The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-28
MAIL CENSORSHIP
UNC0VERS CHANNELS
Of SPYING SYSTEMS
Work OF Secret Service Though
known BY Newspapers for Some
Time Is Kept secret.
NUMEROUS ARRESTS
HAVE BEEN MADE
Information Of Grcns Value Has Bern
leaking Into Germany Through
Mail 10 Neutral Nations.

washington, December 27.-Uutted
states mail for Europe has been IN
oeF the closest scrutiny by expert cen
sors since November l.
The fact OF this censorship has
been voluntarily kept secret BY the
newspapers who we're informed Of il
ct the time, and az n result Impor-
@nt channels Of espionage have been
uncovered. It Is understood here
that a number Of arrests have been
made. officials, however. decline to
discuss any Of the details OF the ar
engagements.
The censorship of mail is enforced
under the provisions of the trading
with the enemy act by n COMMITTEES
upon which sat representatives OF
the postoftice, war and navy depart
ments. the customs service and the
department Of Justice
American authorities have long
been convinced that information Of
value was leaking into Germany
through mail to neutral countries.
The secret service has had a number
Of uspec under surveillance for
many months and It ls understood
that the examination Of their mail
was all that was needed to fasten
their guilt upon them.
The United States has become the
recognized center for code experts
within the last few months and 1t rs
understood that the men who de-
ciphered the code in hich the Lux
burg and Bernstorff messages were
sent have done valuable work on
many letters picked out OF the Eu-
ropean mails.
officials at the war ana navy de-
rartments are certain that no infor-
nation direct from those sources ha s
reached Germany. They are also
sure that Information OF the sailing
Of troops could not have been got to
Germany by this method in time to
be OF value 70 the submarine com
manders. There are other matters Of
general policy with regard to the
army and navy which trained observ-
ers might well have been able to
pick up. As the cables and the wire
less are considered to be effec-
lively barred TO this traffic the mail
was the only course left open.
The censorship which it is now
permitted TO speak OF IS Independent
Of the work of the customs service
In discovering channels OF communi-
cation by which mail Yves sTnuggled
on neutral vessels through the CON
nivance Of the crew.
Many OF the letters aeized are of a
highly amusing nature, Apparently
innocent messages with regard to the
health of dear ones or harmless bust
ness communications. they have turn
ed out under the eyes Of the code ex-
perts here to be well developed
trea tisss on the war preparations OF
the United states.
II IL said that the stencil code"
"a the one most frequently used and
the hardest enc to detect Similarly
perforated cards are placed over the
message by both sender and receiver
so tina the significant words only ap,
pear. The work of the censorship
has been infinitely lahorious. however,
and an infinite variety of stencils have
been applied TO suspicious letters
In several cases long eTort brought
startling results.
The censorship Is announced at
his time because after nearly two
months OF operations It's work has
undoubtedly been made apparent to
those who have use6 the mails for
& sinister purpose.