Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-21
If Were a Bulgarian
This is How I Would Slip Important Information About
Americas War Moves to Germany by Cable, by
Mail, by Messenger, Writes Bronner.

news. The expose Of the Swedish MIN
er. T KWoghibey
lister to Argentina points out the
answer.
II I were a Bulgarian, 1t would not
be hard for me to learn when .Arnert-
can transports were leaving port. It
is almost impossible to keep such
things secret.
Obviously, hat information would
be Of no avail to Germany unless I
could cable It or wireless It. But
both means are closed to me as Q
Bulgarian. There is a censorship at
this end Of the line. IN even more
rigid one at the other end.
My only cours would be to find
some neutral" minister, willing to
forego his neutrality. just as did the
Swedish minister in Argentina. He
could then, with perfect freedom,
send my message in code to the capi-
tai Of his country. and the rest would
be easy.
Some Of the neutral ministers GER
tainly have a real conception of hon
or and neutrality, Inc all might refuse
to open this channel Of communities
ton. In that event. II they refused
to n my message, I might per-
suade them It was part Of their duty
as ministers to report by cable to their
country that America was really put
ting its back into the war. If they
did SO, I could leave the rest to Of
fcials on the other side who might
violate their neutrality and convey the.
Information to Germany, or to Ger
man spies who would procure the
news in some fashion.
This is not fancy or n~noonshine; If
Sweden conveyed for Germany from
Argentina a message advising the
ruthless sinking Of Argentine vessels,
1t is not impossible OF improbable that
some neutral" minister in this coun-
try would convey for. Bulgaria a mes
sage that would give q tip also to the
German submarines.
Another kind Of information is
vital to Germany, in which the Inn
mediate time element does not enter.
In that event. If I were.a Bulgarian,
l would ave to- the mails.
! would OF course, avoid all MALL lines
That used the North Atlantic. Letters
that travel by thos routes are subject
to the rigid and effective British and
French censorshtps. America has. I'm
to now, exercised no censorship Of
mail matter. save to forbid letters to
Germany and her allies.
l would easily avoidsthe British and
French censors by mailing nv letter
to a friend in Havana, who. in turn.
would post 1t on a. Spanish steamer
landing at Vigo or Cadiz. Once ia the
hands Of a German agent Ia Spain,
the Job would be easy, because ths
information could be wirelessed from
Madrid to Berlin.
You may point out that maybe onr
Uncle Sam Is not entirely asleep' ana
- keeping some watch over malls 90
ing put on vessels for Spain. All
sisnt; Heres another. Some Of these
Spanish lines make port at New
York. It would be very easv for ~
II I were a Bulgarian, to take NV iat.
Yer TO New York. get intouch with
some In the crew, and nav hin,
handsomely to deliver the letter IN
person to some agent in the snaniah
port where he landed. nii
And there are all kinds ~ ~
formation I could gather. AZ an
attach Of the Bulgarian legation
would have the entree at tRa Ne
clubs and other similar Mas
gver q highbadl and the cigar
Would sometimes pick up an
aUsan OF interest. I would extract
that L. always f1oainr ason,,S
washington which has NOT vet
arm motto prevailing In
Europe: HBe carefnI-
enemy ears may be listening"
It would be possible "a 90.
nation about the progress OF oI,r
tne way in which our drafted men
are api up into soldiers. the
speed with which we are turning out
ammunition and artillery. etc. Thess
IRE az Things the Germans would like
70 Know. They are all things en-.
cerning which, It is possible, for an
embassy attache to CLEAN some sraans
OF fact that would be hidden from
Ieven tne most astute Germany spy.