Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-07-08
SPANISH SPIES.
An Elaborate System OF Espionage
Is SIN Kept Up in the
United States.
Downright. 1851


because it was known he had been
seeking to learn certain facts relative
10 the strength Of our forts and their
defensive equipment. This man was
Lieut.. Sobral, and in plain and I'M
compromising English he was spy, or
member of the Spanish secret service,
which implies the same thing.
Before he left this country he had
been elected from several forts along
the south Atlantic coast, where he had
been found endeavoring to gain access
to those mysteries which no man, un-
less he wears the blue of the United
States army, can righteously know
aught of, even in times of peace. This
was the first intimation this country
had that Spain would introduce here
the same system of espionage she en-
ploys at home. Following Sobraps ex-
pulson from the country came the
knowledge that Spanish spies were
working in Washington, watching
every move made there; that they
swarmed at Key West; and in New
York city, where they maintained a
strict surveillance over the members of
the Cuban junta.
Many Of these spies were American
citizens, or at least nominally so, for
their work was done under the direc-
ton of well-known detective agency,
acting, Of course, with the Spanish rep
resentat:ves here. These men were
principally engaged in preventing the
shipment Of stores and arms to Cuba.
At one time it was impossible to enter
or leave the building where the junta
has its headquarters without observing
one or more men hanging about the
place, apparently with nothing to do
and making vain effort TO do it as
gracefully as possible. These were
thrilling times in the annals of the jun
Ia, when Reubens, Palma and Capt.
Dynamite Johnny" O'Brien were reg
uiar,y followed 10 and from their homes
10 their headquarters. These w1rc
good times, too, for the American detec-
tive agency. But all this was mere
clumsy work, more of an annoyance
than anything else, and scarcely any
hiIdrance to the shipping of arms and
stores, when the junta was fortunate
enough TO have the arms and stores to
ship.
But now, since the declaration of
war, the spy question has assumed an
aspect as serious MS ii was unlocked
for. Spain is working silently, secret
ly and through what is one of the best
handled branches of her government
and with all the Latins' natural love of
intrigue. She is no longer paying much
heed 10 Palma or Eeubens, or to Capt.
Dynamite Johnny" o'Brien. She is
playing a bigger game. American de-
tcctives no longer represent her in
terests here--an impossbiliy under en-
isting conditions, of course. Under
FOO has been established most com
plete department of espionage which he
controls from the refuge Canada of.
rers to him.
The gathering together Of informa-
ton and those facts which usually con
Germ the operations of secret service of
civilized countries seems to be side
issue with this particular department.
The scope Of its operations is along
different lines from those usually fol-
lowed by the mere spy.
Polo's intentions appears to be to
carry the war into America in a new
and startling Misunderstanding be-
cause his movements cannot be seen or
foretod until the blow is struck. He is
making use of the corps under his con-
troll to place the bomb of the anarchist
ard apply the torch of the inceEdiary
under our arsenals and those build
irgs where the government stores its
supplies for the army and navy.
Thus far he has been successful in his
cowardly scheming and his emissaries
have celebrated his success with many
tons of good American gunpowder and
at the cost Of some good American
lives. Bombs have been found in the
coal reserved for US aboard our men.
of-war. They have even been taken
from the coal bunkers Of our ships and
they have been found in certain OF the
government buildings at Washington
Indeed, the situation has become so
serious that it is now almost impossible
for strangers to visit man-of-war or
enter fort. In Washington the doors
Of the state, war and navy depart
ments are closed to the general public
and are likely TO remain SO for some
time to come.
1t must be remembered that there are
in America thousands of Spaniards
who, unless they commit some overt
act of violence, can enjoy all the priv
leges accorded to citizen. This, to.
gsther with our mixed population, in
many quarters made up largely Of the
peoples Of southern Europe, all more or
less of one type, all speaking languages
which to unframed ears at least are
almost identical one with another, gives
the Spanish spy in America the protec.
ton and freedom from suspicion and
surveillance he would hardly meet with
IL any other country and which, by the
inverse, offers no opportunity for the
American spy in Spain should we
choose to make use of the same meth
DDS.
These Spaniards are playing des-
perate game, however. It's literally at
the peril of their necks. for should a
man be apprehended there would be no
possibility of escaping the ignominious
death that usually waits on such ser.
vices. Sobral was allowed to 60, though
there is no question but that his con-
duct was so discriminating that he was
liable to arrest, trial and, if convicted,
death, had this country cared to hold
him. His fate abroad would be easy to
foretell. His guilt was almost as great
as that which brought Maj. Andre to
his death in the times Of the revolu-