The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-05
HANGING URGED
FOR SPIES HERE
German Agents in Government
Departments, Says Senator
Chamberlain.

WASHINGTON, July T. There is a
cles that the United States take imme-
diate steps to counteract the insidious
German spy system which is known to
be operating here. although there Is no
specific proof that spies were RESPONSE
BILE for the two nests of U-boats which
followed by the American transports.
The very fact that 1t is difficult to
obtain accurate facts or reliable proof
concerning the system makes this prob
lem all the more difficult to handle.
This Government, however, is not going
to make the mistake which Great Britain
made at the outset OF the war and per-
nit conditions to exist whereby German
spying may flourish.
It has required no sagacity on the
part OF American officials to ascertain
that the German Government has been
more or less in touch with developments
in the United States of confidential
nature since the war began. Proof OF
this has come almost daily In various
ways, sometimes through German news
papers and sometimes through the more
rapid cable flashes from American
agents in neutral countries giving the
purport OF these German publications.
Not infrequently the proof has come
through official channels, and in one
case 1t came from the German Govern
ment itself.
This case has reference to Germans
/ interned in Panama by order OF the
United States authorities Within twen-
| ty-four hours after this had taken place
the State Department was advised by
| Berlin that Americans would be de-
| tanned as virtual hostages for these Ger
! mans unless they were Immediately re-
! leased.
Spies In Washington.
This instance lends color to a state
ment made to-day by Senator Chamber
lain, who said he had no doubt that
spies in the departments were furnish
ing information to Germany by means
Of wireless stations in South and Gem
trail America.
'sThe news that the American troops
have reached France in safety is highly
pleasing to all loyal Americans" said
! Senator Chamberlain. ut seems TO me
apnarent. however, that the Germans are
getting information concerning our MILL
| tary preparations and the movements
OF our forces. have no doubt that there
who are making it their business TO fur
nIsh such information. The German in
! telligence system is obviously wonder
ful one. 1t is my belief that the in
| formation which Is obtained in this coun-
try ia sent to Germany through the me
dunn of wireless stations on the east
coast of Mexico and wireless station In
| Venezuela.
"I had occasion not long ago to FUR
rNt, apf nj
ton which had come to me concerning
wireless stations In those countries.
Exactly how the information is sent to
Mexico 1 do not know, but II is obvious
that It can be sent there In number
OF ways.
"It is a difficult matter TO ascertain
what persons are responsible Tor the
leaks to the German Government. II
they are foun6 they should be strung W
without waiting for the formality OF a
trial by jury
agents in the United States has beer
gathered by the Department OF Justice
! and the list has been increased within
the last few days by reports from navy
wireless stations There is a strict CEN
sorship on wireless, and some of the re.
iected messages which have been sent tc
Washington have formec interesting
reading,
Methods Employed.
Concerning the methods employed b,
spies to get information to Germany, the
problem apparently narrows down to th'
following possibilities:
} Innocent looking cables which In real
ity are code messages sent to neutra
countries; innocent looking wireless
messages, which in reality are cod
messages Illicit wireless communicated
by way OF Mexico, Venezuela or tn,
South or Central American coasts: I'm
proper use of diplomatic cable code mes
sages which pass unchallenged.
Whether the German Government wa
informed by spies In America of the de
parture or route of the Pershing trans
ports is a question unanswered to-day
A ,Continred on Third Pa0e