Intercepting messages before 1st July 1916

[EastLancs]

Does anyone know if the British Forces used similar techniques against the Germans and if so when they came in to use and with what effect?

[centurion]

Britain had found a way to tap a trans oceanic cable without leaving any trace as they were tapping the Swedish Atlantic cable (which the Swedes were allowing the Germans to use).This is how the Zimmerman cable was picked up although Britain ran a deception operation to disguise where they actually got it from as they wanted to keep on picking up stuff from the Swedish tap. This was primarily a Naval Intelligence op.

With regard to intercepting trench comms Britain appears to have concentrated on picking up the signals generated by the buzzer and/or the magnets in a trench telephone. How successful this was was kept very very secret, so much so that next to nothing is available on this. It was certainly the best bet in the long term as the Germans were moving away from the earth return system to twisted pair wires (as did the French). The scrambling effect of the British Fullerphone buzz chopper made this type of interception next to impossible so that towards the end of the war the British system became very (but not completely) secure.

[green_acorn]

Wasn't the "Swedish Atlantic Cable" just a connection to the British Trans-Atlantic cable? And the "tap" made at the last British land repeater station.

It would be fascinating to see a "Moritz Station" does anyone know of any images, websites or books on the subject?

Cheers,

Hendo

[truthergw]

I also understood the Swedish cable to ' come ashore' in the UK. That would make listening in a standard procedure, not even a tap.

[Robert Dunlop]

The following comes from an Intelligence Report published by II Corps in July 1917. Although it dates later than the period in question, the report illustrates the ongoing problems:

"Listening Sets (from G.H.Q. Summary)

There is evidence indicating that our telephone messages between Brigade and Division are now being intercepted by the enemy.

Prisoners state that a new and improved apparatus is now in use.

The following details are given regarding the new instrument:-

a. The amplifier comprises four valves of a new type.

b. The whole amplifier is contained in one box.

It is of vital importance to obtain further details and, if possible, a sample of the new apparatus."

Robert