The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-30
GERMAN SPY system
IS MENACE TO NATION
Berlin Newspapers Printsd News of
Destroyer F'iotifla Sailing Four
Days Before Arrival.
GOVERNMENT AROUSED
AS TO SERIOUS SITUATION
Nation Honeyeombcd BY Traitors and
Spies-Actiyc German Propaganda
In Progress In South American
Countries.
AROUSED
AS TO SERIOUS TUAT1ON

Washington, May 3s.-Germany
knew of the departure Of the 4meri-
can destroyer fleet for the submarine
zone before, or at least as soon as,
the ships sailed. This was made
plain today when Secretary of the
Navy Daniels made public the full
report of Rear Admiral Sims, at Lon
don. on the mining of the harbor for
which the ships we're bound.
This report shows that German
newspapers printed news of the fleets
sailing four days before the destroy
ers reached England. and many days
before the slightest hint OF the move
ment was known in America.
The waters for which the Destroy
ers were heading had been free of
mines for three months prior to the
day before the American fleets ar
rival
ton with the arrival Of the destroy
ers." says Admiral Sims in his re-
port, lis the report that their sailing
appeared in Berlin newspapers about
four days before their arrival and also
that a field of mines was planted Inn
mediately Off the entrayaex~ef the port
at which they arrived The day before
the arrival took place. These were
the first mines planted In that
vicinity during the previous months
Admiral Sims then devotes himself
to the condition Of the fleet.
II am glad to he able to report"
he says. "the excellent impression
given by our officers. ships and the
-crews under command. Our ships
made no demands OF consequence
upon the facilities offered here. Ia
spite OF the length OF their passa &c
under adverse conditions.
9TH commander when questioned
by the admiralty as to when his YES
sells would be ready for duty reported
that he should be ready that night. a.
noon az the ships we're re-fueled
who then gave them four days before
taking up active work.
The vessels themselves caused a
great deal of complimentary com.
ment and were found to be vel
equipped for their prospective duty
Germany Hes Plenty OF Spies.
Commenting on Admiral Sims re-
port Secretary Daniels said:
/ This is the only reference he made
to the knowledge in Berlin of the
sailing of our destroyers and the min.
ing OF the harbor. He did not give
any statement or speculation as &c
(. how Berlin obtained its information
| That Germany is carrying on no,
4 only an ACtiNe rspicnhES III EuNSTH'
mental Washington. but has agent.
and propa gandists scattered through
out this and neighboring countries
was the declaration Of administration
| leaders today The German spy xys,
/ tenn wps admitted to menace the ma.
| ton.
| Secretary OF State Lansing, both n
his once and before a conGressiona
committee, exposed the seriousness o.
tn ituation.
Active Campaign In south America
The government has information
that in addition to her activitie here
Berlin Is maintaining An active propa.
ganda campaign In South America
She IL endeavoring not only to pre-
vent Iatin-American nations from
Joining the allies hut IL trying Il
swinx sentiment against the United
| States
! The state department let Il be Of
/ fciaily known that evidence of thu
German propagandists' activity II
I Argentine, Chile, Geiorfhia and South
ern Brazil Is In It's hands. Specta
efforts to counteract the effect thii
i rrcrag anda my have on the govern
ments OF those nations are beinf
made hy the United States.
I Especially IN Argentina are thu
= Germans displaying great activity
They are understood to be bringing
great pressure to bear on the new
government there and are employing
rumors that the United States contem.
plates a coal embargo against ArGen.
tina to turn sentiment against tfi,
country.