Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-27

fires in big machine shops-while some
of them may be due purely to accident
have been in innumerable instances
the result OF plots framed and UNDER
taken by lGerman reservists. Men
working in such factories, have been
arrested and in their possession have
been found various kinds of explosives.
Furthermore. lectures on high explo-
sives and the scientific method OF
making them have been given under
the auspices of Germans. Pamphlets
bearing on that subject have been
printed and circulated by Germans
Such pamphlets have fallen into the
hands of federal authorities. Men,
who worked in shops where explosions
and fires have occurred had come from
South American and other foreign
countries to the United States and
after their disappearance have been
followed back to those places again,
where clues Of them were lost
The manner in which orders have
BEEN mixed up and shipments confused
is another phase of German activity.
Carloads ready for shipment to New
York to be loaded on steamers belong
points on the Pacific coast. Hundreds
of incidents have occurred where
through some apparent oversight of the
order clerk or the shipping agent
ladies' dresses have been slowed away
in the holds of ships bound for France,
or babies shoes have gone to soldiers
at the front in France.
The line of attack against the allies
war orders extended from the moment
the work of filling them was begun
until the goods reached their destina-
ton. There has been a systematized
onslaught on cargoes purchased for the
soldiers. While the goods were subject
to plots of mishandling and misship-
ment by railroad, the moment they
reached the pier another group OF men
were ready to damage If not completely
destroy them.
How information Was Gained.
In passing, it may be we'll to re-
iterate that so well organized is the
German espionage system in America
that the chief spies in New York knew
promptly of the starting Of tranloads
| of goods for this port for the allies.
They got the information in various
ways. One was through a clerk in a
bank where payment for orders was
made upon receipt of the bill of lading.
With this information as to the rail-
road and the number of the freight
cars, the character OF the goods and
their destination plans Immediately
were formulated for a secret attack.
Shipments of automobiles were dam
aged. In some mysterious manner the
magnetos We're stolen from many of
| the cars. A magnetic has to be ad-
iusted to the engine and it Is not pos
sible when the machine reaches the
other side to install a new magnetic
without great delay and trouble. The
axles of other automobiles were sawed
almost through and then CAREFUL paint
ed. The moment the car was loaded
it would collapse. Likewise an organ
lied raid was made on the tire ship
ments from New York.
Here as in a number of other in
stances, German agents hired thugs,
thieves and others to go out and COM
init depredations on the cargoes or on
goods for which the allies had paid.
That was another principle which Ger
many has followed in America. The
| opportunity for theft, fire or explosion
was carefully developed through the
spies, the situation clearly mapped and
as many dangers as possible eradicated.
Then thugs were sent to commit the
crime with the understanding that in
addition to the fee for the job they
also got the profits from the sale of
the goods which they stole.
Destruction of Ships.
Tn Ii ,f,,,,
ton of the sugar ships and various
other vessels which, carrying cargoes
for Germany's enemies, were set on
fire. one vessel carrying thousands of
magnetos was almost shattered by an
explosion ON July last. The bomb
had been placed in the hold carrying
the magnetos. Before the ship sailed
! however, many Of the magnetos were
stolen. In the same way carloads of
automobile tires were stolen in the
North river as floats were moving the
cars to the side of the ship.
Take as many as you want. Take
more. This ship will never get to the
other side anyways
A similar remark was overheard by
a man who has confessed to the theft
of hundreds of bags of sugar. The
man who was speaking was helping
shift bags of sugar from a barge into
n motor boat. The sugar was supposed
/ to be loaded on vessels bound for
France. These sugar ships have been
the special object of attack on the part
of men who have placed mysterious
bombs on board; bombs that explode
after a certain time and ignite the
sugar bags, Even though the blaze
may be eXtinguished in few minutes
no trace remains of the bomb or the
! mysterious substance. whatever it may
be, that was used in starting the fire
one of the thieves confessed that he
hoped to make 100000 through the
theft of sugar alone.
Charges Against Robert Fay.