Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-02-21
SYSTEM Of SPYING
IN THE BIC CITIES
Intelligence Officers Of For
sign Nations Are Busy.
SEEK SECRET INFORMaTIOa
Most Active In Capital and Seaport
Towns-Try to Find Out Moves Of
Other Nations and Make Efforts to
ForestaIi Them-5ritish Spy System
Is the Finest

Is the Finest.
Washington Is honeyeombed with
nests OF spies and SO are the cities of
/ New York, Boston. Philadelphia. Bal
/ timore. Norfolk. New Orleans, Calves
| ton, San Francisco and other seaports,
says the Washington Star
There has been a rather complete
/ system OF espionage in Washington
since the European war began. Here
! tofore intelligence officers of the vari-
GUS European governments have been
more occupied In ascertaining the
moves OF each other than In ascertain
ing moves of the United States gov
eminent. But Ii is believed now that
some OF this expert attention has been
turned upon Washington activities. al
though. as an intelligence officer Of
foreign nation put it.
What's the use? Any possible OPP
ponent of the United States knows all
about this country's affairs that Is de-
sired to be known anyhow
Little Secrecy In United statss-
This remark recalls the fact that
there has been very little secrecy about
United States military affairs In years
gone by. owing to the system Of pub
lie hearings and the system of making
public the information in regard to
hearings on military affairs before con
gressional committees which has been
In vogue in the United States.
Several years ago. when Major Gen
eral W. W. Wotherspoon, U. S. A., re-
tired. was chief of the war college, n
Japanese prince visited the United
States and was shown through the war
college. Just before his arrival Gen
eral Wotherspoon was showing friend
through the building and pointing out
some Of the systems in use, which. be
said. he proposed showing the prince.
General Wotherspoon's friend ex-
pressed surprise that such entirely
complete courtesies should be placed
at the disposal OF the distinguished Wis
itor. General Wotherspoon replied:
'Oh, well. the prince will know all
about this anyhow before he gets here
The japanese have pretty good intel
llgence system"
Queer Happenings In Washington.
Queer things, however, have been
happening In Washington the past few
days. Splendid looking limousines of q
character not used by ordinary mes
numbers before the doors Of European
embassies as early as 6 O'Clock In the
morning. when the ordinary worker In
Washington has hardly turned over for
his last nap. Queer things also have
been happening In connection with the
use Of the long distance telephones
These have come under the notice Of
observing persons, who have readily
understood that the intelligence officers
Of various nations could give an ex-
PLANTATION OF them IL they wanted to do
SO. 1t is proper to add, perhaps. that
such explanations might be forthcom-
ing from the department Of investiga-
ton of the department OF justice Of the
United States too.
The British intelligence system II be-
lieved to be the finest thing Of it's
kind ever put into operation in the
world 1t Is known to be In charge Of
Captain Guy Gaunt, II. NJ. the young
est captain In the British navy. an Aus
tralian, who is as much at home in the
country houses Of Long Island as he Is
I in Washington. Captain Gaunt is de-
scribed by those who know him as the
ideal of the romantic type of modern
intelligence officer, a man Of indom-
liable energy, to whom could possibly
be applied the old fashioned detective
J phrase, He never sleeps"
Great Britain is watching out for the
intelligence system for the allies on
| the eastern coast of the United States
and Japan Is watching out on the west
ern coast.
There IL now q new ofacer In charge
Of the German intelligence system II
the United States. He makes his head
quarters in the ONCE Of a big German
steamship company. fact well known
to the allied intelligence officers Thu
German system, however, Is said t
have met with some reverses recently
Cogs in the machinery have slipped
and 1t Is said that the German system
Is not accomplishing as much as It dit
1t the beginning Of the war.
epy's Real Name Disclosed.
When the spy Won der Goltz was ar
rested in Great Britain while trying Il
make his way back to Germany unde
a false name and a false American
passport he was confronted in Grea
Britain with his real name. which 1
Wachtermann, a name, 1t was said
! that has not up to this time beel
known even to the department of jus
} tice. He heard 1t pronounced for tn
first time since he left Germany year
before. Won der Goltz, it will be re
called, was known as Bridgman Taylor
Listening in" on telephones, on wire
less, the hunting for tips and clews :
codes. is going on all over Washington
and the big seaports Of the country.