The Washington herald., 1917-05-27
PROBE FORLEAK
OF NAVY'S PLANS
Two Departments Start Invest
igations to Learn How Ber-.
lir Got Advance News.

Two rigid Investigations were ordered
by the government yesterday into the
activities OF German spies which enabled
word OF the sailing and the port of desti-
nation Of the American feet sent to
Europe to reach Berlin four days in ad-
vance OF the arrival Of the ships in an
English port
One investigation is being made by the
Navy Department; the other by the De-
partment Of Justice. which. until now,
has had entire charge Of German espion-
age in this country.
Imperiling as It did the entire destroy
er squadron by enabling mine-pIantins
submarines to sow with mines the waters
Of the base toward which the American
ships were heading, the administration
moved quickly and decisively to uproot
the spy system in this country.
The vital question in the whole series
Of Investigations now proceeding is-how
did Germany learn the English port that
the American warships were heading for?
And how was the information transmit
ted to Berlin?
Statement from Daniels.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels said yes
terday:
I was sure that no word could have
escaped Of the sailing or destination of
the destroyers. The newspapers printed
nothing and there was no talk elsewhere
Admiral Sims message Of yesterday
was a shock. 1t contained only the bare
statement that Germany knew of the
sailing four days before the destroyers
reached England and that the harbor
had been mined the day before"
1t was definitely determined that no
word could have escaped from any off,
Ger or sailor of the warships themselves
The men knew they were being made
ready for sea duty, but 1t might have
been patrol work, and when they sailed
II was under sealed orders, which were
not opened until the vessels were far at
sea
Even the Cabinet did not know OF the
naval expedition until the destroyers
were almost in Europe. Neither did the
General Board Of the Navy. Secretary
Of the Navy Daniels himself did not know
the port for which the vessels were
bound He declared yesterday that he
had left all details OF the expedition to
the officials in command-the Bureau Of
Operations, Of which Rear Admiral Ben
son Is chief. The Secretary himself did
not even knOw-and does not yet-the
names Of the officers in command of the
individual ships.
Recommended by Sims.
The expedition was recommended by
Rear Admiral Sims, who had gone to
London some time previously. 1t was
approved by the President, and the ships
were ordered to make ready. Only high
officers Of the Bureaus of Navigation and
Operations had anything to do with send
ing the ships away. All communications
with Rear Admiral Sims were carried on
in special code-not the regulation navy
code, but a secret system used only on
special occasions.
After the ships were at sea they had
no wireless communication with either
America or England. They did not use
their radio apparatus at all. so it was
impossible that German stations should
have picked up" messages.
There was some belief yesterday that
the information might have leaked" in
England. It is known that ever since
the beginning of the war Germany has
been securing accurate reports Of events
in the British Isles. It is understood that
an investigation is being made there also,
and further word from Admiral Sims is
anxiously awaited by officials.