Iditarod pioneer., 1917-04-07
ACTIVITIES OF GERMAN SPIES IN PANAMA CANAL REGION
 CAUSE OFFICIALS ANXIETY

Times says that German secret agents for months have been excrting every effort to gain confidential information concerning the United States navy, the Notifications guarding the principal American ports, and the Panama canal, is a fact known to the government of the United States. From two sources that are official it IS known that recently the navy department came into possession of three letters by a man who has been in position to get certain conh- dential data concerning the navy, written to officials of the German government, Tn which this man, an American citizen ot German extraction, offered to sell "certaln confidential information" Photographic copies of these letters are on file in the navy department, while other copies are m the possession of the secret service
 It has also been established that on sev- eral occasions since the war Tn Europe started German Surveying parties have been detected along the route of the Pan ana canal. These groups of Germans, some of them from German ships interned at Panama, and others resident in that coun- trv, are said to have mapped routes leading to vital points along the canal route, and also to have made note of the location of power houses, lights and other stations which, if destroyed would either block or seriously impede the operation of the canal. These men, however, were careful to re- main on the Panama side of the canal strip, and so far as it is known, none of them ventured across the line into the territory which is under the jurisdiction of Colonel Chester Harding, t. s. A., governor of the Canal Zone.
 The statements regarding the German ac tivities in Panama have been confirmed by several army officers who are familiar with the details The matter has been made the subject of several reports to the war de partment, and all necessary precautions have been taken to frustrate any efforts on the part of "the surveying parties to damage the canal.
 The man who offered to sell navy infor nation to the Germans Is we'll known in both naval and civilian circles. He has never held an official position in the navy department, but at times has enjoyed per mits the use of which made 1t possible for him to gain confidential information regard ing battle maneuvers of the Atlantic fleet. The very prompt work of the secret service put an end to his machnatlons before he was able to do any harm.
 A few days ago representative of the New York Times asked one of the highest civilian officials of the navy department re- garding the activities of 'the man who tried to sell naval secrets to the Germans"
 "It is quite true that we have photo graphed three such letters written by the man you name" this official replied. 'l am sorry, however that it would not be good policy at this time to make those letters public All that 1 can say at this time IS that the information you have IS correct.
 It IS also known that German agents Tn
 his country have been keeping on file ever since the outbreak of the war in Europe lists of German subjects in the United States fatherland in the event of a German-Am l gan break One of these lists, on which appeared the names of more than 1000 Ger nan subjects, is said to have been found in the Won Igel papers. which were seized when the office of that German agent, at 50 Wall street, was entered and searched by the department of justice agents year ago.
 The papers seized in Von Igels office Von Igel was the successor in New York of Captain Von Papen, the recalled German military attache-never have been made | public The originals are understood to be | still in the possession of the department of | justice, while photographic copies of them | are in the hands of other government oth- | cals whose duties involve the handling of German plot cases.
 For months secret service agents had been | busy preparing for the diplomatic break. ! Plans for guarding ships, navy yards, ar senals Notifications, wireless stations, cables l and munitions plants in all parts of the | had been worked out in great de- tail
 It IS estimated that there are at least l 10000 German, Austro- Hungarian, Bull garian and Turkish agents in the United States whose movements are watched by the secret service forces of the government. At least 5000 of these men are said to be in New York.
 In addition to the secret service organlza- tions of the government the entire force of customs inspectors in all parts of the coun- try. the police of all cities, the postoffice inspection service and various other agen- cies federal, state and municipal are work ing hand in hand to protect the United States and its citizens.