Connecticut western news., 1917-05-31

Activities of Teuton PropagandIsts In
 Latin America Greater Than Before
 United States Entered War Hun
 dreds of Agents In This Country, of-
 ficiaIs at Washington Assert.
 Germany knew of the departure of the American destroyer fleet for the submarine zone before or at least as soon as the ships sailed.
 This was made plain when Secretary Daniels made public the full report of Rear Admiral Sims at London on the mining of the harbor for which the ships were bound.
 This report shows that German news papers printed news of the fleets sail ing four days before the destroyers reached England and many days before the slightest hint of the movement was known in America.
 The waters for which the destroyers were heading had been free of mines for three months prior to the day be- fore the American fleets arrival
 Was Printed In Berlin.
 "An interesting feature in connection with the arrival of the destroyers," says Admiral Sims, lis the report that their sailing appeared in Berlin news papers about four days before their arrival and also that a field of mines was planted immediately off the en- trance of the port at which they ar rived the day before the arrival took place. These were the first mines planted in that vicinity during the pre- vious months.''
 Admiral Sims then devotes himself to the condition of the fleet.
 "I am glad to be able to report" he says, "the excellent impression given by our officers, ships and the crews under my command. Our ships made no demands of consequence upon the facilities offered here in spite of the length of their passage under adverse conditions.
 "The commander when questioned by the admiralty as to when his vessels would be ready for duty reported that he should be ready that night as soon as the ships were refueled. This was
 
 the admiralty, which then gave them four days. before taking up active work
 '"The vessels themselves caused great deal of complimentary comment and were found to be well equipped for their prospective duty.'
 Commenting on Admiral Sims re- port, Secretary Daniels said:
 This is the only reference he made to the knowledge in Berlin of the sail ing of our destroyers or the mining of the harbor. He did not give any state ment or speculation as to how Berlin obtained its information German Spies Active.
 That Germany is carrying on not only an active espionage in government tai Washington, but has agents and propagandists scattered throughout this and neighboring countries, was the assertion of administration leaders. The German spy system was admitted to menace the nation.
 Secretary of. State Lansing, both in his office and before a congress com- m1ttee, exposed the seriousness of the situation.
 The government has information that in addition to her activities here Berlin is maintaining an active propa- ganda campaign in South America She ,, is endeavoring not only to prevent Latin American nations from joining the allies, but Is endeavoring to swing sentiment against the United States.
 The state department let it be off, cially known that evidence of the Ger man prSpagandists' activity In Argen- tina, Chile, Colombia and southern Brazil Is in its hands. Special efforts to | counteract the effect this propaganda may have on the governments of these nations are being made 5y the United | States. Especially in Argentina are the Ger mans displaying great activity. They are understood to be bringing great pressure to bear on the new govern ment there and are employing rumors that the United States contemplates coal embargo against Argentina to | turn sentiment against this country.