Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-27
u. s. DESTROYERS
REPORTED BY SPIES
Commander Of Destroyer Flo
tilla Says Berlin Knew Of
Departure Of Ships for
Foreign Waters.

Washington, May 26-Four days
before the American destroyer fotilla
arrived abroad, Berlin knew it was on
the way and to what port it was
going and the day before the vessels
steamed into Queenstown German sub
marines had strewn mines about the
harbor entrance.
This startling information, revealing
that German spies not only still are
at work in this country, but that they
have a swift and sure means OF COM
municating Americas war secrets to
the fatherland, came to the Navy de-
partment today in a cablegram from
Rear Admiral Sims at London.
The admiral said his information
was positive. His dispatch was not
made public and for obvious reasons
nothing will be given out concerning
how the news came into his possess
sion, nor about the precautions which
defeated the German plans and en-
abled the fotilla to speed safely
through the mine fields.
Immediate publicity was given the
salient fact, however, the department
making clear that its purpose was to
let the public know Of the activity and
success of Teutonic spies and to en-
phasize the necessity for absolute Sc
crecy in connection with the naval
operations or shipping movements.
The destroyers. now aiding in the
hunt for submarines in European
waters, under the direction of Admiral
Sims, put into port at Queenstown
on May l6. How long they were
crossing the Atlantic or from what
port they sailed never has been an
nounced and until word of their ar
rival came by cable only few peo-
pie in the United States even knew
of the governments decision to send
warships to Europe.
No official would comment tonight
on the possible means by which the
news was conveyed to Germany. IF
it did not go from a secret wireless
plant it must have been carried in
some dispatch that the allied cable
.censors passed as innocent.
The result will be to redouble the
vigilance of the censors and Of every
agency of the government engaged in
roofing out the spy system. Every
German known to have been con-
nected with the espionage work of his
government already is under arrest or
under surveillance. Other arrests may
follow at any time and now that the
country is at war and the revelation
of its secrets may mean death to its
sailors and soldiers, swift punishment
undoubtedly will be dealt out to any
convicted spy.
Men now in custody operated when
the United States was neutral. Spy
ing now is very different thing and
is likely to lead to the gallows instead
of to comfortable detention quarters.
In announcing Admiral Sims dis
patch, the Navy department through
the committee on public information
said:
"The department calls attention to
this fact as proof that the German
spy system is still at work in this
country, making imperative the need
OF secrecy in connection with Our
naval operation. The premature pub
lication of ship movements is particu-
larly source of danger"
Active in the Argentine.
, Washington, May 25.-German in
auences, officials here believe are at
work in the Argentine republic in All
effort to create friction and distrust
between that country and the United
States. The latest evidence of this
influence is an attempt to excite ad-
verse criticism in portion Of the
State department in connection with
the Argentine wheat. embargo, the
purpose being to place the depart
ment's inquiries in the light of an un-
warrantable impeachment of the
integrity of the official reports of the
Argentine government.