The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-29
MANY Foreign Agents Are Now
Active in the United
States.
COULD Be QUICKLY STOPPED
psclaration Of War Would Cause In.
slant Arrest Of scores-Work Of
Chief FIynn's Bureau Not Spec.
tscuiar, But Is Wonderful.
" Efficient.

Chief Fiynn's Bureau Not Spec.
tacuiar, But Is Wonderful.
" Efficient.
New York.-A few days ago the fol
Living dispatch was printed In tn
New York newspapers, showing thu
or navy is awake to the possibilities
4 agents on shore cooperating will
4 hnstile fleet attacking us:
"A highly important development II
I've war game was announced by Real
ADMIRAL Benson, chief of naval opera
tpss, who said that spies working fol-
he invaders had set fire to all the
sal piers at Norfolk.
sThis means that theoretically this
kPor1ant base of supplies was lief,
usguarded and could have been de-
sEoyed. The navy yards are all part
4 the great war game, and the first
bepw against the protection Of the
ssast occurred at Norfolk. Word i'm.
ne.,iately went forward to arrange
for coaling ships of the defending fleet
ID the vicinity of Norfolk by other
emergency means. How this will be
lsne has not yet been reported"
For the first time in the war ma
leuvers of the navy account has been
taken Of the possibility Of hostile spies
working in our navy yards and coal
packets. Rear Admiral Benson has
put his finger on the spot which has
long been declared weak by secret
service men and certain members of
congress who have been endeavoring
to procure an increased appropriation
for secret service which more close
Y approximates the intelligence de-
partment of European and Asiatic na-
tons, says the New York Herald.
Many Spies in United States.
Just how realistic are the condi-
tons. hypothssized by Rear Admiral
Benson in the recent war game Is
shown by the statement Of man high
Ia the United States secret service
that there are scores of known foreign
spies In the United States.
If war should be declared on the
United States today by any one OF
four European or one Asiatic power.
the telegraph instruments in the office
sf the secret service, Washington,
would click out a message that
would cause the arrest Of more than
one hundred men and women known
to be working in the interest of for
elgn governments.
The work Of the secret service Is not
Few realize to what cx-
tent it is being carried on. Occasion
ally Chief Flynn's men make SEN
sational raid on q band Of counter
letters, and for a few days the secret
service is talked about. Many persons
believe. that running down counterfeit
ers Is the sole activity of Chief Flynn's
bureau. They do not know that his
known only to him,
and not even to one anOther-are con-
SANITY watching clandestine enemies
in the very heart of our government.
The investigation bureau Of the de-
partment of justice, under A. Bruce
once In while attracts at
kention because of the exposure of in
ternal revenue frauds, but thousands
f readers are unaware that Mr.. Biel-
hski's men have under surveillance
scores Of spies whom they allow to
30 their way within circumscribed
||aeit1s In order that they may. to
greater extent, betray the workings Of
llheir system.
Against most Of these workers no
charge can be brought which would
Justify an arrest. They have not VI
slated any law. The only possible
course open to Uncle Sans secret
Watchers is to dog their footsteps and
bar the way II they begin to nose out
Important information.
Fighting One Another.
At present, owing to the war in Eu-
Pope. not only are these European
pies operating against the United
States. but they are fighting one an
Pther. In general they work some
Fhing like this: There Is one man or
soman in charge of certain piece Of
york. Under him are many other per-
Fons He knows them all, but they
20 not, us q rule, know one another.
A certain government official or the
representative Of another nation is
opposed to have information wanted
p the agent of some power. His men
re scattered about Washington so
nat the object Of their interest is al
post continually under the eyes Of the
rganization., One man acts as wait
p In the hotel or restaurant where
ne object of interest eats. Another
ets a position In the barber shop
There he Is shaved. A woman acts
ga manIcurist. Still another seeks
Us personal acquaintance through
PUBS or social functions.
No one of these secret agents may
hd out very much, but each reports
9 his chief, for whom the various
tory.
Some time ago Il line officer of the
ayy made some improvements in the |
ooe, with which he was familiar
arough commanding vessels ut sea.
Every night when this officer finished
'ork he burned all the scraps Of pa
" on which he had scrubbed code
uln,erals, signs or other symbols dur
u'RFN|s FOE INTO A TORCH