The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-02-22
SYSTEM OF SP YINl,
IN The BIC CITIES
''InieIIigence Officers" Of For
eign Nations Are Busy.
SEEK SECRET INFORMATION
Most Active In Capital and Seaport
Towns-Try to Find Out Moves Of
Other Nations and Make Efforts to
ForestaIl Them-6ritish Spy System
Is the Finest.

TOfSSSdIi lHSH1-0TlGtST OPy oyStG"
Is the Finest
Washington Is honeycombed with
nests Of spies and SO are the cities Of
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Bal
timore, Norfolk, New Orleans, Calves
ton, San Francisco and other seaports,
says the Washington Star.
There has been rather complete
system Of espionage in Washington
since the European war began. Here
tofore intelligence officers of the vari-
GUS European governments have been
more occupied in ascertaining the
moves Of each other than in ascertain-
ing moves of the United States gov
eminent. But it is believed now that
some of this expert attention has been
turned upon Washington activities, al
though, as an intelligence officer of
foreign nation put it:
"What's the use? Any possible op-
ponent Of the United States knows all
about this country's affairs that is de-
sired to be known anyhow"
Little Secrecy In United States.
This remark recalls the fact that
there has been very little secrecy about
United States military affairs in years
gone by, owing to the system of pub
lie hearings and the system of making
public the information in regard to
hearings on military affairs before con-
gressional committees which has been
in vogue in the United States.
Several years ago, when Major Gen
eral W. W. Wotherspoon, U. s. A., re-
tired, was chief Of the war college,
Japanese prince visited the United
States and was shown through the war
college, Just before his arrival Gen.
eral Wotherspoon was showing a friend
through the building and pointing out
some of the systems in use, which, he
said. he proposed showing the prince.
General Wotherspoon's friend ex-
pressed surprise that such entirely
complete courtesies should be placed
at the disposal Of the distinguished Wis
itor. General Wotherspoon replied:
"Oh, well, the prince will know ali
about this anyhow before he gets here.
The Japanese have pretty good intel.
1igence system
Queer Happenings In Washington.
Queer things, however, have been
happening in Washington the past few
days. Splendid looking llmousines of a
character not used by ordinary mes
sengers have been seen standing in
numbers before the doors of European
embassies as early as 6 o'clock in the
morning, when the ordinary worker in
Washington has hardly turned over for
his last nap. Queer things also have
been happening in connection with the
use Of the long distance telephones.
These have come under the notice of
observing persons, who have readily
understood that the intelligence officers
Of various nations could give an ex-
PLANTATION Of them if they wanted to do
so. It is proper to add, perhaps, that
such explanations might be fOrthcom-
ing from the department Of investiga-
ton Of the department Of justice of the
United States too.
The British Intelligence system is be-
lieved to be the finest thing Of its
kind ever put into operation in the
world. It is known to. be in charge Of
Captain Guy Gaunt, r. N, the young
est captain in the British navy, an Aus
tralian, who is as much at home in the
country houses of Long Island as he is
in Washington. Captain Gaunt is de-
scribed by those who know him as the
ideal Of the romantic type Of modern
Intelligence officer, man of indom-
liable energy, to whom could possibly
no arn1inH ho foohi0ra6
phrase, HE never sleeps"
Great Britain is watching out for the
intelligence system for the allies on
the eastern coast Of the United States,
and Japan is watching out on the west
ern coast.
There is now new officer in charge
Of the German intelligence system in
the United States. He makes his head
quarters in the Office of big German
steamship company, fact we'll known
to the allied intelligence officers The
German system, however, is said to
have met with some reverses recently.
Cogs in the machinery have slipped,
and it is said that the German system
is not accomplishing as much as it did
at the beginning Of the war;
Spy's Real Name Disclosed.
When the spy Won der Goltz was ar
rested in Great Britain while trying to
make his way back to Germany under
false name and false American
passport he was confronted in Great
Britain with his real name, which is
,Wachtermann, name, it was said,
that has not up to this time been
known even to the department Of JUS
tice He heard it pronounced for the
first time since he left Germany years
before. Won der Goltz, it will be re-
called, was known as Bridgman Taylor.
Listening in" on telephones, on wire.
less, the hunting for tips and clews to
codes, is going on all over Washington
and the big seaports of the country
Rubber Made From Fish.
Freshly caught sea fish are said to be
the principal Ingredient Of an artificial