Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-27
Spies

n ENCOURAGEMENT from Washington that
the German government was informed,
four days before tho arrival of tho American
notllia OF dcstroycrs at Queenstown, that the
ho'i'la was on its way and knew the de-
stroyers' destination and date of arrival
should reawaken us all TO a menace VIC had
been forgetting. The German espionage sys.
TEN still is IN full operation in this country
or Great Britain, and probably in both
fhc government, of course, has not for
Sotten. and It's agents constantly arc on the
alert but citizens generally, after the first
scare had subsidized, have been but too likely
TO accept dcarth of incident as proof posi-
tive that spies had ceased to function. There
could not be d more serious mistake and the
Navy Department docs we'll to call renewed
attention 10 the necessity OF secrecy for naval
and military operations.
But this secrecy does not mean more
refusal on tho part OF the newspapers to
print what their reporters can learn of the
movements of naval vessels What the good
reporter can find out certainly should not
be scaled book TO the good-or evil-spy
II spies are operating i'm coast cities, they
viii know when warships put to sea. Not
newspaper in this country printed word
Anout the departure of the destroyer fotilla,
and yet Germany had all the facts
While the manner in which this informa
tlcn was obtained is not disclosed, and per.
haps is not known. save TO the spies them
selves and their supcriors. it probably came
from two sources. spy mugt have observed
the sailing of the fotila from an American
port, and another spy must have detected
at Queenstown the progress OF ARRANGEMENTS
for the destroyers' reception.
How the secret agents conyeved tho facts
they had gathered TO Berlin is another mvs-
kcry. Either there is in operation in some
hidden place on the American continent
wireless plant capable of bridging the ocean
or else code kilograms have eluded the Wig
lance of the cable censors There are codes
OF all sorts and descriptions. and messages
which 10 all appearance are entirely limo
cent may transmit concealed information of
MShcst consequence. The code theory has
the larger probability, for a wireless plant
strong enough to carry to Germany scarcely
could be operated without detection. Other
wireless plants would pick up its messages.
and thus discover Its existence, IL not It's
exact situation.
The lesson the incident teaches and the
warning which Secretary Daniels enforccs is
lnat every citizen must be on the alert He
Must keep his eyes open and ~ quick to
INFORM the proper officials OF every sus-
picious circumstance. That the GerS,sn
espionage system reaches all tho considN-
able cities OF this country we have not the
slightest doubt That spies are operating
In Richmond we take to he assured
There should be an immediate census OF
NIL subjects OF the centra! powers Most OF
them are harmless and inoffenstve persons
but among them Grc ncr who menace the
security OF this naiio7 aud its success in
arms. There Is no plan TO intern them as
yet, hut certainly the. should be known to
the authorities In Richmond and other
cities such census could be taken by the
police. and in the rural districts by sherifs
and their deputies. The safety Of our people
demands that such an enrolment be made
at once