innocuous letter. This, it is true, is one of the most effective methods of escaping the attention of the watchful censor.

Another branch of the work was more melodramatic. My informant described how a wing of this mansion was devoted to a special printing-house for forging passports, tickets or any other printed matter which the spy might need. An agent who set out as a commercial traveller could have all his sales literature printed attractively before he left his school!