New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-30
Hoover's Warning Stirs
Local Authorities to
Greater Activity
Insurance People
Confirm Warning
Many Food Destroying
Fires of Incendiary
Origin Reported

HooVers warning OF tne eAlsVehSo
q nationwide conspiracy TO destroy foo
IN granaries, stockysrds. warehouse
and storage places, received in thi
city Sunday by Food Administrato
Williams, called anxious attentio
again 70 the enemy alien situation
New York.
Hoover, in his telegram, specihcaii
referred 10 the loss Of grain in recer
fires. presumably incendiary in thel
origin. at Brooklyn and elsewhere, an
urged that steps be taken to prevent
recurrence of such disasters.
The Tribune learns that the goveen
ment has been receiving information o
q very grave character from the fire in
surance people. 1t communicated las
night with r. NJ. Bissell, president o
the National Board of Underwriters. q
Hartford, Conn, and obtained fror
him the following statement:
Fires Set by Enemies
There is evidence that fires have
been set by persons Of German origin
in many instances. can't say
wheth, this is a general plot or
whether these men are working un-
der one directing head just now. It
is evident. however, that fires are
being set by persons who are enc
mics of this government. Not only
food storehouses, but lumber yards
and munition plants have been dam
sged. Two fires in particular are
now under investigation, and we hope
to have the facts in hand within a
few days"
NoShere in the country have sde-
cuate steps been taken TO observe or
control the activities Of enemy aliens.
The situation in New York City is
typical.
10000 Enemy Aliens Free Here
1t is estimated that there are 100000
German citizens in this city. At the
beginning Of the war Federal decree
was issued requiring all enemy aliens
to present themselves for registration
and examination in order to obtain per-
mits under which they might enter GER
tain BARRED zones" Those zones were
TO protec. arsenals, armories, fortifi-
cations, munitions works, storage
places, warehouses, piers. etc.
Only $1,000 German subjects pre-
sented themselves in New York. and
applied for the blanks on which to
write out the request for permits. Only
10000 of them ever returned. This
means that some 10000 unregistered
and unknown enemy aliens are going
10 and fro in greater New York with
absolute freedom.
Twenty or thirty Of them, acting con-
certedly, could play havoc with the
eily'S food reserves.
To Thomas D. Mccarthy, United
States marthal, is intrusted the task Of
suesting all enemy aliens who enter
barred zones without permits in dis
triet extending from the Battery to
Albany.
Marshal Mccarthy has but thirty
nine deputies working under him.
These, he frankly admits, are an insult
heisnt force even 10 handle the routine
work Of his Office. And with equal
frankness he admits that this force
cannot attempt the task assigned to
him
Bulging Warehouses Burned
The situation is the same in every
community where there is any large
German population. And it is in these
localities that warehouses, bulging with
grain and other foodstuffs and war ma
tersls. have been burned down. Fed
eral officials admit privately that many
Of these blszes were started by incendi-
ares. And they confess that it is their
belief that German agents have started
some Of these fires.
i cannot talk about any work that
ns Secret Service is engaged on" said
CAisf Flynn, "but all possible pro-
Lection is being given to all places
where food is stored all over the coun-
w by this department. And in this
work the local police are rendering yeo-
mans service. ! do not think that there
Is any reason for the public feeling
alarmed over this situation"
Ihs greater part of the city's food
reserve is stored in $50 dry storage
warehouses;, a Board OF Health survey
showed. These are clustered along the
wsterfronts Of the city and would nat
u'aiiy fall into zones without much
'eaojustment. In these warehouses
sialn, nuts, dried vegetables, canned
s'Oos and non-perishable food OF every
~senptlon are kept.
second in Importance among the
Tvs food reservoirs are the great cold
.onge plants, Of which there are six
"a IN In general they are situated
nm the same areas as the dry ware
,sose and, because they are near
S. S..a could be guarded by the special
,shs OF police. The great food fac
,ss IN the lower section Of Manhat-
81 collectively furnish a third and
syxtant storage del OF. where large
snnnhes Of canned goods are ordi-
periods. "
warehouses; Principally Unguarded
/. ne rest Of the city's food supply Is
i, ;s permanent places. Much OF IL
e..tsne sne Wholesale markets and in the
ehsAsnments Of commission mer-
i,',a", but in these cases the supply
49," only from day to day. Likewise,
sw.nta nrtailers and the jobbers keep only
Sii stocks on hand, depending on
ersN". Gay replenishments- A consid-
amount Of food is. OF course,