One was used for sea work. It was a grammatical code, which, although simple enough in its patent aspect, was not easy to memorise with that strict accuracy which is so essential to future use. Shortly, this code ran somewhat on the following lines, although English names are therein substituted in order to give better illustration. Needless to add, these messages were worded in the language of the country in which they were despatched, and signed with an assumed name which would be in common use in that country.
Example 1.
I. Communications signed with Christian Name refer to War Ships.
Communications signed with Surname refer to Merchant Ships.
II. Please send a copy of "The Times" to ... means "a base is being formed at ..."
III. I received a letter from ... on ...
means {German auxiliary cruiser(s) in port at ...
{German battleship(s) hanging about near ...IV. I received a message from ... on ...
means {German large merchant ship in port at ...
{German cruiser hanging about near ...V. I am hoping to hear from ... on ...
means {German small merchant ship in port at ...
{German torpedo-boat(s) hanging about near ...VI. I am expecting a message from ... on ...
means {German collier(s) in port at ...
{German submarine(s) hanging about near ...VII. The first blank in the sentence is to be filled in with the name of the place at which the base is being formed, or at which the ships have been seen.
VIII. The second blank in the sentence, after the word "on" is to be filled in with a day of the week indicating the number of ships seen (see over, IX).
1 is Monday
2 is Tuesday
3 is Wednesday
4 is Thursday
5 is Friday
6 is Saturday
7 is Sunday
8 is Monday-week
9 is Tuesday-week, and so on.
15 is Monday-fortnight, and so on.X. If, instead of the singular person "I am (had)," the plural "We are (had)" is written, it means that the ships in question, if merchantmen, have left port and are going South.
XI. If neither the first person singular nor plural is written and the communication begins, for instance, "Letter from ... on ..." it means that the ships in question, if merchantmen, have left port and are gone North.
XII. Any mention of illness means that the ships are disabled.
XIII. I am expecting a letter from ... on ... means that several German warships (or merchantmen) of different classes (or sizes) have been seen.
XIV. Specimen message:
We are hoping to hear from Newcastle on Sunday.
(signed) Charles.
Decoded, means 7 German warships have been observed outside Newcastle, proceeding South.
1 is Monday
2 is Tuesday
3 is Wednesday
4 is Thursday
5 is Friday
6 is Saturday
7 is Sunday
8 is Monday-week
9 is Tuesday-week, and so on.
15 is Monday-fortnight, and so on.
The week after my arrival, this code had been completed and put into use. I was one evening sitting in the best and most popular restaurant in a certain town. The place was crowded with customers and business was brisk. The walls were decorated with magnificent frescoes by a celebrated German artist. Hundreds of electric lamps added warmth and attractiveness, whilst dreamy valse music from Wald Teufel, given by a German orchestra, seemed to help the digestion. Between bites and sips of German lager I was absorbed in the perusal of an evening news-sheet wherein every belligerent army was reported to be making marvellous forward movements, which, if half true, would have carried them respectively quite through Europe and back again in the course of a few weeks. Whenever my eye shifted from the newspaper to my plate an opportunity offered to note casually my surroundings, as well as my immediate neighbours. Two seats only were vacant. They were located next my own and in due course were occupied by a young naval lieutenant accompanied by an outwardly appearing charming demi-mondaine. The champagne of sunny France soon loosened their tongues. But the more their voices became raised the more absorbed I became in my reading. Presently snatches of conversation drifted my way. The lady was complimenting her gallant upon his patriotism and prowess. He, as the Americans say, was blowing hot air. A listener's difficulty was to sift the substance from the imaginary boasting. Subject matters dealt with were mostly of a frivolous nature, but ever and anon the lieutenant would return to his sea trips and the results from their patrolling. Inter alia he related the number of drifting mines taken up, vessels sighted and submarine visitation, which matters only were of interest to me. Presently he paused, then, sinking his voice almost to a whisper, informed his enchantress that just before his ship entered port, that very afternoon, a German cruiser had been sighted going full steam north and close in shore. He proceeded by giving at length his personal opinions and suppositions as to her destination and objective. Now I happened to be aware of several objectives which would be very attractive to such an enemy vessel. For some weeks I had been over-anxious regarding the safety of a line of steamers, the uninterrupted running of which was a matter of some importance to England. And although I entertained considerable doubts regarding the truth of the latter part of the young lieutenant's statement, yet I felt that I should send the information along to headquarters for what it was worth. So I despatched the following telegram:
"Received letter from B ... on Monday about you from a chic lady although do not believe what she says.—Christian."
Which on being decoded would run:
"One enemy battleship is stated to be hanging around B ... going North. Information obtained through female source and doubtful."
It had been previously arranged that all local wires should be sent to a certain individual at his private residence, who conveyed them to another who had his fingers on the reins of management.