New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-27
Wholesale Night Raids Are
Conducted Swiftly in All
Five New York Boroushs
at Once
Naval Authorities
Act for the u. S.
Arrests Continuing at an
Early Hour This Morn.
ing, With Nearly 200
Germans Already at
Headquarters

A roundup Of several hundred enemy
aliens who have been working in muni-
ton plants, entering forbidden zones
and in other ways violating the law
began shortly before last midnight,
wher geo detectives, using twenty-five
automobiles, sped to all parts Of the
five boroughs and began bringing their
prisoners to Police Headquarters.
Nearly 200 prisoners, according to
the police, had been gathered in the
drag net by 2 o'clock this morning, and
it was said that possibly a hundred
more would be in custody before the
nights work was finished. The raids
will be continued to-day and probably
all week.
The arrests were the result Of q
secret investigation which has been
conducted by officials of the Navy De-
partment, with the cooperation Of de-
tectives working under the direct or
ders Of Deputy Police Commissioner
Guy Scull. ever since war was declared
against Germany. The raids were d.
rected by Deputy Commissioner Seull,
Captain Tunney, of the Headquarters
Bomb Squad, and Inspector Cray.
Hetded In Drill Room
As fast ak the men were taken into
custody thdv were rushed to Police
Headquarters by patrol wagon loads
and herded in the drill room Of the
police recruits school or in the trial
room until they could be searched and
examined
Dozens Of suitcases, illed with
papers. bundles tied up in sheets, mys-
terious boxes, tools, parts of machinery
and contrivances that had the appear
ance Of bombs or bomb-making ma
terials, all seized in the raids, Uttered
the floors Of the Offices at headquarters.
The prisoners, it was said, would be
held at Police Headquarters until their
cases are disposed of by the naval au-
thorities. There are only twenty-five
cells at headquarters, and as fast as
the men were given a preliminary ex-
animation they were hurried TO the
basement and locked up. But the cells
were filled early, and at o'clock this
morning the men were being corralled
in the trial room on the third floor. II
was said they probably would be kept
there under guard until morning.
Had Maps of Brooklyn
Cne man arrested in Brooklyn was
found to have maps of that borough,
with stars indicating the location of
the armories, forts, arsenals and navy
yard. Another prisoner taken in
Brooklyn is said to have carried papers
connecting him directly with German
agents. Others were found to have
tools other than used in their regular
occupations.
In the home Of one man arrested BY
detectives from the I'd Branch-a man
who was reported to be employed as q
foreman in the navy yard-a large
quantity Of dynamite was found and
confiscated.
Detectives Geisler and Ferguson,
searching another man at headquarters,
came upon a box about five inches wide
and eight inches long, containing car
borundum in powdered form. The po-
lice say that pulverized carborundum
is being used by plotters to destroy
ball bearings and the finer parts of
machinery. Captain Tunney said the
carborundum found on one Of the men
is similar TO that discovered recently
on a German carrier in Copenhagen. II
had been made up into the form of Gig
arettes and crayons. Captain Tunney
added that the alien enemy on whom
the stuff, was found last night was en-
ployed in a munitions plant.
Two prisoners are said TO have been
employed in q plant where submarine
periscopes are manufactured. One is
said to have held the position Of fore
man.
Federal Officers Take Part
Naval officers and agents Of the De-
partment oF Justice began gathering on
the third foor at Police Headquarters
about an hour before the first arrests
were made. ...
The first report received was Of the
arrest of three men by detectives from
the Sixth Branch in Brooklyn. Four
were gathered into the net by detec-
tives of the Fourth Branch in Harlem.
Then came word of more arrests in
Harlem and Williamsburg. Then il
was learned that the roundup IN
cluded points in New Jersey, when Q
group Of enemy aliens were brought
over through the Hudson tubes. and
II was said that the raids also extend
ed TO certain localities on Long Island.
Prisoners Arrive
At 1880 four patrol wagons, bring
ing about sixty prisoners, had reached
Headquarters, and the men were all
taken to the third floor, 70 be held
there temporarily while examined.
Some were well dressed, but the major
ity appeared to be laborers.
With the prisoners the police brought
in a large number Of bundles. Some
were wrapped in newspapers, others in
manila paper, and still others were tied
up in sheets.
A dozen or more suitcases also were
brought in. All that Captain Tunney
would say was that the bundleS con-
tsined papers of the greatest imper..
tanee. He asked that the names OF
naval officers present, as well - the
names Of the munitions plants in which