New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-21
and the opening of credits for the en-
envy account
Transferred to U-Boats

emit time a regular service by whieh
mails for German destination are I'M
modiately trsnsshipped TO fishing boats
upon the arrival Of the mail steamers
in Spain. and by these shipping boats
transferred 20 German submarines
which bring the mail direct to Ger
many and Austria. In many instances
such transfer is unnecessary because
of the open wireless communication dl-
rect from Spain TO Germany. In this
way written messages from the United
States or South America TO Spain are
relayed without delay by wireless TO
Germany"
Must Censor Mails
Roth reports insist upon mail
.epsorsbip as indispensable TO the
Elective working of the cable censor
shin. The second report says on TINS
point:
Moreover our cable censorship can
not possibly be effective without n
censorship of the mails as users OF
tho cable can send codes through the
mail. BY the use Of such codes ap-
rarently innocent business or personal
Cable messages will convey information
70 the enemy. or commercial transac-
lions. apparently insignificant, may be
If very great benefit 20 the enemy
both as regards amounts which do not
apncar in the message, commodities
ard the enemy character OF the hrms
involved. We have appended to TINS
memorandum number OF instances
showing how this operates and we nave
IN our files countless other examples
at Is obvious from the foregoing
,rat the most detailed information
with regard TO the movement OF our
,roops. the condition Of our munltion
factories. and so forth, can be sent
without fear Of detection from New
VI or Soptb America 10 Germany
Even Red Cross Duped
The report shows the Red Cross has
,,nocently opened itself as a means OF
communication with Germany. 1t says;
an the Official Bulletin Of Septem-
her 3 there is an announcement TO the
crcct that through the Red Cross,
means OF communication may De
o,epcd between residents of the United
states and residents Of the Central
Powers. II il is intended that the
message as written by the sender IN
America can be delivered TO the
addrcsscf in Germany, such pro
cedure would undoubtedly enable spies
f., this country 70 communicate with
the enemy abroad.
Moreover, It has been the expert
pnce of the belligerents il Europe that
q large proportion Of letters from pris-
oners of war and others contained mes
saces written between the lines IN IN
visible ink. All sorts Of ingenious de-
vices have been used TO accomplish
this. and if such a means OF communl-
cation is opened each message should
no carefully roworded and written on
different paper before leaving the
United States. The furnishing of these
sariIities for humanitarian purposes
IcnJs additional weight to the lmpor-
lance of censoring the mails.
Must Watch. Neutral Firms
Attention is called to the fact that
considerable portion of the export
business in this country is done by
neutral firms who owe no allegiance TO
ID 80
their activities be closely watched"
on the same subject the first men
toned report says:
IAN mail from the United States to
Mexico. Cuba and 70 Central and south
hmerican countries is uncensored, and
This IL equally true of mail from Mex
,ro Cuba and Central and South Amer
ic8n countries 70 Spain. mus lhIor
nation can be transmitted 20 any oht
of these countries, from there IorWaro
ed to Spain and TeiaEed from SPai" "
Germany by wireless.
Censorship which does not cover
the United States mail ard express u
hose countries in addition 70 the tele
oraph and telephone lines is not com
nlcte and offers an effective means o.
circumvcnting telegraph and telephone
censorship.
business reports NpN .Nu'NS
Not only does this channel exist, but
,ye know that il is being used. Through
reports Of the Department Of --- anC
information furnished by the --- gov
orpment we know Of business reports
and credits mailed TO Span and trans
mitted BY wireless from Spain TO Ger
MANY. There are in the h!es many
communications containing VaIuabIe IN
formation addressed 20 Neutral coun.
tries, but intended for Germany anc
intercepted.
I'm addition to its value as check
on the forwarding of Information there
are other advantages 70 be derived
from a thorough mail censorship.
at serves as an invaluable supple
mont to the telegraph and cable cen
.orship. The latter can, 10 certain
extent, be cyaded by means OF pTi-
vatc code and the use of apparently
harmless words which have secret
meaning, previously agreed on by the
.cnder and recipient of the message.
Point to Leaks by Mexico
The Mexican border is recognized as
presenting especial difficulties The
irst report says on this subject:
at is realized. Of course, that great
difficulty will be experienced IN pre-
venting messages being carried across
the Mexican border, and that IN all
probability it VIII be impossible 10 nut
"a complete stop 10 this practice. How
ever, as effective a Gordon as possible
.hould be established and severe pen
alties should be imposed for SNUG