New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-06
Incoming News Cen.
sored, All Outgoing
Channels Left Open
Need Strong Man
To Direct Hunt
Cabinet Officers Divid.
ed, Nation Lacks Ade-
quate Secret Service
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, July 5.-While yet the
War Department continued to exercise
the arbitrary power Of seizure, censor
ship and suppression over news dis
patches from France addressed to
American newspapers and press ssso-
Citations, the government was suddenly
anxious to-day TO create the public i'm
preston that it has begun at last to
be aware of the internal spy menace.
officials who for obvious reasons
could not be quoted. said to The Asso-
ciated Press correspondent, purposely
for publication, that IF the govern
ment's activities against German spies
In the United States could he pub
lished, the news would startle the
world"
Nevertheless, It is notorious that the
country is full Of enemy spies and that
the means of getting military informa-
ton out of the country are still peril
ously open.
The government found itself in the
absurd position of censoring incoming
news and leaving the stops open on
OUTGOING news.
Tribune Stated the Facts
During the last fortnight The Trib-
une has been calling attention daily
10 the following amazing and uncon'
tradicted facts:
That enemy aliens in New York and
elsewhere are as free as Ameri-
can citizens to go anywhere they
like, and 70 all points where military
operations can be observed.
- That on Ellis Island, in New York
= Harbor, are interned q number
of German sailors and spies, who
must have seen the Pershing expedition
mass. and that these German sailors
and spies are free to receive enemy
aliens from shore and impsrt to them
sny information whatever.
> That outgoing cables are not efec-
y lively censored, and that infor'
nation of vital importance may
escape in this way to Germany, not
withstanding the British censorship on
the other side.
4 That an enemy alien may freely
4 telegraph information to point
lust this side Of the Mexican bor'
der. that IL may be carried thence into
Nexico by a confederate, and that there
arc various means by which IL may be
then transmitted to Germany.
- That the outgoing mall Is uneen.
= sored and that a great deal OF mall
ooes 70 neutral countries and thence
into Germany without passing through
The hands Of the British censor.
That enemy-owned and enemy
u managed insurance companies are
or,soed in marine underwriting, and
tberebv acquire full information OF
American shipping, such as the chsr'
acter and destination OF cargoes' SAT-
ing time Of ships, etc.
- That enemy-owned and enemy
4 managed insurance companies arc
ENGAGED in the business OF reinsut'ns
sbin construction risks, and heteoy
hoys access TO detailed Information
pertaining to the progress Of our armed
merchant marine.
n That enemy-owned and enemy
y managed insurance companies oy
reason Of having issued policies on
nunition plants, have the right to enter
such plants. examine them and make
plans OF them.
Facts Laid Before Government
Not only has The Tribune published
these facts, but it has telegrspnea
them at length directly and seversAy
20 the Secretary Of War, the Secretary
Of the Navy and the Attorney General
asking at the same time what steps
would be taken. SO far as anybody
knows. no steps have been taken.
The great topic in the capital to-day
is the spy menace. There are syrnp-
toms Of rising hystera, which posi-
blv would be less harmful in the end
than the indifference which has existed
until now. However. it does seem
somewhat grstuitous 70 suspect the
presence Of spies in the Navy Depart
ment and TO suppose that they in
formed the German government OF the
departure Of the American troops for
France, when IL is notorious that the
whole country lies open 10 the curiosity
Of enemy aliens.
Held from American People
The voluntary censorship imposed on
the newspapers has prevented news
reaching the American people as to all
details OF the sailing Of the eNpedi-
tionary force till long after its de-
parture. and is still holding up much
information.
Not,ing prevented the vital details
concerning the expedition from reach
inc Germany in plenty OF time 10 en-
able her 70 have her U-bosts intercept
the American ships hundreds OF miles
from shore.
Mr.. Bakers move in seizing the press
cables was declared 10 be due TO the
fact that the French censor had per.
mitted news Qf the landing OF part OF
the expedition TO be published lefors