New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-19
Enemies Within


agents of the Department of Justice dis
closes the extreme laXity Of the system on
which we have relied in dealing with
enemy aliens. These aliens were long ago
forbidden to enter various areas IN TINS
CITY and in our harbor district which were
the centres Of military activity. They were
q no excluded from the waterfront and
deprived Of access 10 navy yards, arsenals
and plants engaged in shipbuilding or the
manufacture of war supplies.
The Presidents proclamation imposing
these restrictions was admirable IN FORM
It's scope was all-inclusive. But it had no
sooner been issued than it became dead
latter The Department Of Justices repre-
sentatives here. despairing of ever enforc-
inc il. set TO work TO construe it so that the
difficulties Of enforcement could be circum-
vented. 1t was decided that such enemy
aliens as we're willing to take out permits
70 do so should be allowed TO enter the
barred zones. As for the rest-perhaps
majority Of all-who didn't think 1t worth
their while TO ask for permits, it was de-
cided TO take chances.
A simple. labor-saving solution. But one
utterly destructive of the purposes Of the
barred zone policy. 1t has been plain 70
every one that for months past enemy
aliens here have suffered no material
sbridgement of their freedom OF move
ment. They have gone everywhere and
pursued their employments without hin
drance, and kept on working under condi-
tons which gave them access to our mill
tarv secrets-and in many cases have done
this without even observing the formality
of applying for nominal parole, in the
shape of a license Of honor
About twenty-five enemy aliens were ar
rested on Wednesday-some employed on
the ferryboats of the Lackawanna Rail
road. with full view of all the shipping
activities in the North River; others en-
ployed in ship and engine building plant
on the Harlem River, and still others en-
ployed in harbor towing boats.
According to "The Times" the engine
and ship building plant has large num-
Der of government contracts for the manu-
facture of naval patrol vessels. Yet the
enemy aliens employed there felt so secure
from interference that none of them, &C
oording to the Secret Service agents, hac
a barred zone permit, which all uninterneC
Germans are required to have" We learr
also from "The Times" that none of The
men arrested had barred zone permit"
This is a condition which The Tribune
for many weeks past has been describing
rs public menace. The Department Of
Justice has never had force here large
enough TO exclude enemy aliens from the
specially exposed areas in which they
might commit serious acts of sabotage OF
espionage. The German population here
has treated the alleged exclusion as joke
h Public sentiment has recently forced 6
censorship Of the foreign-language press
But far greater menace than the mere
preaching Of sediticn in the anti-war news
papers has been overlooked on the mis-
taken theory that the internment or ever
the thorough surveillance Of enemies
within our borders would involve too much
effort and cost too much money.
1t Is time 70 abandon that theory. We
are as yet hardly at war in a real sense
with Germany. Our fighting passions have
not been stirred. Nor has the alien enemy
element which is fanatically devoted &c
the cause Of the Kaiser been embitterec
and maddened, as il will be when it finds
that the forces of the United States are
beginning to exercise decisive influence
en- the Western front.
Nobody can tell how soon full use vii
be made Of the opportunities TO harass ui
which enemy subjects now enjoy. We are
trifing with danger. Every German in g
position in which he can commit incendar
ism, plant bombs, derange machinery OF
furnish military information TO the Kai
ser's secret service is peril to our safety
Why not put him where he can do us
no harm for the rest of the war? Intern
ment camps are wise investment for any
country infested, as ours is, with avowed
enemies, near-enemies. neutrals under sus-
picion and hyphenatcd citizens with alien
sympathies. We shall have to come to IN
ternment eventually as protection
AGAINST the enemy subjects within our