The daily Alaskan., 1917-03-28
SYSTEM OF SPYING
 IN THE BIG CITIES
intelligence Officers" of For
 sIgn Nations Arc Busy.
SEEK SECRET INFORMATION

Is the Finest.
 Washington is honeycombed with nests of spies and so are the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Bal timore, Norfolk, New Orleans, Calves. ton. San Francisco and other seaports, says the Washington Star.
 There has been rather complete system of espionage in Washington since the European war began. Here tofore intelligence officers of the vari- Ous European governments have been more occupied in ascertaining the moves of each other than in ascertain ing moves of the United States gov ernment. But 1t is believed now that some of this expert attention has been turned upon Washington activities, al- though, as an intelligence officer of foreign nation put It.;
 What's the use2 Any possible op- ponent of the United States knows all about this country's affairs that is de sired to be known anyhoww
 Little Secrecy In United States.
 This remark recalls the fact that there has been very little secrecy about United States military affairs in years gone by, owing to the system of pub lie hearings and the system of making public the information in regard to hearings on military affairs before con- gressional committees which has been in vogue in the United States.
 Several years ago, when Major Gen. eral W. W. Wotherspoon, U. s. A., re- tired, was chief of the war college, a Japanese prince visited the United States and was shown through the war college. Just before his arrival Gen eral Wotherspoon was showing a friend through the building and pointing out some of the systems in use, which, he said, he proposed showing the prince. General WotherSpoon's friend ex- pressed surprise that such entirely complete courtesles should be placed at the disposal of the distinguished wis., itor. General Wotherspoon replied:
 "Oh, well, the prince will know all about this anyhow before he gets here. The Japanese have a pretty good intel- ligence system"
 Queer Happenings In Washington.
 Queer things, however, have been happening in Washington the past few days. Splendid looking limousines ofa character not used by ordinary mes- sengers have been seen standing in numbers before the doors of European embassies as early as 6 o'clock in the morning, when the ordinary worker In Washington has hardly turned over for his last nap. Queer things also have been happening in connection with the use of the long distance telephones. These have come under the notice of observing persons, who have readily understood that the intelligence officers of various nations could give an ex- plantation of them if they wanted to do so. It is proper to add, perhaps, that such explanations might be forthcom- ing from the department of investiga- ton of the department of justice of the United States too.
 The British intelligence system Is be- lieved to be the finest thing of its kind ever nut into operation in the world. It Is known to be iD charge of Captain Guy Gaunt, R. N., the young est captain in the British navy, an Aus tralian, who is as much at home in the country houses of Long Island as he is in Washington. Captain Gaunt is de scribed by those who know him as the ideal of the romantic type of modern intelligence officer, man of 1ndom- itable energy, to whom could possibly be applied the old fashioned detective phrase, He never sleeps"
 Great Britain is watchinG out for the intelligence system for the allies on the eastern coast of the United States, and Japan is watching out on the west ern coast.
 There is now q new officer in charge of the German intelligence system In the United States. He makes his head quarters in the office of big German steamship company, a fact well known to the allied intelligence officers. The German system, however, is said to have met with some reverses recently. Cogs in the machinery have slipped. and it is said that the German system Is not accomplishing as much as 1t did at the beginning of the war.
 spy's Real Name Disclosed.
 When the spy Von der Goltz was ar rested in Great Britain while trying to make his way back to Germany under false name and false American passport he was confronted in Great Britain with his real name, which Is Wachtermann, a name, 1t was said, that has not up to this time been known even to the department of Jus tice. He heard 1t pronounced for the first time since he left Germany years before. Von der Goltz, 1t will be re called, was known as Bridgman Taylor.
 "Listening in" on telephones, on wire less, the hunting for tips and clews to codes, is going on all over Washington and the bip seaDorts of the country.