Show f c 4 A ED WH TE A W W THE STORY SO PAR FAR la in an to rumors rumon that mat tor for till eign troops troop wera in mexico preparatory for an attack attach upon the united states in urence omber denning benning went to mex mel k aco C city ity here he joined the staff luff of the unsuspecting via halasek bander of the CHAPTER VII in the war department at washington ington n the evening had passed on in feverish staff preparation for future trouble but with small sma ill bellef belief that the first thunderbolt of van hassels Has attack would fall fail before midnight even Flag will gifted chief of military intelligence had muffed the ball interpreting the evening rumors from fort sam houston as symptoms sym atoms of a slowly brewing mischief that might not fester feite into violence for days or w weeks beeks on getting clear of the staff sessions in general hagues office shortly after eight Flag will put his shoulder to the wheel of what now had become a 11 major responsibility of his hii own section he assembled his sub chiefs and an decision gentlemen the president has authorized zed a spy roundup with the gloves off I 1 tell you that in past months we even scratched the surface you all know kno yo ur leads now get into ac ilon with gloves off and nobody to be spared who looks to Us like a foreign agent any questions in ili grave silence the small group of officers rose they knew that not even an order of battle had greater significance nor more vital importance A secret army of termites ter mites entrenched by years of organized stealth in hi arsenals and factories factor 16 was more dangerous than a dozen attacking divisions by indans means of an organization that re reached ached into every agency of investigation and anwen law enforcement throughout the united states State sour our G 2 would launch attack on organized espionage at once very well gentlemen all Flag will said when he read from their faces that his h Is section chiefs had no questions to ask he added swinging his level eyes Benning to you will wait captain for special instructions benning stood in front of the flag will desk until the swinging doors closed behind the others the colonel spoke at once in your re report porton on headquarters at mexico city benning you mentioned that colonel bayot on soine mysterious t erio us mission kap agy sion ostensibly to 0 europe aro e you said your austrian friend also disappeared the last la st day daylou you were er in mexico yes sir benning affirmed better have a look see among chebot the hot spots in washington its entirely possible cypull see someone you know A break ot of that kind might lead us anywhere benning took a taxicab to the army and navy club where he effected fe acted some slight changes of ap pe bearance peara arance at the shoreham Shore ham his gaze was making macinga ma kinga a first round rou nd of theta thed bles ables skirting the dance floor when it centered with a start upon a familiar face the mah man dressed in dinner clothes sat alone his eyes gleaming gle a ming with some inner excitement as he be puffed at a cigar benning moved up tip tor for tf a closer view andi and found prompt verification undoubtedly here was the austrian captain fincke of the van hassek staff benning walked casually up to the fincke table and sat down beside the thevan hassa spy hello fincke he said fincke started his right hand jerked toward his pocket then he relaxed with a nervous laugh as lie he recognized his unexpected visitor from the Palacio Pal aclo Ni Naci onali my promnitz Brom Prom litz but you startled mel mella he gasped 1 I know you were within a thousand miles of washington benning said in a matter of fact way flew up yesterday fincke hoped I 1 might be lucky enough to run into you tonight how are things here fincke leaned across the table and lowered his yoke voice his eyes gleamed with excitement did colonel bravot send you to work with us tonight he whispered benning pretended annoyance and warned not quite so free with names fincke he added with a bantering smile 1 I thought the colo nel hel promised that youk you weri were to go back to your artillery when the show started I 1 himmel but theres bigger game here herd than a battery of field artillery beryll fincke retorted with a snap of his fingers already I 1 am a major rn i a Brom litz if I 1 succeed tonight it will be because of my knowledge of ballistics ballistic my training in the orn tillery and therell there ell be another a other promotion for me then what benning mocked then in a week or so the big cruise cruis e therell be real history Brom litz when we cut this little old country right in half and it will make me n re a full colonell are you in id on that one Brom litz im m not saying anything benning answered with a quizzical smile that suggested full understanding of the austrians Aust rians cryptic words bennings eyes had been beed wandering about the room and he thought there was something vaguely guely familiar in the thin man with the shiny bold bald head who sat nearby y alaa 3 A il aa installment SIX foreign forces force and lined gained the cona dente ot of two other off officer cers macke flocke and nd bravot ne he was ia joined in mexico city by lucette ducos a 4 frenca fience spy who posed as his when he dis covered that the ta foreign troops were ready for or an invasion ol of the U S den ben you knew of course binning benning said casually to fincke that the old hawk colonel boggio is here in washington fincke finche shook a waggish finger and accused 1 I thought you warned me we be so free in hi mentioning names correct but please note that I 1 lowered my voice of course af it were going to be so technical as all that fincke perhaps wed better identify ourselves to each other officially go ahead P its the best cover up ive ever heard fincke replied with enthusiasm you can say anything you want so long as you mention just those two things vastly better berthan than having a regular formula for identification which the enemy might pick upon up on you fine enough but buceta lets hear you identify yourself aln fincke acke once I 1 knew a man named palacio who owned a fine pair of silver sabers the austrian confided benning quickly searched through throng h fincken Finc Vinc kea kes remark and decided that the key words by which van hassek agents identified themselves to one another must be pal palacio aclo qua tres and silver sabers he said how do you like this one fincke theres an old shop known as the palacio that has for sale some interesting antiques in the form of silver sabers just as good as mine maybe better fincke approved boggio had finished his dance benning observed that the italian was getting ready freidly to leive leave the shore ham he made a hurried estimate the instant arrest of these thes etwo two men would only net the secret service two more spies who would spill nothing only by holding them under close observation could the rami ramifications fi ca alo s of their mischief in washing A that means we are at war ton be traced down he decided that boggio was bigger game and got to his feet cherell Wh reU erell I 1 find you later fincke he demanded fincke stared at his watch and its dial seemed to bring a nervous quiver to his fingers his eyes lighted up again in that strange excitement of his ill be about jor for only a week or so Brom litz he answered if this place closes we can find each other at meal times at one of the good places on connecticut avenue but after tonight we must be very careful bennings cab swung sharply and without warning to the curb as it turned into pennsylvania avenue vaguely benning had noted that the driver had his radio tu tuned in on a dance program As the car jolted to a stop the cabman put his radio on full blast and turned to benning with gaping eyes did you hear that mister he gasped an excited broadcaster striving for control of his voice was talking lo 10 loudly the report is just confirmed san antonio attacked from the air hundreds reported killed by explosive bombs new orleans ls is being bombed at this minute galveston is being bombed air attack on united states without warning again the driver turned a face distorted by a frenzy of excitement my god mister ml he shouted Is that the real thing benning said in a flim firm calm voice please drive me quickly to the munitions building that means were at war until those first bombs crashed on fort sam houston there had been no reports given to the public of the nine returned to washington to mart to colonel Flag will chief of 0 military intelligence telli gence stated MAW that forces force were reported massing la in the mediterranean ind and the par far easl houston texas wi was heavily bombed now continue with the story lory ft days daya alarming rumors along the rio grande benning beaning leaned tensely forward as it if to add his ten tension to the speed of the cab the radio screeched screech edon on from time to time the announcers announce rr il asked that no more telephone calls be attempted information would be given to all over the air as fast as received then an enemy air force of undetermined strength Is reported arted flying north its objective may be washington or new york all persons are cautioned not to gather in crowds please remain calm and stay where you are it may be that nothing will happen 1 his cab swung to the curb at the thel munitions building benning hurried inside the corridors rang with the he chatter of typewriters army boffl cers ot of various var loui rank were ere glued over desks or assembled in section conference groups as they slaved over the staggering details of the job ahead of them colonel Flag will was in his office alone benning behning found his chief lolled back in a chair with heels laid absurdly ontoh on top of his desk ile he was ruffing puffing composedly at a cigarette his face relaxed hello benning Flag will said la conically how you feeling benning said well sir I 1 heard the news and thought I 1 ought to re report in case you need me for any thing the colonel stretched himself you know benning I 1 saw it had to come and I 1 feel better now nov weve got it on our hands all we need is the presidents word to start general mobilization of the army and national guard As soon as the chief gets back from the white house well be in motion Flag will indulged a sardonic smile not that our mobilization will wid do any immediate good to save the country a lot of headaches but be a start the news about bombers headed this direction our air staff staffs fis is divided on whether van hassek ha has any bombers that can make washington and back to mexico without refueling but my own idea they could uld have van emergency landing place somewhere along the way they work this once anyhow then there may be a real air threat sir 1 I urged general hague to get the president to leave the white house and go over to chevy chase for the night Flag will averred at least to set up in less vulnerable quarters in washington theres no use pretending a fools r paradise in this thi country any longer benning anything can happen now A major from the chief of air service banged into the boom room his face ashen though he spoke collectedly weve picked up what appears 1 to be confirmation colonel the major reported As near as can be made outa out a squadron of seven bombers with im an undetermined force of smaller ships passed over north carolina a short time ago speed estimated at two hundred miles per hour our best time calculations suggest that they could cross the potomac in approximately two hours if 11 this is their objective very good major keell me informed Flag will answered without diange change of posture oi or position he stretched himself again and casually lighted another cigarette then 4 he swung his feet to thedoor the door floor and pulled himself up to his desk ive found a couple of good spy leads sir J benning interposed would you care to hear my report not right now Flag will said de ca liveli ive justham just jus thad had a few minutes relaxation now for the toughest decision I 1 ever tackled ive 9 got ot to have my estimate of this whole tangled situation ready for general hague by midnight now you get out among your spies or you might take a look see at what our antiaircraft anti aircraft does for itself but report to me here at midnight I 1 may want you to sit in atthe chiefs conference benning took a taxicab and drove to a point near hear the washington monument where 50 caliber brownings were setting settin glup up to molook look after attack on smaller ships that might venture within machine gun gangew the assault ori on washington materialized the gun batteries and searchlights had been thrust across the potomac into virginia to catch raiding bombers before they reached the bomb release line from which they would lay their eggs of destruction as they approached washington the searchlights were echelon ed a full complement of fifteen lights five thousand yards beyond the city the technical cal sections with their sound locators effective up to eleven thousand yards and their intricate systems and instruments for raking the skies were perfecting their plans of such defense as a single regiment at a peace strength and short two gur batteries would be able to give tho th nat nations I 1 ons c capital TO BE CONTINUED A |