New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-29
Allies Can Halt
Spies in Mexico
All Roads of Communica-
ton to Berlin Subject
to Censorship
rcor-presne. q T.. As.oer.sd pr,~I

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 2l.-Ihe en-
cheney Of any German bureau Of in
formation or any German spy system
located in Mexico i, dependent sbso-
lutely on the efficiency OF the censor
ship imposed by the Allied powers.
This is the conclusion OF cable experts,
telegraph men and diplomat. OF those
powers in touch with German activity
in Mexico, not only since the United
States entered the war, but from the
opening OF hostilities in 1914.
These experts declare that informa-
ton from the United States 20 Ger
many could hardly be transmitted by
a more inefficient or longer route, and
that those desiring 20 transmit 20 the
Central Powers information OF troop
movements and other valuable news
would have far less difficulty in send
ing il from the United States direct
than through Mexico.
There seems 70 be little difficulty IN
getting any sort Of news into Mexico.
There is small doubt that many let
tiers containing information ind their
way across the border, although there
is supposed 20 be a strict censorship
on the American side. Messengers or
agents have little difficulty IN crossing
The question appears to be not how
70 get news OF Importance TO Germany
into Mexico, but now 70 get II out.
Mail Route Uncertain
There is but one mail route out OF
Mexico 70 Germany, except through
the United States. This is furnished
= - - fs1
touch at Vera Cruz one day each
month. The majority OF the Spanish
steamers 20 20 New York before cross
ing the Atlantic. All o. these steam
ers touch at Havana, where Cuba be-
ing az war with Germany another
censorship might be exercised. 1t re-
quire. at least eighteen days for let
tiers mailed az Mexico City 70 reach
Spain.
The only possible route by land or
cable wires from Mexico is over the
lines of the Compania Telegrafca Mex
icana, an American corporation, The
lines Of this company start at Calves
ton, where they connect with the
Western Union, and touch az vera
Cruz, whence they are routed overland
20 Mexico City. From Vera Cruz the
lines are routed 20 Puerto Mexico, on
the Isthmus OF Tehuantepec, where
they cross 20 Salins Cruz.
From Selina Cruz the cables touch az
San Jose. Guatemala which has
broken relations with Germany, and
run 70 Panama, where there is sup
posed 10 be a strict United States cen
sorship. From Panama all messages
for South America 60 to Buena Vent
ura. whence the route leads through
Peru TO Valparaiso, Chile, and thence
through Rio de Janeiro and Pernam-
buco, Brazil. Brazil has broken rels-
tons with Germany
Cables May Be Censored
From Pernambuco there are two
routes 20 Europe. One is owned by a
British company. 1t ends at Lisbon.
Portugal also is at war with Ger
manvD The other route - over a
Spanish cable which touches at Mon
rovia Liberia has declared war on
Germany, Sierra Leone, British pos
session, and Daksr, which IS IN French
Senegal, before going 10 the Canary
Islands and Cadiz. .,
So far as can be learned here, all
the other cable routes along the At
lantic side of the Antilles and South
America are owned and controlled by
British or French companies.
The wireless field offers little more
advantage 70 German spy system.
No apparatus is known 10 exist IN
Mexico which could transmit messages
10 Germany without relay. II Is re-
ported that the most powerful station
in Mexico, that at Chapultepec, has
recently been increased IN power, CIV
ing it a sending radius 70 a point some
where of the Isle OF Pines. IL would
Of course, be possible for this station
to transmit TO Central and south
American points. but then 1t would be
as far from Berlin as ever. In addi-
ton, il is pointed out, wireless mes
sae.s cannot be sent secretly. Any
wireless plant within the sphere Of
communication would be able to pick
UP such messages and 10 determine
where they originated.
Strenuous efforts have been made 20
find alleged wireless stations operated
bv Germans and for German purposes
in Mexico, but without avail.