South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-19
CABINET To LOOK
INTO SPY. STORIES
President Wilson Orders All
Department Heads to Bring
Information Friday.

dence in the possession OF the govern
ment regarding the activities of al
legged German spies and the ramirca-
tons OF what is claimed to be an iile-
gal propaganda to Overturn the policy
of the United States, will be carefully
considered at the cabinet meeting Fri
day.
1t was learned "Wednesday also
that the president who Is conversant
with some of the more important de
tails. has called upon the heads of all
departments 10 submit 10 him at once
a digest of all evidence or information
so far obtained.
The president already has discussed
the subject with Atty Gen. Gregory
and Sec'y Of the Navy Daniels.
Wednesday afternoon Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, the British ambassador,
had an extended conference with
Sec'y of State Lansing II was given
out that the topic under discussion
was Mexico. but there il good reason
to believe that the activity of alleged
German agents was talked about at
some length. The British foreign Of
flee is credited with having given
much information along these lines TO
the state department particularly in
relation TO the attempt that is claimed
to have been made by German agents
pinos.
German Official Gets Letter.
One phase of the recent expose
that has attracted serious attention on
the part of the administration is the
letter addressed 10 an unnamed Ger
man official of high rank advising him
of the efforts that had been put forth
TO create sentiment in congress favor
able TO legislation authorizing an en-
barge on the export of munitions of
war In this letter the names Of a
number of important democratic
statesmen We're mentioned as being
favorable to the movement.
1t is understood that the presidents
advisers are seriously disturbed over
this publication not only because of
the fact that ii disCloses an effort TO
Influence legislation that would in
the judgment of the president violate
the spirit of American neutrality, but
that il would operate injuriously
against the democratic party if car
RED into effect.
Officers of the navy department
and Commissioner of Navigation
Chamberlain Wednesday concluded
their investigation of the report
brought TO both departments that a
secret wireless station had been erect
ed here To take off" all messages sent
by the Arlington government station.
1t was discovered on the residence of
a German citizen, but proved TO be a
harmless amateur set of instruments
that would be incapable of doing the
work attributed 10 it.
Daniels In Admission.
Sec'y Daniels Wednesday revealed
some of the circumstances that led to
the taking over of the Sayville wire
less station. He admitted also that
there had been recent complaints since
the government took charge that Sc
cret code messages were still being
sent under the guise of harmless BUSH
ness communications and said the
censorship had been greatly frightened.
Some of these suspected messages
have been refused.
Discussing the stories printed in a
Providence newspaper, Mr. Daniels
said John r. RathOm. editor of that
paper, wrote to Pres't Wilson some
time ago that he had reason TO believe
the Sayville wireless station was send
ing disguised code messages. At the
suggestion of the president, Mr.. Ra
thOm was requested to come TO Wash
ington. He did so and held a night
conference at the navy department
with Sec'y Daniels, James Brown Scott
and Capt Oliver of the neutrality
board
suspicious hcSSst1CS INtIuStu.
AS a result of the information dis
closed. instructions were given 10 Say
vile TO refer TO the department all
messages that looked suspicious. Sew
eral of this character were sent to the
department and after being scrutinized
the censOrs were instructed TO notify
the senders they could not be sent in
that form. As a further assurance
against the violation of neutrality, sew
Il Il,
navy were sent to SayVille. A number
of the messages were shown 10 the
president. They related largely to laces
and other fabrics and were SO WOrded
that a meaning entirely different from
the apparent one could be given them.
Capt. Billiard, in charge of the navy
wireless service. went TO Providence
and examined the information in pos
session of the newspaper Much of il
was documentary in character. Sec'y
Daniels would not say whether he re-
garded il as absolutely reliable, but
he did say it was extremely interest
ing" Mr.. Daniels added that the de-
partment had never obtained anything
in the way of direct evidence that Ger
many was sending military infOrma-
ton under the guise of commercial
messages
The secretary did not recall any
quoted in his newspaper that he had
evidence TO show there was a German
spy in the navy department. Capt.
Oliver also failed TO recall any such
statement. Sec'y Daniels has written
Mr.. Rathom asking him for further
information on the subject
Pres't Samuel GOmpers. of the
American Federation of Labor. today
was urged to make public the infor-
nation he possessed upon which he
based his statement that if the gov
eminent investigated the efforts 10
cOrruptly influence men in connection
with certain strikes it would be fruit
full in results
Mr.. GOmpers declined
My desire Is TO see organized labor
protected from such insiduOus influ-
ences and the safety of my country
assured against such means of attack, -
said Mr.. GOmpers. AT such "a time
as this l must restrain myself and not
talk too much about this situation.
positively will not say more at the
present time than what I said in my
statement published this morning"
MIR. GomperS declined even 10 state
whether ne had given the department
OF justice his information, but il is un-
derstood that il is in possession o. the