The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-05
POLICE WILL ROUND UP
HORDES IN EASTERN CITIES
Task Three Times Greater Than When
ff Germans Were Gagged.

Washington, Dec. SIN anticipation
of a declaration of war on Austria,
scores of department of justice agents
today were laying plans for the arrest
of scores of Austro-Hungarian subjects
In the United States suspected Of being
enemy agents.
With the adoption of a war resolution
nearly a million Austrian subjects in
this country automatically would be.
come enemy aliens and amenable to
President Wilson's order requiring reg
istration of all aliens and restricting
their activities.
The department of justice expects to
put alien registration into effect within
a few days and apply it at first only to
eastern cities where the police will con-
duct registration. The task will be
three times greater than when planned
for Germans alone.
The department realizes that many
Austrian subjects, particularly Bkhe-
mians and the Slavic elements, are
actually pro-ally and careful considera.
ton will be shown in administering the
regulations.
z The department of justice began TAX.
ing steps for disposition of the great
number of new alien enemies the war
declaration will create.
NIdny are FTleUuS OF America.
The job is much more difficult than
it was in the case of Germany. There
are in the United States many subjects
of Austria Hungary who are opposed to
that government and sympathize with
the cause of the United States. Many
of them are CZechs, Bohemians and 9TH
ers of the races which have been OPP
pressed by the Austrian government.
Many of them, to join the fight for
freedom of their countrymen and real
ization of national aspirations, have
joined the American army. waving ex-
emptions they might have claimed as
aliens.
lit is evident that some sort of ex-
ception will be made for them, as the
government hardly wishes to treat them
as enemies and still wishes to protect
itself as far as possible.
The department of labor, which has
of alien civilians classed as enc
mics, also was making its preparations
70 care for them, as may be necessary,
probably in camps such as those in
which German civilians are confined.
Other Agencies Ready.
The department of commerce, the |
var trade board and the other agen-
lies charged with enforcement of the |
rading- -with-the-enemy act, faced a new
ask. but as they already have created |
he machinery for dealing with such
situation a new war declaration actual
y involves only extensions of steps al
'eady taken.
Austria Hungary has had no diplo-
matte or consular relations with the
United States since they were broken
,ff at the time of the diplomatic break
With Germany. Austrian investments
n this country are being cared for
through the alien property custodian
American use of Austrian war-bound
ships is legalized by the declaration
If war, although some of them have
,een used heretofore. and the money for
heir use will be paid later.
Officials long have considered Aus
rians in the United States as danger.
'us as Germans, and it is a matter Of
record that the l. w w. disturbances
which tended to hamper the govern
nent in the conduct of the war were
argely carried on by Austrian subjects.