Double Cross in Cairo

by Nigel West

  – UnitedStates and South African troops are leaving, but not for the front: fortifications in west.

  – The 44th Infantry Division and HQ of the 15th Armoured Division arrive.

  – The 1st Indian Division is to go to Cyprus; The/British admiral is in charge of the Greek fleet.

  – The 44th Division is building fortifications between Cairo and Alexandria.

  – Leave for the Greek Navy has been stopped. Many troops are on the Canal and Sudanese border, and the 12th Division.

  – The 44th and 50th Division is in the Cairo area. The American Tank Destroyer Command in the Delta/and the 6th Regiment of Engineers.

  – British subjects registering for military service.

  – Two German spies and many civilians have been arrested. News of a possible attack on Crete.

  Study of CHEESE’S second tranche of messages, transmitted mainly in 1942, reflects his self-dependence in the absence of funds to recruit and maintain a well-informed spy-ring. Thus he made transmissions on topics that were within his grasp, including

  – Churchill passed Cairo eastwards. Landing exercises at Tabrit by Greeks and British. Remainder of Greek Division. Arriving at Alexandria, possibly for Crete.

  – A Greek Brigade left Kabrit.

  – The appointment of Generals Harold Alexander and Bernard Montgomery.

  – New armoured division arrives at Suez from England.

  – Possible that the 87th Armoured Brigade is part of the new division.

  – Charles de Gaulle remained three days at Cairo.

  – The 15th Armoured Division is still in the Cairo area. The Greek Brigade is moving from Alexandria to Kabrit for landing exercises.

  – Reaction of population to desert battle. Jews returning. Spitfire flying.

  – Troops crossing Canal possibly new armoured division of 20th Armoured Division.

  – British warned about the Caucasus and transferring troops from Africa.

  – Reshuffling of high officers in GHQ continues.

  – The white unicorn is the totem of the 15th Armoured Division.

  – Some Greek officers and NCOs remaining at Kabrit.

  – Greek training at Kabrit under Field Security supervision. Gliders have left the Canal area.

  – No troops left Alexandria for the Levant. Training at Kabrit will probably last a month.

  – Last convoy at Suez only British troops. Much artillery.

  – Senior officers arrive from England (linked with invasion of Italy).

  – Montgomery at the British Embassy, Conferred with Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, Harold Alexander and Arthur Tedder.

  – Supplies to 8th Army hampered by bad weather.

  – Civil population of Zuaha supplied by truck./Civil traffic allowed on the Cairo to Alexandria road. Restricted on the Suez–Port Said road.

  – The King of Greece in Cairo.

  – General Bernard Montgomery in Cairo.

  CHEESE also relied on the newspaper for some of his material, and his reports drawn directly from what had just been published included Indian troops in Persia; General George Brett in Cairo; air-raid damage; General de Gaulle in Cairo; the death of General William Gott; General de Gaulle and General Georges Catroux in Tripoli; Charles de Gaulle left the Levant; photo of General Alexander reviewing Polish artillery with heavy tanks; de Gaulle arrives at Brazzaville; five spies shot at Aleppo; General George W. Casey arrives from Iran; Greeks at the front; Air Marshal Arthur Tedder’s appointment; troops in the 9th Army; desert disaster; the Greek Commander-in-Chief; General Sir Bernard Paget succeeds General Sir Henry Wilson; General Sir William Holmes appointed to the 9th Army; Air Marshal Keith Park replaces Sholto Douglas; General Lloyd killed in an air accident; The King of Yugoslavia in Cairo; German traitors in Turkey; 2 Polish Corps containing Carpathian and Cresows Divisions fighting in Italy; The King of Yugoslavia in London; General Paget visited Cyprus; Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean is head of a British Military Mission to Tito; General Wilson and Lord Macmillan in Cairo for a conference; The King of Greece in London; Greek Brigade to be reorganised so as to help in the liberation of Greece; Nineteen delegates of political parties in Greece and in exile meeting in the Near East; Air Marshal Park returned here from a tour of Syria and Palestine.

  The wife of a Polish officer supplied the content of four messages; ‘her husband embarking at Port Said’; ‘Leave cancelled and rejoined his regiment in Cyrenaica; A Polish officer at Quassassih belongs to 2nd Armoured Brigade; Husband thinks Poles in Italy will soon launch an attack against the Albanian coast.’

  A 27th Lancers officer ‘arrived from England. His ‘leave cancelled – to rejoin his regiment in Cyenaica’; His ‘regiment is part of 8th Armoured Division which has left Cyrenaica and returned to Egypt’. He was ‘leaving for Syria with his regiment. Thinks other units of his division soon embarking for Europe.’

  Another source, a Hungarian interpreter, had been ‘chosen by Civil Affairs branch for his knowledge of Bulgarian’; Bulgarians frightened that they will undergo the same fate as Hungary’; Assisted at discussions in November and training branch on port of Varna’; ‘Going to 9th Army HQ at Aleppo’; ‘The English will soon be fighting side by side with Russians.’

  CHEESE also asserted, on his own account, that he had ‘seen no sign of 4 Division. Thinks must have left Egypt; South African troops at Heitan of the 7th Division; The railway line to Palestine blocked by a sandstorm; Divisions in Egypt: the 7th South African and 6th South African Armoured, 10th English Armoured, also division with the sign of a white unicorn; Many Greeks around Alexandria – perhaps a whole division. Also New Zealand and Polish and Indian troops at Congos. 8th Armoured and 4th Airborne Divisions to Libya and Cyrenaica; Troops with sign of green tree and black cat in Cairo; Greek Government crisis, Teomoninos resigned. Rumour that Venezilos or Romenos will be president. No Australian troops here, only airmen. Still many New Zealanders; Green tree sign belongs to 46 Division. It is London Division, were formerly in Italy. A summary of CHEESE’S sub-sources and the information they supplied implies that one of SIME’s tactics was to overwhelm the recipients with such volume and detail that it would appear inconceivable that anyone could devote the necessary resources to the creation of a dangerous fiction. And yet, that is precisely what was accomplished.

  Initially CHEESE started off with a relatively limited group of conscious and unconscious informants who relayed interesting gossip or reported their own observations, but gradually the network grew to encompass more than a dozen sources who occupied positions which gave them access to military secrets. Clarke’s methodology was to drip-feed the Abwehr with what might be termed pieces of a jigsaw, thereby allowing the enemy analysts to build their own picture, rather than hand the entire story to them, almost on a plate, an approach which would be more likely to cause them to question its authenticity, By allowing them to reach their own conclusions, apparently independently, using their own military doctrine, Clarke believed that the objective could be better accomplished.

  Among the first was described as ‘ESR friend’ who reported military observations, such as gliders spotted near the Suez Canal, troops crossing the canal to Palestine despite the desert battle, possibly a new armoured division or the 20th Armoured Division; the bridge at Firdan; Australian troops at Kabrit, troops crossing the Canal; Australians leaving Kabrit; American gliders in crates at Suez. Another source was a BOAC employee who claimed that General Martel passed through Cairo while on a visit to Benghazi; reported that Generals Richard Casey and Alexander, and Air Marshal Tedder were going to Baghdad; noted that a BOAC pilot had remarked that there would be an Anglo-American invasion of Italy in November 1942.

  A South African sergeant, Piet, was employed as General John Whiteley’s confidential secretary. He submitted reports about Canadian troops in Palestine and Syria; that there was no Canadian armoured regiment in Cairo; that the 19th Division was not in Tobruk, but Polish troops of the 50th Division were. That the British
were dissatisfied with American tanks; that British and Australian troops were to leave Tobruk; that reinforcements were to be delivered from Alexandria to Tobruk; that British forces feared an imminent German offensive; that Australian troops from Tobruk were being transferred to Syria; that General Wavell had made a secret visit to Cairo; the 1st Armoured Division and three infantry divisions were to be sent to the Russian front on the Caucasus; that the British were expecting tank reinforcements; gave false dates for a British offensive in November to delay a German attack. That only Indian and South African troops, and the 1st Armoured Division, would be left in the Western Desert; that the 50th Division was being withdrawn.

  Some of CHEESE’S sources only appeared once in his traffic. AHAN reported on 23 January 1945 that there were twenty cargo ships and one destroyer at Suez. An unnamed British officer mentioned that General Carton de Wiart had passed through Cairo recently on his way from the Far East.

  CHEESE’S fifth sub-source was an American journalist who mentioned a naval attack on Tripoli; had been ordered by the navy to report to Alexandria on 1 January; that naval plans had been spoiled by bad weather; that Australian troops were in Alexandria, en route to Palestine.

  MISANTHROPE, of course, turned into a key source, and she pumped a friend, allegedly a US Army Air Force sergeant, William Schultz, for details of American troops in the Middle East, and the deployment of American aircraft leaving for Syria and Cyprus. Schultz was first mentioned by CHEESE who reported on 11 September 1941 that ‘my girlfriend has got to know a sergeant in the US Air Force’.

  She also reported seeing tanks in central Cairo, and one of her acquaintances, a Polish officer, of the Carpathian cavalry, from Baghdad, told her that General Wilson had received reinforcements, including Polish troops; and rejoined his regiment in Iran. Her other messages included reports that the green tree unit insignia was no longer seen in Alexandria; two British destroyers had arrived in Alexandria, having escorted a battleship to Port Said; the London Division had left Alexandria ‘some days ago by sea’. Six large merchant ships had arrived in the ‘port on the 22nd; carrying English troops of which several thousands are already in the town. Heard they had come from Italy’. She also claimed to have seen ‘three aircraft carriers at Alexandria on the 1st. Heard they had arrived on the 25th accompanied by American destroyers. About fifty merchant ships in Alexandria harbour’. Three transmissions later CHEESE noted that she had said there were still about fifty freighters in Alexandria and some small warships – destroyers – but no battleships or aircraft carriers. She also saw about forty big tanks on the quay bearing the words ‘USA-Turkey Lease Lend’ and mentioned that there were only a few troops in Alexandria.

  MISANTHROPE continued her observations, reporting that ‘four destroyers left port yesterday after a stay of a few days. An Italian submarine and the Greek cruiser Georgios Averof were in Alexandria where South African troops were based at the garrison at the Moustapha barracks. Soon afterwards she noted seven aircraft carriers, accompanied by several destroyers had arrived recently at Alexandria. These participated in the invasion of the South of France and are undergoing repairs while the crews rest. Three messages later she reported that ‘English sailors very numerous in town last few days. Only two of aircraft carriers left; several destroyers and a cruiser in port. Other aircraft carriers on maneuvers along the coast several kilometres from Alexandria’. Her next transmissions were:

  About fifty merchant ships at Alexandria. Of aircraft carriers which arrived and left, there are still three or four. Not many troops in Alexandria. Mostly South African or Palestinian.

  Seven messages later she reported:

  Much maritime activity last few days. Two big convoys of battleships and transports left port 15th and 19th for Greece carrying soldiers who mostly wore sign of chequerboard or little black bird.

  Three messages later she elaborated, ‘black bird resembles stork standing with a branch in its beak. The Jewish Brigade has left for Italy. Intense shipping movement to Greece’.

  MISANTHROPE’s reports from Alexandria continued, mentioning ‘a big battleship at Alexandria on 13th. Do not know destination’. Soon afterwards, ‘several trucks seen with sign of chequerboard in Alexandria last few days. Also seen sign of red goat on white shield. Two cruisers, several destroyers, about forty cars in port on 2nd. Still plenty of traffic with Greece’.

  Another of MISANTHROPE’s sources was an Australian artilleryman from the 9th Division. She also knew a US Army Air Force officer, Sam, who confided that he thought an Anglo-American invasion of Italy was imminent; that American bombers were due to arrive in Egypt to participate in air raids on Italy. Sam also speculated about an attack on Sicily, but SIME went to elaborate lengths to promote him as a credible personality. He was aged thirty-three but looked younger, and had a

  cheerful personality but has occasional (of short duration) bouts of gloom. Moderate drinker except when out for a deliberate ‘binge party’; good mixer, an infectious chuckle rather than hearty laughter. Definitely a way with him so far as women are concerned. Pleasant manners, dresses neatly, even when in flying kit.

  Sam’s SIME dossier described him as an ‘experienced navigator and pilot’ who had spent ‘the early part of the war on the North Atlantic ‘run’. For the last nine months however, has been on the South Atlantic and similar crossings. Sam also had a ‘great friend who is now with American forces in the desert, and through this friend was introduced to the amie, some weeks back. Finds the amie definitely attractive, apart from her looks. Thinks that it must be her accent. Amie finds her a much better dance partner than the other American,

  One day, checks in with American Air Force headquarters enquires for his friend. Told that his friend is at Shepheard’s Hotel, but due to report back to his unit within a few hours. Contacts friend, who is in a hell of a hurry, and pretty mad at having to miss date with amie. Sam learns ‘what to do’ and in his turn is fed up because he will miss the fun. Lunch is more liquid than solid. With the wisdom engendered of whisky, friend suggests that he should keep his date with the amie; after some bibulous argument, he agrees for friendship’s sake although he would rather accompany his pal. They part, the friend to his unit, Sam to bed for the afternoon. When he wakens, and has one or two to remove taste of his sleep, he rings up amie, tells her that the other fellow has had his leave cancelled, and can he keep date instead? Amie pricks up her ears about the cancelled leave.

  MISANTHROPE also noted having seen American and South African troops in Cairo; Tanks with German totems had been spotted in Cairo; French and Greek troops; Sudanese troops bearing a giraffe totem; Indian and Cape Corps South African troops noted, along with American sentries; Rhodesia, Commandos and Rand Rifles spotted; Guns on the Mena road, New Zealand vehicles bearing a bird totem; South African instead of American sentries. Trenches and barbed wire seen beside a desert road; Tank Corps, Scottish and South African troops observed. Lorries from the New Zealand 6th Division seen; Cargo ships at Alexandria were said to be destined for Malta; Reports of the 51st Division, Greek and Australian troops; Armoured cars and Polish troops seen near Barrage; many Scottish troops, parachutists and vehicles with scorpion emblems seen in Cairo; large American aircraft in the Delta; about 100 planes seen over Cairo; Totems bearing a white unicorn and white bird on a black background; A black and white dagger on a red background seen; Free French soldiers seen; American aviators in Cairo, also New Zealand trucks bearing emblems with four white stars on blue; Australians on leave from the desert; no visible air-raid damage at Heliopolis; South African and New Zealand troops on leave; American aviators and troops seen in Cairo; new South African troops on guard at the embassy; wounded soldiers seen from British regiments, among them the Durham Light Infantry, the East Yorkshires and the East Kents; lorries on desert road with totem ‘GO’ and Tank Corps drivers; soldiers of the South African Division; infantry sentries at GHQ; increase of Americans; RAF convoy on Abbassia road; more English naval officers in
Cairo.

  Thirteen of CHEESE’S messages directly concerned his office where he kept his ear to the ground and reported on such diverse topics as headings on the agenda, ‘Leaving for Derna’ and ‘News planning staff HQ/GEORGE’. He also spotted a document entitled ‘the civil evacuation of Tripoli’ and in two signals referred to an unnamed officer who had ‘returned from Cyrenaica with General Wilson via Benghazi and Tobruk’, and had been heard to remark that the ‘British had underestimated ammunition supplies at Mareth.’ CHEESE also reported that one of his colleagues ‘was with the 12th Division in Cyrenaica. Heavy traffic on the Tobruk line. The Tobruk-Benghazi line being extended’. The officer to whom CHEESE allegedly answered was responsible for several items, including

  Recruiting Arab labour for Cyrenaica landing grounds; The visit of Turkish officers to the Tunisian front, friend from Ninth Corps; Still recruiting Arab labour.

  CHEESE’S office underwent a reorganisation, an event which he said had been ‘delayed until after the final attack of the 8th Army’. This allegedly would not take place ‘before May’ and on 15 May announced the formation of the ATB’. Another office contact was the interpreter employed by the Telegraph Officer, and he was credited with the news that a new railway line had been built between Tobruk and Derna.

  Without any money to buy top-level information, CHEESE often resorted to peddling rumours that were in circulation, and the topics he passed on included:

  – Auchinleck offensive in Libya; Possible landings at Benghazi, Tripoli, Crete, Rhodes. Airborne troops leaving for Palestine.

  – British offensive in Libya if Russian resistance continues.

  – Approaching British offensive.

  – British offensive mid-October.

  – British offensive shortly.

  – South African troops leaving for the desert; Artillery and tanks on the desert road.

  – ‘German’ tanks for an American Brigade.