Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last
To: llevrok
One member of staff close to Cumming

Relax...think about baseball stats.

21 posted on 09/21/2010 11:20:34 AM PDT by Onelifetogive (I tweet, too...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

Gee, I wonder how many spies looked forward to writing reports!


22 posted on 09/21/2010 11:22:33 AM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Obama makes me miss Jimmah Cahtah!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

23 posted on 09/21/2010 11:25:53 AM PDT by agere_contra (...what if we won't eat the dog food?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

So how did women spies ...?

Oh, never mind.


24 posted on 09/21/2010 11:30:58 AM PDT by IronJack (=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

They need to offer classes on how to write with it and what kind of “pens” to use.


25 posted on 09/21/2010 11:36:21 AM PDT by Howudoing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

OK, so Stagg was close to Cumming? Is this where they got the phrase “Stagg films” from?


26 posted on 09/21/2010 11:41:27 AM PDT by bonnieblue4me (You can put lipstick on a donkey (or a dimrat), but it is still an ass!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

Oh!
That’s why those lady Brit’s kept taking advantage of me!


27 posted on 09/21/2010 11:44:00 AM PDT by G Larry (Patty-cake diplomacy must give way to strong, decisive action!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok
Who says there are no happy endings in espionage?
28 posted on 09/21/2010 11:45:04 AM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?)...Richard Frank DeCamp, 11/13/34-9/15/10, R.I.P.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

No message tonight... I have a headache.


29 posted on 09/21/2010 11:46:50 AM PDT by irishtenor (Tag lines, they are not what they used to be...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows; JoeProBono

The hairy palms almost gave them away.


30 posted on 09/21/2010 11:52:32 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC; Lazamataz; Revolting cat!
Mata Hari was sent to steal their vital fluids.


31 posted on 09/21/2010 11:55:13 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

‘Secret letters written in semen’

Hard to do stationery?


32 posted on 09/21/2010 12:02:32 PM PDT by Razzz42
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

They would practice by writing their name in the snow......


33 posted on 09/21/2010 12:05:31 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

Remember, if you are compromised, swallow the message.
No way!


34 posted on 09/21/2010 12:06:38 PM PDT by irishtenor (Tag lines, they are not what they used to be...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

Now we need to know. What was the secret message that billy jeff clinton left on Monica’s blue dress?


35 posted on 09/21/2010 12:08:47 PM PDT by CommerceComet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

wank-o-gram?


36 posted on 09/21/2010 12:13:07 PM PDT by RFEngineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; ...
After that title, who cares about the article?


37 posted on 09/21/2010 1:00:26 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows

"Mike, what the hell are you doing?"

38 posted on 09/21/2010 1:28:31 PM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Razzz42

What if the required reports were several pages long? Installments? Shorthand? Morse code?


39 posted on 09/21/2010 1:30:24 PM PDT by biff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: llevrok

Looks like they need to pass on this information to the younger crime fighters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XltPSaJ2Dw4


40 posted on 09/21/2010 1:35:03 PM PDT by krb (Obama is a miserable failure.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson