Spies pay price for daring deeds
Twelve spies had been executed in London while another had committed suicide, the Observer of 100 years ago this week reported.
The paper also detailed how, a few days earlier, a woman had been caught on the French border seeking to enter Switzerland and apparently on her way to Germany or Austria.
She was thoroughly searched by a “matron” and nothing was found
But “certain actions”, however, had given rise to suspicion and an officer from the French Secret Service was tasked with interrogating her about her purpose.
The Observer continued: “He applied several tests to her but to cut a long story short, he finally obtained what he wanted by seating her, in an undraped condition, tied to a chair, before a warm fire.
“` Brutes, you are going to burn me alive,’ shrieked the woman as she was forced into the chair. `Be calm, madame, said the officer. `We only wish to admire your beautiful back.’”
And on the “ample back” of the fairhaired lady was an elaborate design.
The experienced officer realised that the drawing was in fact a plan of one of the most important French fortresses.
It showed the number of guns, their sizes and positions and an indication of the weak spots in the defences.
It was invaluable information for the enemy particularly since the start of war, the fortress had been entirely renovated.
“A German spy in France, evidently a man with military knowledge had obtained access to the fortress but there was only a slight chance of his getting home with his knowledge,” said the Observer.
“He had, therefore, used the young woman as an innocent-looking agent.
“The master spy had meticulously traced the plans on her back with sulphate of copper.
“This liquid leaves no mark on the skin under normal conditions but when exposed to considerable heat shows up dark blue.”
And to further confuse her adversaries, the plan of the fortress was concealed within another more elaborate design.”
The Observer explained that tattooing military secrets on women’s skin had been tried in other wars, but the spy-catchers of 100 years ago were familiar with the ruse.
However, other methods had been tried during the current war.
One female spy wore a large pair of pearly earrings which when examined were hollow and stuffed with hidden messages.
Another had a woolly pet dog whose tail was found to be artificial and filled with military plans.
While a third carried important messages scratched on to the plate of her false teeth.