The Washington herald., 1917-07-07
Aid SPIES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

sources, that congressional action will
be necessary. About ten different
branches, including the naval, army,
justice. postal. immigration, Treasury,
State and other secret services will
be required to report to a central
ONCE in order to avoid duplication OF
work.
Evidences Of Jealousy.
The work of co-ordinating these diff
ferent branches is a mammoth job.
Each has its own machinery. designed
for its own needs. and 1t will be most
difficult to harmonic the various
corps. There also have been evidences
OF jealousy between different services
which make the proposition more diff
ficult.
1t appeared certain yesterday that
these things will be done Immediately,
however long 1t may take TO organize
central intelligence bureau:
1-Sbut down all cables, radios and
mails for at least a week prior to any
movement Of American troops over
seas.
2-Close the frontiers OF the United
States in the same instance.
3-Seize all wireless sending plants
IL a house-to-house search is neces-
sary. England was forced to do this.
The Navy Department about six weeks
ago ordered all private plants sealed.
but it is believed there has been no
general response to this order. Eng
land was forced to seize such plants
and store them in warehouses for the
period of the war. Heavy penalties
were enjoined upon private possession
of radio apparatus. Only by these
means did she root out what proved
itself an extreme peril.
Establish a censorship over all
cable messages. outgoing and incom-
ing, separate from and ignoring the
British and French censorships. and
open all European mails.
Spy Talk "HysterIa.-
Secretary Daniels. asked for his
opinion OF the spy menace yesterday.
gave an answer which strikes at those
persons who caution against men
tioning the spy" who say that spy
talk is "hysteria." and that Amer
lea need not fear"
There are two extremes which
should be avoided" said the secre-
tary. but the American people seem
to tend to one or the other. OF
course, there should be no hysteria,
but neither should there be a feeling
OF great calmness. There are spies
here; there is no doubt of that. And
they are a national peril. We should
not accept complacently a situation
where the national interests are men
aced by alien enemies or domestic
traitors"
Another official made the fat state
ment that the extreme penalty should
be meted out Immediately to all per-
sons discovered intriguing against the
safety OF the United States. He de-
clared no attention should be paid to
the doubts expressed whether ''the
American people are ready for such
measures"
"A spy is a spy" he said, land the
first one We get hold OF We ought to
make an example of. Whether it
shocks the people or not. it will shock
the remaining spies a whole lot more,
and that is the best method to dis
courage them
Indicating the satisfaction OF the
Cabinet with the spy situation, Post
master General Burleson said after
yesterdays meeting that there would
be no censorship OF mails.
The sense Of the Cabinet seemed to
be that while there are undoubtedly
German secret agnts in this country,
none of them are in a position to Sc
cure real inside information.
Such information as these agents
may pick up in the street is not con-
sidered of enough Importance to make
any great difference. The govern
ment feels. however, that if any in
formation of value is picked UP by
German agents from an outside
source, the means already taken. and
about to be taken, will be sufficient
to check its arrival In Germany in
time for any military use.