Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-12-28
CLAIM JAPS
WOULD MINE
The HARBOR
JAP SPIES ARRESTED in MANILA
AND PLOT DISCOVERED TO
PLACE MINES IN HARBOR TO
BLow UP AMERICAN WAR YES
sEIS.

Manila. Dec. 2s.-The discovery
of a Japanese plot TO place mines Ia
Manila harbor to blow up American
warships. in case of hostilities be-
tween the two nations should ever
occur. is persistently reported in mil
itary circles here today. Although
General Duyal has said that the
search Of Japanese homes and stores
for explosives resulted in failure, It
is reported that the true facts and
the Official statement are at variance.
and that Duvall's men not only found
the explosives they sought, but they
also secured papers and maps show
ing beyond doubt that the Japanese
spies In Manila had perfect working
knowledge of the harbor and fortifi-
cations, and had planned carefully
where and how to place the bombs
they deemed essential in destroying
the American fleet.
Had the search been made alone
by military men, 1t is said that It
would have remained secret, but
the civil authorities we're called in to
help. and the FIST inkling of the true
facts came, It is alleged, from the po-
lice which were engaged in the
search.
IL is understood that the police
were called In by General Duvall to
hide the real purpose of his search,
believing that IL the military men
made the rounds of the Japanese
homes and stores, It would at once
attract attention.
1t is understood that Douvall has
threatened to court-martial any army
officer or man who tells the true re-
suit of the visit TO the Japanese quar-
ters. However, the civil authorities
have been SO impressed with the al
legged imminence of danger to the heet
that they have given broad hints at
the true state of affairs, and Manila
and the Philippine islands are agi-
tated over the reports.
Great excitement prevails In mill
tary and naval circles. The actions
OF the men and the unusual activity
of the officers and guards show that
something unusual is under way.
According to current reports to-
day. the papers discovered In the
Japanese search identify the so-called
agents of the government. It is re-
ported that as result of this infor-
nation a number of arrests have al
ready been made secretly. One ar
rest, according to report, was made
on Corregidor island, where the
most important defense Notifications
of the harbor are located.
The reports say that the Japanese
in the islands have been smuggling
explosives into the city for months,
and that dynamite, gun cotton and
other explosives already found are
believed to be only part OF what Is
already here. 1t is understood that
army oflcails are planning a careful
search OF the principal Japanese col
onies in the islands. believing that ex-
plosives may have been taken to some
OF the smaller settlements to be held
in readiness to send to Manila when
the actual planting of mines begins.
The reports have caused unusual
excitement. following the sinking al
Olangapo some months ano OF the
drydock Dewey The recent vehe-
ment denial of army officers that the
Japanese had anything TO do with the
sinking of the Dewey, coupled with
their activity recently in discovering
Japanese secret agents, has caused
people here 10 believe that the mill
tary authorities are endeavoring to
cover up the real facts in connection
with Japanese activity iu the islands.
The fact that no satisfactory ex-
planation OF the way In which the
Dewey sank has over been made and
that no court-martial has proceHdc
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