Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-08
GERMAN INTRIGUE
MUST BE: CURBED
National Council for Defense
in Every County.


method of propaganda which has
been so effective in Russia and Italy
is now being attempted in this coun-
try with an alarming degree of sue
cess, according to the appeal to
Americans now being issued by the
American Defense Society German
propaganda has long been supplied
to our troops in the national encamp-
ments, The shipbuilding program
is being interferred with by German
inspired strikes Germans are di-
recting the boarding OF food supplies
to an extent that panies have tlready
prevailed in the leading cities. News
papers are giving daily reports OF
fires in ammunition plants and grain
depots and the country is now on
the verge OF an even greater calamity
In the shape Of a railroad strike OF
unprecedented extent which threat
ems to cripple our national industry"
The far reaching need of the local
vigilance corps can readily be seen
when it is known that in this coun-
try alone there are today several
million men alien enemies represent
ing Germany, Austria, Bulgaria,
Turkey and other countries sympa-
thetic or allied with the Prussian
autocracy, Almost without exoep-
tion these enemies are free to go
about as they see fit and while the
government has done much toward
tightening the censorship of mails
and cables, nevertheless there are
numberless channels by which these
enemies are in touch with the direct
genius Of German propaganda in
Berlin.
II Americans mean to stand by the
men at the front, whose lives are
already being sacrificed and to stand
by their government, the opportunity
is offered in the additional service
they can give to this work of the
American Defense Society.
The plan of organization under
taken by the society and recommend
ed to loyal Americans provides for en-
rollment of a small American Vigi-
lance Corps in every city and town
which shall classify all residents
under the following terms
/. Loyal.
2, Disloyal
3 Doubtful.
4, Unknown
Following the general classifica-
tion Of citizens tho Committee is
urged to make further designation
to the following list:
l. Alien enemy.
g. Pro-German.
3. Anti-GoveTnment
Recent develo etaoin aoin aoinin
In the letter OF instructions to
branch organizations the Executive
Committee of the American Defense
Society give the following directions:
at the earliest possible moment,
when you have made up your classif-
'ation Of alien enemies, pro-Germans,
and those opposed to the Government
IA, ut tn ha
lice department, the local representa-
tive Of the department Of justice and
to whatever representatives Of the
army or navy intelligence bureaus
here are in your community. Do
not let the matter rest, however, with
the first classification of the enemies.
Too much stress cannot be put upon
the importance of having your own
Vigilance Corps take steps to watch
alien enemies, pro-Germans and those
opposed to the government. Only by
such cooperation will you be able to
give effective aid to the Government.
Take every means you can to let the
people Of your city know the names
Of our enemies
Unofficial announcement has al
ready been made at Washington that
the Government is about to register
the alien enemies in America. Your
having already acted
along that line, will naturally be in
a position greatly to aid the Govern
ment Census when such a census is
taken. No doubt many attempts
will be made to evade the official Gov
ernment Census and information on
he enemies in your community Will
therefore be Of greatest value"
"You are enjoined to watch the
speech associations and activities OF
every man whom you may suspect OF
1isloyalty and to send in the imme-
iiate report For further informa-
ton and instructions regarding the
work of the Vigilance Corps Of the
American Defense Society address
National Headquarters A East 2srd
Street New York City.