New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-06

the last ships were in This reason
was set forth solemuly, although Ger
man U.boats had met the ships az
.eA. and were able TO transmit tull
wireless rcports II Berlin needed
more details than she had many hours
before y single American soidler h"u
seen France. r,
chat tho troops had landed the news
PAIRS were asked 70 erase al ind'Ca-
lions Of the names OF vcSsels, 'he
points Of embarkation and similar De
tails from the pictures when my
published They did so, IN spite o, tne
fact that the movies were then snow
ing films giving all these details am
the further fact that there was no el-
fort made 20 prevent any German sPy
Who wished % take the trouble from
standing in the crowd behind the po-
lice lines as the troops marche1 W
their ships and from seeing the sh'PS
as they put 20 sea. 49,, -..,,os, of
The newspapers, AT the request OF
the government. always date dlSP"'SnVS
from the European port from Wh'0n
the American destroyers Operate
"The American Destroyer BASE u.
though they know that Germany NM"
the name Of that port IN time 10 lay
mines Off the harbor Just oelo'e ''''
destroyers reached there :.
At the state Department To-Day
cas nointed out that il is VIRTUALLY
,nnossible" 10 prevent the transmits
sion Of information by mail or Telegraph
hut. a. a matter Of fact, officials there
ssiS This entire question was one OF
military and naval information with
which the Department of State had no
connection.
Not Sure About Wires
SECRETARY Of War Baker said he
WAS not quite sure, but he thought
lis department. through the Signal Ser
vice. was censoring all wires ih'o
Mexico.
"How about telegram being sent
by German spy to FL Paso and then 81,
its being carried across into Mexico
he was asked.
said
"Has rny proposal been made to
extend the censorship, for instance, so
as to include kilograms 10 points
just this side OF the Mexican border
with view Of stopping that possible
hole" he was asked.
nave lOk nthIu VI H. Af oeiNs
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels said
he was confident there were no wire
less plants in Mexico capable Of trans
hitting information 10 Germany.
Some Of the glazing faults OF the
present lack Of system in obtaining in
telligence concerning spies and OPP
rortunities afforded 10 Germany FOR
conducting an elaborate espionage
system in America were outlined to-day
rs follows:
Seamen, stokers. stevedores. waters
and other members OF the crews OF
foreign vessels entering American ports
visit and leave the shore with freedom;
there being no method devised and
enforced for watching them and for
restricting their movements.
Foreign steamships accept for pas
sage persons boarding these vessels
without passports. and transport them
unmolested TO countries contiguous
20 Germany, as was proved in the in
stance of the Socialists who went to
Stockholm from the United States.
Under the present lack of organiza-
tion, a man under suspicion in New
York by crossing the river TO New
Jersey has removed himself from the
observations of the existing organiza-
IONS and until he attracts the atten-
! = of the New Jersey authorities he
" rec from suspicion.
crmans in War Supply Plants
An American corporation whose
stock was owned by Germans at the
outbreak of the war and which ii
manufacturing supplies Of vital ne
cessity to the army and navy is still
allowed to maintain as its executive
officers many Of the same German Off
Gals originally operating the company,
and unless they can be proved TO have
broken some law of the country their
sources of information and their OPP
portunities for dangerous activity
cannot be interfered with.
1t was stated that desperate char
acters recently rounded up By the De-
psrtment of Justice have been released
because there were no specific charges
which could be lodged against them.
although there was sufficient moral
warrant for OBTAINING them. There
vas said also TO be no way of check
ing up on persons in the civilian en-
Tloy of the government, walters in no.
tells here and at other centres of mill
itary and naval information and ac-
tivity; of telegraph and telephone op-
orators, and in short, of beginning at
the heart of the spot which of all
places should be the first TO be weeded
out, Washington itself"