Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-06
Official Admission Made of
Lurking Dangers-Power Ex-
erted to Destroy Organization.
DRASTIC PUNISHMENT
AWAITS THOSE CAUGHT
All Agencies of Government at
Work to Trace Sources of Leaks
in Important Information.

Official admission was made
today that Germany maintains an
efficient spy system in the United
States, just as it does in its nearer
neighbors, France and Great Brit
ain. That the discovery and erad-
lcation of the system, root and
branch, is task of great difficult
ty, is shown by the experience of
both the European countries
named.
Despite the employment of
every conceivable expedient it is
admitted that even today the ter
rltory of France and Great Brit
ain is honeycombed with stations
employing active and intelligent
agents of both sexes collecting
and disseminating information of
value to the German authorities
in the conduct of their military
operations.
System Being Established Here.
There Is no doubt that a SPY system
well-nigh as extensive and perfect In
Its operations is gradually being es-
ia ablished by the German secret tservico
In the United States. 1t is acknowl-
edged that all the power and influence
Of the federal government is being ex-
erted to discover and destroy the sys-
tenn. Drastic action will be taken in
each case where guilt is established.
even to the summary execution OF the
culprit. An official admitted that short
shrift will be given in all such cases,
! and he added his own personal opinion
that a spy is never entitled to mercy
and ought to be shot at once.
Situation Is Serious.
Secretary Daniels and other members
Of the cabinet today made admissions
that the German spy situation is Sc
rious. but most Of them deprecated any
efforts to exaggregate the dangers
from that source on the ground that it
might cause a panic among the people.
On the other hand it is felt that it
would be criminal to minimize the sit
uat;on, as such course might result
in laxness of efforts at suppression
Of the evil with its attendant serious
consequences
AS a result all the resources Of tho
government are being employed in the
detection of spies and their methods
of operation. All these agencies are
working in complete harmony. 1t is de-
clared. and substantial results are
confidently hoped for. Every COM
plant of alleged spying or suspicious
conduct is thoroughly investigated and
nothing has been left undone to trace
the possible sources of leaks of official
information of value to the enemy.
Radical Plans Suggested.
Various radical plans have been sug-
gested to prevent the transmission of
communications to and from Germany.
One of these is the censorship Of all
outgoing and incoming mails and addi-
tional precautions to prevent the car
riage of messages by the crews or pas
SengerS on transatlantic or tranSpac1-
f1c liners or merchantmen. 1t is sug-
gested that the government also exer.
else a stricter censorship over CONNER
cial messages. both by cable and wire-
less. 1t is contended by some officials
that control over outgoing messages is
even more important to the interests of
the government than censorship over
incoming messages.
Germans Knew of Ships Sailing.
The following is copy of a letter re-
ceived by a prominent American in this
city, written in Pittsburgh on June Is.
and which may be obtained. together
with the name of the author, by the
proper authorities:
This afternoon I learned the follow
ing from DIR. y, one of your friends
here. He has a son who has just sailed
for France or somewhere else. His son
wrote him a letter from the ship. very
guarded one, giving no information as
to anything, except that the ship was
expecting to sail at almost any time.
This morning Mr.. B., prominent in
surance man. came in to DR.. KS office
and asked him concerning his son. Dr. X
told him he knew nothing except the
information in his sons letter.
where the boat sailed. and what was on
board, and that one of BIS agents (in.
surance) had visited a house in Brooklyn
where some Germans lived. and there was
such a time. that there were so many
soldiers aboard. and that there were sew
eral hundred pieces OF artillery on the
ship"
Information Easy to Get.
It was stated also on high authority
that the steamship Manchuria. which
was leading the TRANSPORTS out of an
Atlantic port. and which collided with
1 barge. suffering such damages as to
necessitate her being beached. was in
sured by German companies. among
others. When the accident happened
the underwriters board in New York
was notified, and the insurance COM
panies' representatives at once visited
the vessel to ascertain the amount Of
incurred by their concerns.
This inspection was declared to have
given the agents of German companies
an opportunity to discover the other
to approximate the num-
ber Of men aboard, their regiments,
and the caliber and quantity of artil.
ery and of ammunition.
By examination of the ships papers
md by checking up the manifest Of
he Manchuria 1t was possible. II was
said, for the insurance inspectors to
earn minute particulars relating to
American methods for shipping troops
md supplies. as we'll as to obtain in
,ormation concerning the ships des-
ination and probable return to the
United states. What was ascertained
n the case of the Manchuria in all
reliability would be true in the cases
Il the other transports. -
Discussion at Cabinet Meeting.
President Wilson and the members OF
he cabinet are expected to diocuss Ct