Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-13
Teuf0ns Maintain Elaborate
Spy System in America
CONTINUED from First Paseo

would really make the United States
part of the battlefield of Europe, one
cannot but admire at times the daring
spirit of the German agents.
For the stake, in point of the booty
of war and the destiny of the nations
involved, is almost unbelievable. To
Germany the carrying out of her plans
in America means virtually world
domination, for victory would practi-
cally put her in the position of having
conquered the world. To the allies de-
feat means the crumbling of the Anglo
Saxon supremacy and of her ideals of
liberty and of civilization.
American Government Active.
While the game has been going on
the American government has been
active. To the skill of the United
States secret service, headed by Chief
William j. Flynn. always alert and
apparently unruffled in the most try
ing crisis. and to A. Bruce BielasN,
head of the special agents of the de
partment of justice, has fallen the task
of seeing that the representatives "f
the different countries followed the
American maxim, play fair; play ac-
cording to the rules of international
law and the laws of this country"
To these men at times have come
secrets of intrigue and conspiracy that
must have made them, even as II mas
the president, almost tremble with the
import of impending events that had
TO be forestaled. Upon them rests the
credit of checking many of the plots
that might have plunged this nation
into the war.
To make clear the prize for which
the Germans have been contending in
America it is necessary to show that
while this country is the background
of the war itself she is, potentially n
great factor in the armed conflict
Because of her economic wealth, her
resources in men and undeveloped mill
tary and naval equipment and her
prestige among the powers of the earth
she has stood out as possible asset
to either group of combatants in three
ways; namely, as an ally in the war,
as an aid in bringing peace and as an
enormous supply base.
THE United States should he an ally
of Germany. for both are contending
for the freedom of the seas" is an ar
gument frequently pat forward by Ger
mans. The terms on which Germany
would make peace have been sent al
ready to President Wilson and the rally
OF the Friends of Peace in Madison
Square Garden last sdmmer was made
significant by the immense gathering
of Germans. Finally Germany herself
has employed thousands of methods to
get ammunition and other equipment
from this country, while protesting
against the export of arms and am
munition to the allies.
Gernany's Vast Secret Service.
To gain the help of the United
States in any of these three methods,
to prevent the allies from utilizing this
country these have been the aims of
Germany's vast secret service that
ramiiied the entire country with a
wonderful network. Germany's intel
ligence office had foreseen these prob
lens before the assassination of the
Grand Duke Ferdinand set Europe in
blaze. Accordingly. plans were
ready, had been ready for years prior
to the outbreak of war. for the carry
ing out of a campaien that for detail,
thoroughness and daring has never
been equaled Just as the campaign
in Belgium had been mapped out in adj
vance so every detail was complete
for throwing this city, and probably
many other central parts of this coun
try, into disorganization should war be
declared between Germany and the
United States. Details, likewise, were
devised and a plan perfected that en-
tailed the employment of criminals for
the prevention of the export of war ma =
terials to the allies.
How vital to the success of Germany
the the of
equipment from this country was re-
garded by the general staff in Berlin
is shown by the assertion of the one
man who, backed by hundreds of mil
lions of dollars-any amount that was
needed-was dispatched to the United
States to take absolute charge of this
phase OF the campaign. Said he: II
/ can prevent the allies from getting
arms and ammunition from the United
States ] shall have done more than the
| army which captures Paris"
But efore these plans could be put
into execution it was necessary that
vast amount of information should
be gathered about the factories turn
ing out munitions of war. about the
work of the allies representatives
here. about the plans that the United
States had prepared in the event OF
war about the information that gov.
eminent officials had obtained concern.
ing the preparations of the allies fol
war and the plans the latter had fol
getting supplies from American con.
Germs.
Prepared for Big Task.
The task of learning and doing wa.
big. But Germany was prepared fol
the work, just as she was ready fol
the war Her spy system had beer
developed gradually in the United
States since the Franco Prussian wal
and under the direction of the master
mind, operating in his little office il
Wilhelmstrasse, plans we're perfected
for every phase of activity that tn,
Germanic genius, noted for its atten
ton to details and for its foresight