The Washington times., 1916-02-07
N. Y. POLICE.
ARE VICTIMSOF.
SUBWAY HOAX.
Commissioner Woods Wanted
to Test EffiCienCy-ROOkies
Not Detected in Test.

NEW YORK. Feb. THE subway Is
stilI in operation today and the cruiser
washington is safe at her dock. despite
Wild reports Of moro bomb plots and the
hurrying of extra police to subway en-
frances and bridges spanning the East
river yesterday.
Two explanations we're advanced to-
day for the extra police placed on duty
At the subway entrances. One was that
ell persons carrying packages were
stopped in an eftort to round up sus-
pected pickpockets and other criminals.
There was really no bomb and no real
scare at all--only a sort OF hare and
hounds chase devised by Commissioner
Woods to test the sleuthing ability Of
his force.
Fail In the Test.
And that test--ordered by Commits
sioner Woods in confidential sco-opera-
ton with q few OF his deputies-failed,
according to information given out by
one of the men who was on the inside.
Somewhere in the miles of subway
construction that riddle the foundations
Of New York and Brooklyn were six
rough-looking persons with as many
suspicious bundles Saturday night
They had been planted" there with q
rowing commission by the mead Of the
police department.
From the bomblike packages carried
by these police "rookies'-for such they
were-pieces OF wire peeped out. To
demonstrate that this half dozen dis
Euised, desperate characters could not
long menace" Manhattan and Brook
Lyn, a general order for their apprehen-
hNg iau
When the test was abandoned, a few
hours later. because the travelling pub
lie had become alarmed, the results
we're:
means Of entrance and exit to the sub
way.
Second-Six rockies with fake
bundles were still riding around under
II the order to maintain watch over
the stations had not been rescinded, the
villa - in the big imaginary plot test
might still be transferring from uptown
to downtown. still pushing through the
crowds, still spending nickels that
would have to be entered up in the exc
pense account.
Viewed from the sane Monday morn
ing point Of view, the whole air APP
pears as a natural Development OF
Commissioner Woods recent eypcri-
ments to raise police efficiency to the
nth, power: AN Of his previous expert
Tle began several months ago by
sending out a general alarm, for per
son wanted for folonious assault. After
ratr9Imag i, had been disgmised to cor
phoned to all men on beat a lieutenant
was sent along with the quarry to keep
the score of hits and misses In this
keen observation game. In most tests
OF this kind the rncn on the force made
coed. Next the Commissioners sent out
descriptions of automobiles wanted in
connection with homicide cases." and in
a few hours the machines were report
ed BY the men on post.
Whether the decision to test out the
problem of guarding the subway had
any connection with the supposed bomb
plot against the ruined Canadian
Parliament building in ottawa or sus-
ptcious operations against munitions
factories in this country, the police
official who explained Saturday nights
order would not say.
Captains Strip tSations.
Following conference with his dep
uties, the commissioner issued the or
der for an underground test. Only a
few lieNtenapts who were assigned to
follow the "rookles" and protect them
from actual incarceration were per-
mitted to know Of the scheme in ad-
vance. Captains of the precincts were
caught unawares In their zeal to COM
ply with the order they practically
stripped their districts OF uniformed
patrolmen, thereby affordinE q golden
opportunity to the lush workers." VINO
make speciality of relieving intoxi-
Gated pedestrians of money and other
valua bles. Several police stations in
Harlem were reported TO be almost de-
serted
From II r. m. until dawn Sunday the
six suspicious bundles and their car
riers continued on their jaunt through
the tubes. Just as they were prepar-
they received word to report back 10
their respective precincts.