New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-17
Secret Report to General
Staff Reveals Serious
Menace
Dunbar's Arrest
Shows Navy Affected
Ex-Ensign, Native of Ger
many, Got in Through
Reserve System
IS,ar Co1espondencel


College has reported to the army Gen
oval staff that there are many spies in
the American army.
This revelation concerning the oper-
atons Of Germany on American soil
came 10 light to-day, when the Navy
DEPARTMENT gave out the record Of
former Ensign William L. Dunbar, ar
rested IN New York Tuesday on the
charge Of being a spy.
Itis situation about which officials
have done but little talking. In fact
The report Of the War College was
made 10 the army General staff in
secret. and. while possibly recognizing
the condition. officials have been in
cl.ned 10 root out Germany's agents
quietly 20 avoid a great public stir.
Many officers Dropped
Since this report has been made to
the staff many officers have been
dropped from the army because Of in
competency or for reasons not stated,
bat Secretary of War Baker has never
admitted any Of them were dismissed
for pro-German tendencies. In one
case. when it was reported that twenty
five army officers were dropped for pro-
German tendencies. Secretary of War
Baker denied the statement.
Even now he makes no admissions,
but with the War College secret report
under general discussion speculation
now turns TO the question Of just how
extensive this misfortune IN the ma
ton's army ranks may be. Many men
Of rank are inclined 70 believe that
the army is honeycombed. and that a
similar condition. possibly not so Sc
rious, may exist in the navy.
Draft System Blamed
The War College, in its secret re- /
port. c,presses the opinion that the
avenue through which the spies got
INTO the ranks Of our soldiers was the
selective draft-open 20 all fit men OF
the proper age who sought entrance.
As 70 Dunbar, now interned on Ellis
Island as a spy. the record, as given
out to-day by Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels, is as follows:
William Lewis Dunbar was enrolled
March %, 1917, IN the provislnal rank
Of ensign. United States Naval Reserve
force. IN the Sd Naval District, New
York. On April .. 1917, he executed
the acceptance and oath OF Office, which
document states that he was born June
1898, I'm Hamburg, Germany. and
claims citizenship in the state OF
Pennsylvania. After enrolment he was
ON duty in the Sd Naval District,
and ON June % was ordered detached
from the Federal Rendezvous. Naval
Militia Armory. at the foot OF Fifty
second Street. Brooklyn. and directed
20 take charge Of a patrol ship. On
August s he was detached from the snip
and ordered 20 duty in fitting out an
other patrol vessel. He submitted re-
quest for transfer 20 the aviation sec
ZION Of the navy, but II was disapproved
Nay 10.
Discharged After Investigation
"After am investigation by the ONCE
o. Naval Intelligence, Dunbar was DIS
charged from the navy by direction OF
r telegram from the Bureau OF Navl-
g4ton. October IS. 70 the oOmmandant
OF the Sd Naval District
Secretary Daniels SAID TINS afternoon
that Dunbar had been discharged from
the navy i'm consequence Of an investl-
eaton which developed the charges on
which lie was aftcrWard arrested. Hav-
inc been dropped from the rolls, the
Secretary said. Dunbar's case passed
Cl. Of the jurisdiction of the navy and
came under that OF the Department OF
Justice In consequence Of the navy
20 longer having jurisdiction, there
was no chance Of Dunbar being court
martiaiod but he would be tried IN
the c.sil courts and the Department OF
Justice would have charge OF the case
against him
twenty-five Were Dropped
When the United States first went
into tho war, said Secretary Daniels
each o. the thirteen Naval Reserve
zones were empowered 20 enroll appll-
cants as onsigus in the Naval Reserve.
lt was n this category that Dunbar
Rad taken service. Later 10 had Deeh
found that many of the men so en-
rolled we're incompeteut as naval officers
and twenty-five OF them had been eds
enrolled" " which is equivalent 20 say
Ing they should have been dropped
from 'he service. None Of these men
had been flropDed on account Of being
pro-GerMan. the Secretary said. but all
for reasons of demonstrated incompe-
tency AS naval officers.
lu consequence Of this state or al
fairs. continued. the right 20 enroll
ensign had been taken from the Naval
Reserve Now all prospective oihcers
must make their applications TO the
Nayv Department and must come 10
Washington and be examined before
Receiving their commissions. This rule
he said had been in force since May.
Shift Responsibility
Investigating the Dunbar case at the
Navy Department the impression gath
cred was that the department had been
very glad 90 slide the affair OIL on 10
lhe Department Of Justice. This coun-
'iy has not yet shot a spy, and no one
seems at an anxious 20 administer tnat
summary punishment for the first
ume. Hence. as soon as the Navy De-
partment became suspicious OF Dunbar
me Department Of Justice was called
INTO the case. Dunbar was kept on the
navy rolls while Secret Service agents
followed him. When the case was well
established he was dropped from the
navy thus ending the navy's responsi-
6ihty and putting the burden on the
department Of Justice, while also evad-
ing court martial possibilities.
Federal officials believe that Dunbar
mas long acted as spy for Germany.
Shofti} after the outbreak OF the war
ne gave up a berth in a fashionable
preparatory school in Pottstown, Penn,
"here he taught French.