Intelligence agents shadowing the son of the Kaiser who is a young man, a sailor, in a foreign port and facing some danger (smugglers probably shoot back). Suspect they are looking to see if they can find (or honey trap) some evidence or indiscretion that can be used as leverage at some point in the future.
Given ONI's previous track record in the field & up against Germans, I'd say that while they might be trying something along those lines, they could try something stupid ala Finley or they COULD end up being mistaken for smugglers by the pan-European anti-smuggling patrols, including one Kaiserliche Marine gunboat. Hell, they could even be mistaken for undercover cops by the smugglers, who could then take... steps. Best case scenario from Louis Jr.'s point of view is that his crew twigs to who they are & decides that some... creative measures, let us say, are required.
A bar in a Greek seaport, sailors from the
Rauchbier are drinking with some colleagues from the Greek & Royal Navies:
German sailor #1: "There they are again!"
German sailor #2: "Who?"
German sailor #1: "Those Americans. I swear they're following us. They were in Piraeus, Thessaloniki and now here in Constantinople."
German sailor #3: "Shit. He's right. They are following us."
German sailor #2: "Or at least they're following the Skipper."
German sailor #3 (sips drink while watching Americans out of the corner of his eye): " Maybe we should discourage them from doing that?"
British Sailor (with an evil smile): "I have an idea or two that might help."
Greek sailor (echoing the evil smile): "My cousin is a cop, that might come in handy too."
Sometime later...
ONI agent #1: "Wake up!"
ONI agent #2 & 3: "Wha... where are we? Oh, God! What's that smell?"
ONI agent #1: "I think its a brothel & that smell is us. Now shut up, we're in trouble."
ONI agent #2: "Why are you wearing a dress?"
ONI agent #1: "Look who's talking."
ONI agents #2 & 3 (glancing down): "Shit!"
ONI agent #1: "That's what I said. Now be quiet. We have to get out of here, fast."
ONI agent #3: "I'll say. This is embarrassing."
ONI agent #2: "Those fucking German sailors! They must have set this up!"
(Shouting in Greek outside the room. The door crashes open to reveal Greek policemen.)
ONI agents (together): "Oh, shit."