Crows are Black Everywhere

Major Herbert O. Yardley led an exciting and amazing life. As the deviser of a new diplomatic cipher code for the Department of State; and as head of the U.S. Government's cryptographic department-the so-called Black Chamber-from 1919-1929, he contributed enormously to the U.S. efficiency in war and in peace. During World War II, he served as a Major, becoming chief of military intelligence No. 8 in 1917. Later he served on General Pershing's staff as a military observer. He was in charge of military intelligence in C-17 at the peace conference, and on the basis of his record received the Distinguished Service medal.From 1938 to 1940, Yardley acted as personal adviser to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese nationalist politician, revolutionary and military leader, who served as the leader of the Republic of China between 1928-1975, first in China until 1949, and then in Taiwan until his death.Yardley's two years as Chiang Kai-shek's adviser form the background for the story told in the present volume, Crows Are Black Everywhere, which was first published in 1945. It tells &quote;an intricate story of espionage and counterespionage in Chungking, in which are involved an American girl reporter, Peggy, who wants to be impartial-and finds she cannot; Bill, instructor of Chinese fighter pilots, and Tina, his Eurasian mistress, whose half-brother is Wang, of doubtful patriotism; Fritz, a German-American who has designs on Peggy; and various other expatriates, spies and loyal Chinese.&quote;A gripping read!