New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Many Pro-German
Workers Ousted
At Camp Merritt
Captain Emory Says Two
Drafted Men Were Con-
victed; Others Civilians
Explains Tribune Story
Declares If He Said Soldiers
Were Found Guilty 1t
Was an Error

The Tribune on December q printed
a news article dealing with pro-Ger-
manism among soldiers and civilians at
Camp Merritt. the mobilization canton
mont. near Tenafy, y. J. The account
was published on the authority OF
Captain j. r. Emory, jr, provost mar
shall at the camp and head Of the
Intelligence Bureau which is striving
TO clear up The pro-German menace
there.
lie was quoted as saying that 100
American soldiers had been court
mar;ialcd at Camp Merritt in the past
two months for pro-German uttersnces
and activities. The article contained
information also OF the general activi-
tes Of pro German civilians and other
persons suspected Of being German
agents in the vicinity Of the camp, as
detailed 20 The Tribune by Captain
Emory.
"The New York World" printed the
next day a rcpudjation Of The Tribune
story by Captain Emory. II quoted him
as stating:
"Tho article that The New York
Tribune printed this morning, quot
ing me 60 the effect that 100 soldiers
IA this camp have Deen found guilty
OF -Gcrmanism, Is lie. Only
one soldier has been found guilty Of
such an offence, and We sent the de-
tails Of his care 20 the newspapers
Is an object lesson.
81 cannot understand this story.
talked with a reporter while ] was
dressing. told him that about
one hundred civilians employed by
the contractors here had been dis
charged when we found they were
German sympathiZers. or that their
personal histories, or their remarks,
while here might be construed as
indicating that they were pro-
German"
Admits lie Might Have Erred
ON December % Captain Emory die
tated the following statement TO two
representatives Of The Tribune:
1T was through a sunderstand-
ing that / have been quoted in The
Tribune as saying that 100 soldiers
have been punished for disloyalty
here There have been d few cases
among the draft men who have been
here. ] know Of two. One was the
case of Private Bulkin, who was
convicted last week. the other that
Of man named Mast.
"If / used the term Soldiers in
speaking Of the disloyalty cases,
where ] should have used the term
civilians IL was purely an mad
yertencc.
"The activities i'm this camp and
vicinity along pro-German lines
have been confined almost CXclu-
sively 10 civilians, numbering sew
cral hundred. a large proportion
of this number. perhaps one-half.
have been sent away for various
terms or interncd.'
There has been much pro-Germsn
activity at Camp Merritt. That much
is generally known. But the records
are not available. IL is doubtful
whether there is even a full list OF
the several hundred pro-German
camp laborers who have been discov-
cred i'm the reservation. The method Of
getting rid Of suspected employees has
been TO report them 20 Macarthur
Brothers. contractors in charge Of
civilian workers in the camp, who pay
off such offenders and discharge them.
Then they are marched out OF the
reservation and warned against re-
turning.
No List Of Ousted Civilians
The contractors, IL was stated at
Camp Merritt. have kept no separate
hst Of civilians thus dismissed.
Camp Merritt officials could give no
record Of the exact number Of laborers
turned over TO the Federal authorities
for prosecution. 10 has not been the
custom for officers at the camp TO ar
rest labOrcrs guilty OF offences grave
enough TO warrant more than their
mere dismissal from the reservation.
Where arrests are desired, a com
plant must first be sent 10 the United
States District Attorney al Newark. IT,
I'm the opinion Of this Office. the case is
strong enough TO warrant prosecution
10 is sent 20 the United States Commits
sioner at Newark. who issues warrants
which are served by the local police in
Englewcod. Dumont and Ienahy- all
towns near 20 Camp Merritt.
Department Of Justice and Secret
Service agents have been assisting
camp officials in running down evidence
OF pro- German intrigue among civilians
other than laborers In the vicinity OF
the camp.