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MI 6 spies: Secret letters written in semen
The Sun (UK) ^
| 9/21/2010
Posted on 09/21/2010 11:02:25 AM PDT by llevrok
BRITISH spies experimented with using SEMEN to write top-secret letters.
Spooks at MI6 discovered the bodily fluid could be used as an invisible ink, as it glows brightly under UV light but does not react to detection chemicals.
The tests are detailed in a diary entry written during the First World War by a senior member of the Secret Intelligence Service.
Walter Kirke wrote in June 1915 that Mansfield Cumming, the first chief of the SIS, was "making enquiries for invisible inks at the London University".
In October he noted that he "heard from C that the best invisible ink is semen", which did not react to usual methods of detection.
It also had the advantage of being easily available.
One member of staff close to Cumming, Frank Stagg, said he would never forget his bosses' delight when the Deputy Chief Censor said one of his staff had discovered that "semen would not react to iodine vapour".
Stagg noted: "We thought we had solved a great problem".
However, the discovery also led to some further problems — the agent who made the discovery had to be moved from his department after becoming the butt of jokes.
At least one agent also had to be reminded to use only fresh supplies of semen when correspondents began noticing an unusual smell.
The revelations are included in new book MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949 by Professor Keith Jeffery.
Prof Jeffery, of Queen's University, Belfast, was given access to all of MI6's files between those years.
TOPICS: Humor; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: napl
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Improper use of a broad tipped writing device?
1
posted on
09/21/2010 11:02:27 AM PDT
by
llevrok
To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick; martin_fierro; pissant; JoeProBono
Baffles handwriting experts ping
2
posted on
09/21/2010 11:04:06 AM PDT
by
llevrok
(Born a ham and never cured.)
To: llevrok
Yeah, but did they figure out what to use for a pen?
To: equalitybeforethelaw
4
posted on
09/21/2010 11:06:50 AM PDT
by
white17x
To: llevrok
“Mansfield Cumming”.
Figures.
5
posted on
09/21/2010 11:07:02 AM PDT
by
21twelve
( You can go from boom to bust, from dreams to a bowl of dust ... another lost generation.)
To: white17x
6
posted on
09/21/2010 11:07:41 AM PDT
by
white17x
To: llevrok
Bawney Fwank offers to open a new factory to supply them with fresh ink.
7
posted on
09/21/2010 11:07:52 AM PDT
by
jessduntno
("If anybody believes they can increase taxes today, they're out of their mind." -- Mayor Daley)
To: llevrok
Cummings and Stagg. You can’t make this stuff up.
8
posted on
09/21/2010 11:08:09 AM PDT
by
NorthStarStateConservative
(I'm just another disabled naturalized minority vegan pro life conservative.)
To: white17x
“One member of staff close to Cumming, Frank Stagg...”
Okay - now I’m looking for the Satire tag!
9
posted on
09/21/2010 11:08:29 AM PDT
by
21twelve
( You can go from boom to bust, from dreams to a bowl of dust ... another lost generation.)
To: llevrok
Mansfield Cumming, the first chief of the SIS'Nuff said.
10
posted on
09/21/2010 11:09:29 AM PDT
by
gundog
(Why is it that useful idiots remain idiots long after they've exhausted their usefulness?)
To: llevrok
MI 6 spies: Secret letters written in semenJust reporting their comings & goings?
11
posted on
09/21/2010 11:10:08 AM PDT
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
To: llevrok
I’ve heard about this. The only trouble was they all ended up blind and couldn’t read the messages anyway.
12
posted on
09/21/2010 11:10:22 AM PDT
by
21twelve
( You can go from boom to bust, from dreams to a bowl of dust ... another lost generation.)
To: llevrok
One member of staff close to Cumming...Or maybe not....
13
posted on
09/21/2010 11:10:22 AM PDT
by
gundog
(Why is it that useful idiots remain idiots long after they've exhausted their usefulness?)
To: llevrok
MI 6 spies: Secret letters written in semenJust reporting their comings & goings?
14
posted on
09/21/2010 11:13:06 AM PDT
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
To: 21twelve
The only trouble was they all ended up blind and couldn’t read the messages anyway.The used cursive rather than the Palmer method .
15
posted on
09/21/2010 11:15:28 AM PDT
by
llevrok
(Born a ham and never cured.)
To: gundog
Cumming was a homosexual, in the English School Boy tradition, see Blunt, Carincross and others.
To: llevrok
“I’ll write more later... when I’m able.”
17
posted on
09/21/2010 11:19:24 AM PDT
by
Max in Utah
(A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
To: llevrok
18
posted on
09/21/2010 11:20:06 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: llevrok
19
posted on
09/21/2010 11:20:06 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: llevrok
ROTFL!
Comes in handy when writing a “Dear Johnson” letter...
20
posted on
09/21/2010 11:20:32 AM PDT
by
gimme1ibertee
("In a time of universal deceit,telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act"-George Orwell)
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