The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-23
U. S. SHUTS0FF
SPYP0ST ROUTE
Scandinavian Ship Crews
Found to BE Bearers of Mes
sages in Invisible Ink.
MANY LETTERS SEIZED
Germany Had System in Op-
Grafton Even Before Amer
lea Entered War.
special Despa,ch 10 THE Sr>


WASHINGTON. Dec. -. Coincident
with a visit to Washington o. Byron S.
Newton. Collector OF the Port Of New
York. for a conference with customs Of
fcisls and directors of the United states
secre, service the Treasury Department
to-day announced the discovery OF the
operation OF a system OF regular COM
munication between the United States
and Germany. Austria and European
neutrals. Within the last two weehs,
according to TIE Treasury Department
announcement. scores Of letters written
in invisible ink Or code phrases in the
clothing or personal effects of ships
crews bound to and from Scandinavian
ports have been discovered Swedes and
Norwegians for the most part were the
Offenders. and 90 per cent. OF the letters
have been found to be OF suspicious
character
Several persons are under surveillance
in New York and elsewhere as a result
OF disclosures male to officials, and sew
erals arrests are s,robable Close watch
is to be kept by secret agents OF all
transmtters of these communications
who have been traced
An effectual check has been put upon
the invisible ink and code letter system
by customs officials. While in Wash
ington Collector Newton will confer with
Bruce Bielaski. directing head of the
great force OF secre: agents Of the De-
partment OF Justice. with the War Trade
Board and possibly with secret service
officials of the Treasury. He saw Sec
a 10 lna a,,I
day
More Restrictions Necessary,
The Collector would make M state.
nent for publication, except that he
was here on general port business and
Tor conference with officials on closer
control OF shipping and enemy aliens
He said that the pass system worked
out Tor the barred zone about New York
PIERS WAS working eXcelientiy, but that
other measures were necessary, II is
probable that he will see the President
before leaving Washington to discuss
certain phases Of the situation with him
Evidence that the channels OF COM
munication with the Central Powers
have been open ever since the United
states entered the war has been un-
covered, and officials suspect that much
Of the information which the .Germar
Government is known to have received
concerning war preparations In America
mas @ been transmitted by the invisible
The discoveries were made by cus
toms officials after promuigation several
weeks ago Of regulations under the
trading with the enemy act forbiddinr
transmission OF communications To or
from the United states. except through
the regular course OF the malls or under
license OF customs authorities and the
War Trade Board.
Crews Searched on Arrival.
When the rules were established a
strict system Of inspection Of ships, their
crews and cargoes was begun, and the
dangerous nature OF many communica-
tions found on shipboard was immedi-
ately discovered.
Before incoming ships were permitted
to reach their piers crews were mus
tered and their clothing and other pcr-
sonal effects examined carefully. shore
leave was given only by special license
and every precaution taken to insure
against secret passage Of letters from
the vessel to shore.
This action. taken suddenly without
notice to the crews. caused the Discovery
OF many letters which heretofore had
been successfully concealed. These were
subjected to examination by chemistr
and code experts. and one in nve was
found suspicious.
Evidence gathered thus far leads ON.
cials to believe some neutral subjects
aided by Americans have made consjd-
erable money by promoting the clan
destine trafiic In communications TO
evade the British censorship Of mails
before and after the United States en-
tered the war. These are now subject
to criminal prosecution. with tho penalty
Of $4,000 hne and ten years imprison-
ment.