Snooping Germans

Monday 6th September 1915: Readers will remember that some surprise was expressed by a member of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry on 21st July at how good enemy espionage was. It seems that the answer lies in the fact that they have been tapping into our telephone system. The 2nd Battalion has today received the following instructions from Headquarters:

“In order to minimise the danger of "buzzer" sounds and conversations by telephone being overheard in German trenches, the Corps Commander directs that the following precautions are to be at once carried out: -

All officers, and the N.C.Os. and men who are employed on signals and telephone work, are to be made fully aware of the importance of rigid adherence to the procedure ordered”.

“The means of avoiding the danger are two-fold: -

(a) To bring the earth of the telephone back to a safe distance i.e. not less than 250 yards from the nearest German trench, and

(b) Where (a) is impossible, not to pass information along the telephone which may be of value to the enemy”.

“It is of primary importance that all ranks, officers and NCOs working with telephones should exercise the strictest guard over all information they send over the telephone, unless they have been informed by a signal officer that the telephone system on which they are working is safe”. 

Source: X550/3/wd