Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-07
BY .4ssocintci Prcss


Washington, July All Ger
mans, formerly connected either
with the German embassy or any
one of the many consulates in
America, have been requested to
leave the United States. Notifications
that their presence in America is
undesirable has been sent to them
by the State Department.
The Germans who principally are
clerks or servants, were not told that
they were suspected of being spies.
The inference that their loyalty to
the kaiser might make it difficult
for them to remain in this country
without attempting to send informa-
ton OF military character to their
government was made clear.
Many May Be Spies
Among the first to go will be Helm
rich Schaafhausen, formerly attach
ed to the German embassy, but left
behind by Count Won Bernstorff and
since attached to the Department
of German interests of the Swiss
legation. In addition to Schaafhau-
sen there Is Il long train of clerks
and servants, at least they have
served in such capacities in this
country, although this government
has no means of knowing definitely
what the exact status of most of
them is with the German govern
ment. There is ground for belief that
some of them are persons of more
Importance to the German intelli-
gence system.
DR.. George Barthelme, the author
of the much discussed dispatch to
the Colonge Gazette at the time dip
lomatic relations were served, still
is in Washington but is required to
rennrt To certn1n officio 1s
in person twice a week.
Turk Envoy Here
Although the bulk of the German
and Austrian embassy staffs depart
ed with their ambassadors, two of
Germany's allies still have their rep
resentatives here.
Abdul Haak Hussein, Bey, charge
of the Turkish embassy, pleaded
with the State Department not to
insist on his departure. His wife is
an English woman and on the
ground that her health might be af-
fected by going to Constantinople,
the Bey has been permitted to re-
main here.
The Bulgarian minister also still
is at his legation.
Tighten Spy Net
There are many indications that
the government is taking steps to
tighten the spy net and make even
more difficult the getting of military
information to Germany.
When the government agreed to
allow the transfer of many form
German employees to the Swiss lega-
ton and consulates there was no
state of war between the United
States and Germany. But the decla-
ration of war and the knowledge
that Germany maintains an efficient
spy system here have changed the
governments attitude.
The Grimm Hoffman affair in
Switzerland, in which a member of
the Swiss Federal Council was forced
to resign after being discovered as
German intermediary seeking to
influence Russia towards peace, had
a deep effect here in convincing of
iicials that at least some members
of neutral governments were using
their positions to bring pressure on
the belligerents. 1t is not desired
to increase the possibility of such
work through the added pressure
brought by former German officials
still IN Office here. Moreover Amer
ica's relations with some of the neu-
trails have become delicate through
the export control provisions and
Germany could easily use her po-
sition there.
Cleaning out of former German
officials here is but the first step
in systematic attempt to root the
spy system out in this country. State
Department officials say that an
ironbound censorship will be estab-
lishcG on all outgoing cables in line
with President Wilson's proclama-
tion at the earliest possible hour
that the machinery can be built up.
They also are much urgently urg-
ing a mail censorship beginning at
first with all countries not now COW
cred by the British and as soon as
possible including that as well.