The Road to En-dor
Page 39
Code II.
If the alphabet be coded on Code II. (which is what I did) and the result decoded on Code I. (which is what Little had to do), it will be found that twenty-two of the twenty-six letters are represented by the letter immediately to their left in Matthews’s rearrangement; and of the remaining four letters two are two places to the left and two are in the correct position. The proportion of cases in which the letter appeared one to the left of where it should be was great enough to make the investigators believe that the Spook was purposely writing in this way. They either did not notice, or passed over as negligible, the four exceptions. Yet in these exceptions lay the clue to the trick.
Appendix III
Extract From The Telepathy Code
I give below enough of the Telepathy Code used by Hill and myself to show the system on which we worked. The portion here given is about one-sixth of the whole code.
In order to indicate any article to me Hill asked the question in the horizontal column in which the article appeared, and added the word or words at the head of the perpendicular column. Thus:
‘Tell me what this is,’ meant a pipe.
‘Can you tell us what this article is?’ meant a photograph.
‘Yes, what’s this one?’ meant a strap. And so on. (The italics indicate the key words.)
The table given shows eighty articles. By prefixing the word ‘now’ to his question, Hill let me know he was referring to a second series of eighty articles. ‘Now, tell me what this is,’ did not mean a ‘pipe’, but it referred to the article in the corresponding position in the second series. Similarly a prefix of ‘now then’ referred to a third series. And so on. The questions were very much alike and it required an acute observer to notice that no two were exactly the same.
The addition of the words ‘in my hand’ indicated that only a portion of the article in the list had been shown. Thus when Slim Jim produced the stump of a candle Hill’s question was, ‘Do you know what this is in my hand?’
Each question in the horizontal columns also stood for a letter of the alphabet, so that it was possible (though slow) to spell out the name of an article.
Both the questions in the horizontal columns and the headings of the vertical columns were used to indicate numbers. Thus, ‘Tell me quickly if you can say what this number is? Come along! Don’t you know it?’ is 6 5 2 0 1 4 1 2.
We had key words for decimals, fractions, subtraction, addition, and for repetition of the last-named figure. We also had keywords to indicate any officer or man in the camp.
If the same thing was handed up to Hill twice in succession the question could nearly always be varied in form. Thus a ‘pipe’ is indicated either by ‘Tell me what this is’ or ‘Good! What’s this?’
Finally we had a system for using the code without speaking at all, which we employed with success at a private séance in ‘Posh Castle’, but which is too intricate to describe here. An amusing result of our use of this alternative system was to bewilder completely those in the company who thought the message was conveyed by the form of Hill’s question to me. They argued (quite fallaciously), that because we could do it without speaking, therefore what Hill said to me when he did speak had nothing to do with my answers.
I ought, perhaps, to add that perfection in the use of the code involves a good deal of memory work and constant practice. Nothing but the blankness of our days in Yozgad and the necessity of keeping our minds from rusting could have excused the waste of time entailed by preparation for a thought-reading exhibition. It is hardly a fitting occupation for free men.
Appendix IV
Extract From the Secret Séance Diaries
During the period from 2nd February 1918 to 26th April 1918 Harry and Cedric kept secret diaries and records of the séances that they conducted in Yozgad as part of the hoax which formed a central part of their escape plans. These were smuggled out of Turkey by Captains O’Farrell, Matthews, Freeland and Miller and Lieutenants Nightingale and Hickman after the war, together with photographs taken secretly by Harry and Cedric and others.
The diaries comprise parts originally written by Harry (who appears to have compiled the first 5¾ pages) and parts by Cedric himself (who has recorded the full séance records from the 2nd Dispensary séance held on 17th February 1918). The two parts overlap, with Cedric concentrating on the details of the séances and Harry recording activity outside the séances and the period before he joined forces with Cedric. The actual séance diaries are in Cedric’s hand. It is believed that he compiled the records from Harry’s own diaries and from transcribing the detailed séance recordings made by Moïse, the sitter, at the séances.
The diaries are written as if the events described were actually happening – instead of them being a hoax. This makes them strange to read. The reason was probably to protect Harry and his co-conspirator from reprisal and punishment by the Turks if the diaries and records were discovered and the hoax was revealed. The diaries record that Moïse found Harry’s notes on 8th/9th February and Harry probably thought that writing in this way wove an even greater web and further supported the existence of the ‘Spook’. He and Cedric wanted the diaries to read as if the events they were contriving through the hoaxes actually happened.
During their confinement and separation from the other prisoners Harry and Cedric had limited access to paper. To make it easier to conceal the records, they also wanted to keep the paper used to a minimum. They therefore wrote the diaries in the smallest writing they could manage by eye using a specially prepared pen. The total number of pages, covering the entire series of hoaxes, amounts to only twenty-four. An example of one of the pages is illustrated here. The original sheet size is 20cm x 12cm (a little less than A5) and the writing, whilst done by eye, is difficult to read without the help of a magnifying glass. The page selected covers part of the séance held on 17th February 1918 during which the ‘Spook’ wrote a magic letter (See Chapter IX) and which contained the coded message in Playfair Code (half way down).
Harry referred to the diaries extensively as source material for ‘The Road to En-dor’ which includes many extracts. The minute detail of the séances provides a fascinating insight into the care and psychological tricks with which Harry and Cedric turned the Ouija board into a tool with which they ensnared the Turkish hierarchy at Yozgad camp and were able to shape their escape.
Throughout the hoax Harry, as the lawyer, was responsible for the overall plan of escape, the moving of the glass around the Ouija Board and the answers and multiple traps set by the ‘Spook’. Cedric, as the highly proficient amateur conjuror, was responsible for all manifestations of the ‘Spook’ and the enemy ‘spooks’, the taking of photographic evidence, and various palming tricks.
Appendix V
Examples of Coded Messages from E.H. Jones Concerning the Escape
During their stay in Yozgad prisoners wrote letters and postcards home. Many of these contained coded messages which managed to escape the Turkish censors.
Harry Jones was no exception and many of his letters and cards, including the coded messages, have survived. The earlier messages described the terrible ordeals of the troops who suffered so badly on their march from Kut-el-Amarah to captivity. These were deciphered and given to Lloyd George’s government who were able to commence enquiries through neutral governments. Later messages contained pointers for his family that he planned to escape and included sufficient clues for his family to know that it was being achieved through some form of stealth although he also told them, without being detected by the Turks, that he had planned to breakout on skis until he hurt his leg.
The full set of surviving letters and coded cards can be found in ‘Harry’s story’, an e-book on the website accompanying this book. Included in this Appendix are five cards and one letter written during the peak of the séances at the time when the escape by Harry and Cedric was at an advanced stage. The decrypted messages follow each card and relate to incidents in The Road to En-dor.
To: Sir Henry Jones, Tighnabruaich, Argyllshire, Scotland, England [sic] (his father)
From: E.H. Jones 2nd Lieut., I.A.R., Prisoner of War at Yozgad, Turkey. Number 54
Received a card from my wife dated 6th January, & one from Tendia, & I received also a letter from dear old Bubbles who is pressing me very hard to commence hard work in law. I ought (and must) arrange useful reading. ‘Common Law’ – a damnably dry uninteresting book – arrived a few days ago. So tell B. I am ready to begin with the warm weather. I am quite well. Love to all at home. Harry
Notes and hidden messages:
1. The word ‘Tendia’ is the imperative of ‘Tendio’ (‘to watch’, ‘to take care’ in Welsh) and means ‘watch’, ‘take care’ indicating that there is a hidden message buried in the card that must be deciphered. The encrypted message is as follows:
2. The reference to ‘Bubbles’ is believed to be short for ‘Bubblyjock’, a Scottish word for a turkey (the farmyard bird). ‘Bubbles’ by inference is therefore taken to mean ‘Turks’.
3. There is a code in the phrase ‘commence hard work in law. I ought (and must) arrange useful reading. ‘Common Law’ – a damnably dry uninteresting’. Taking the initial letters of each word spells out ‘Chwilio am aur claddu’ which is the Welsh for ‘Search for buried gold’ – the treasure hunt described in the book.
4. Putting the two together: ‘I received also a letter from dear old Bubbles who is pressing me very hard to commence hard work in law. I ought (and must) arrange useful reading. ‘Common Law’ – a damnably dry uninteresting’ is stating ‘I have received orders from the Turks to search for buried gold’.
5. Although Harry and Cedric were still waiting for Colonel Maule’s letter to be posted they were continuing to work on the plan to embroil the camp Commandant in a search for the Armenian treasure and Harry was relaying this home to his family as part of the indictment of the camp Commandant, also verified by photographic evidence.
6. Three days after sending this letter home, on 6th March 1918, Harry and Cedric were summoned by the camp Commandant Kiazim Bey to the carefully arranged ‘trial’ for communicating war news by telepathy, following which they were confined to separate quarters in the building known as ‘The Colonels’ House’.
7. Harry and Cedric were moved to The Colonels’ House on 7th March 1918. Two days later they had their first séance there designed to draw in further the camp Commandant.
Postcard Dated 13th March 1918
To: Mrs E.H. Jones, Brynkynallt, Bangor N. Wales, England [sic] (his wife) (re-addressed to c/o Lady Jones, Noddfa, Tighnabruaich, Argyllshire)
From: E.H. Jones 2nd Lieut., I.A.R., Prisoner of War at Yozgad, Turkey. Number 54
My dear wife. No news except that I am well and have left my old mess to chum with Lieutenant Hill of the Flying Corps. We have a comfortable room in another house, and have been here since March 7th. To ensure smooth running in our new mess, we play at being Boy Scouts, that is to say we bind ourselves to do at least one Act of Kindness a day. Hill has got well ahead of me with a dozen to his credit while I have only five. But I’ll light the stove tomorrow which will be one extra! Great Fun! Harry
Notes and hidden messages:
1. This is the first reference to Cedric – Lieutenant C.W. (Cedric Waters) Hill of the Flying Corps. It was with Lieutenant Hill that Harry contrived the Ouija Board subterfuge which enabled both of them to escape. The move from the mess to separate quarters was all part of that escape plan.
2. Harry and Cedric were instructed by the Spook during the séance of 9th March 1918 to write that they were ‘together in a very comfortable house’. This message is contained in this card. Harry knew that the Turks would act on the Spook’s orders, thereby give priority to sending his letters home and unknowingly helping his coded messages to get through. The scheme worked, with each letter being sent ‘by first mail after it was written – a good fortnight ahead of those of the rest of the camp’.
3. Every letter sent home at that time ‘was loud in its praises of the Turks but the eulogies contained a very pretty cipher which informed our friends at home of our absurd conviction and asked for an enquiry’. The card should therefore be carefully scrutinised.
4. It is believed that the message in the card is as follows. The reference to ‘Boy Scouts’ is code for ‘Be Prepared’, the motto of the Boy Scouts, but here saying a message is coming. The words ‘Act’, ‘twelve’ and ‘five’ in the following text, otherwise incongruous, can be interpreted to mean Acts XII, verse 5 which says ‘Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him’. This, combined with the word ‘bind’, meant that they were in jail, as conveyed in other cards. The reference to the ‘one extra’ probably points to the next verse which includes the words ‘the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison’.
5. The card was written on 13th March 1918 (it is postmarked in Bangor, North Wales 12th May 1918) but has a hand written date of ‘13/3/16’. The use of ‘16’ instead of ‘18’ in the date is unlikely to be a mistake by Harry. It is believed to refer to Acts XVI which contains the story of the imprisonment of Paul and Silas (for which read Harry and Cedric) and their subsequent release by their captors (a perfect analogy for Harry and Cedric’s escape plan). On 16th March, Harry repeated this analogy, this time referring specifically to Paul and Silas.
6. On the day Harry wrote this postcard, he and Cedric held the second séance in the Colonels’ House during which the ‘Spook’ gave instructions to reduce their diet. The hidden objective was to make them lose weight to give them the gaunt expressions of men ‘under control’, slowly going mad. The beginnings of the ‘science’ of thought transmission were planted at this séance. Cedric also pickpocketed (and returned) Moïse’s private questions to enable Harry to formulate the answers at the next séance held the following day.
Postcard Dated 15th March 1918
To: Sir Henry Jones, The Professor of Moral Philosophy, Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, England, N.B. [SIC] (re-directed to Medrox, Tighnabruaich)
From: Capt. C.B. Mundey, 1st Oxf & Bucks: Light Infantry, Prisoner of War Yozgad, Turkey. Number 35
Hope you are well. Have asked Lang Preston, Rington, Inglesbury Suffolk on no few occasions rectify the entries left. Enfield portion assigned to Harris Young. You had better look into it. I never trusted wee Devon when I knew him at Duke Street. We are all well, longing to return home which I hope won’t be long a nice fishing trip again in Korkraik. Kind regards. Yrs C.B. Mundey
Notes and hidden messages:
1. The card is from Captain C.B. Mundey who was a good friend of Harry’s in Yozgad. He is described as being the camp’s ‘Champion Cryptogrammist’. Captain Mundey was a participant in the early séances run by Harry and was an early ‘believer’.
2. The ‘N.B.’ at the end of the address indicates the card is coded. The code is part of Harry’s first escape plan – to get a message to the British government that he has been wrongfully imprisoned. The initial letters of the sentences ‘Have asked Lang Preston, Rington, Inglesbury Suffolk on no few occasions rectify the entries left. Enfield portion assigned to Harris Young’ spells out ‘Hal prison for telepathy’. The next sentence asks Sir Henry to investigate.
3. Harry was hoping an enquiry would secure their release and Captain Mundey would have sent this card at Harry’s request. Other similar coded messages were sent. The coded messages got through but the War Office in London decided not to act on the information – they said it was too dangerous to interfere, for Harry’s and Cedric’s sakes.
4. The words ‘I never trusted wee Devon when I knew him at Duke Street’ probably contain a message but this remains obscure.
5. ‘Korkraik’, a misspelling of ‘Kawkereik’, is a town in Lower Burma where Harry worked before the war. It is located east
of Moulmein (now Mawlamyine) near the border with Thailand. Exactly why it is included in this postcard from Captain Mundey is uncertain and is suspected that its inclusion probably points to another message from Harry. There is a river running through Kawkereik but the reference to fishing, especially by Captain Mundey, is odd.
6. The night before this card was written, on 14th March 1918, the third séance in the Colonel’s House was held. This was the important séance which explained the ‘science’ of thought transfer in detail, introduced the new spook ‘OOO’ as an enemy agent and prevented Moïse, through his lack of knowledge of Armenian, from learning the location of the buried treasure – thereby setting up the means by which Harry and Cedric could induce the Turks to take them to the coast from where they could escape.
7. This escape included kidnapping the camp Commandant Kiazim Bey, the camp Interpreter Moïse and Kiazim Bey’s orderly, the Cook, as part of the plan. Wild as it seems this was entirely possible and Harry and Cedric came very close to achieving it. The plan, which also involved taking Lieutenant A.B. Matthews (who was working with Harry and Cedric by developing the necessary navigation instruments for the sea voyage), was however, to be inadvertently thwarted by Captain Mundey in mid April 1918 who, (suspecting foul play on the part of the Turks) took action which he thought was in Harry and Cedrics’ interests but which meant that they had to abandon their escape plan and adopt a new plan. Harry refers to him as ‘X’ in The Road to En-dor.