On April 13th, 1916, the author wrote to Whitehall as follows:
"In a certain Naval Base of considerable importance on the East Coast in the autumn of 1914, a complete plant of wireless installation was discovered in the private house of an English merchant who was known to have business connections abroad, which plant was forthwith removed.
Some months after, a second visit was paid to the same premises and further parts of wireless telegraphy were found and taken away, and an assurance was given that everything in any way connected with wireless had been handed over.
In the month of March, 1916, the premises were once more visited and another complete plant was found to have been installed, which was immediately removed.
In April, 1916, a fourth surprise visit was made upon the same premises, when a very ingenious and complete portable wireless plant was discovered.
My information records that the latter of these respective plants controlled a radius of only about twenty miles, that they were in perfect order and that they had been repeatedly used.
The man and the occupiers of this house are said to be still at large! These facts have given me much food for reflection.
The Powers-that-be took a _whole week to consider_ this report, the result of private enterprise; then they suggested a meeting with the author at any convenient time, for which they added there need be _no hurry whatsoever_.
Meanwhile on Monday, April 24th, 1916, the manipulator of these terribly dangerous and unlawful instruments arrived at another naval base--Lowestoft--_on the eve of its bombardment_ by the German Fleet, _actually staying at the Royal Hotel, which overlooks the whole sea-front_ and which was occupied by most of the officers in command of the base.
Private agitation alone seemed to account for this gentleman's eventual removal from the East Coast; but it took an unpardonably long time in its successful accomplishment.
Another ridiculous muddle, which was undoubtedly dangerous to the welfare of the nation, was the Petrol Fiasco.
Such people as rag-and-bone merchants of possible alien extraction were permitted petrol in such quantities that they could dispose of it at good profit, whereas the police, even those in control of big and important areas, with enormous added responsibilities piled upon their too willing shoulders, were actually cut down to unworkable limits (one tin per week, equal to about forty miles)--not enough to cover a journey of consequence. Furthermore the author was informed by the Head of our then Secret Service that "he himself was quite unable to move in the matter." His supply appeared to have been insanely limited.