New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
Enemy Aliens
Fail in Attempt
To Keep Aliens
Off aterfront
Federal Officials Bar Only
Under New Order and
Thousands Go Unchecked
Marshal Power S Plan
vitality Modified
Officials Feel Present Efforts
to Maintain Barred Zones
Are Useless

The enemy alien situation IN New
York City yesterday was more chaotic
than ever.
The blanket prohibition Of United
States Marshal James N. Power bar
ring aliens from working in or
visiting the Brooklyn waterfront or
any other shore front Of Long ISL
and or Staten Island went into de-
fault along with the original half
mile barred zone" Federal order, be-
cause, with $4,000 unknown, unrecog-
nizable, unregistered German citizens
going about. it was not enforceable.
The modification of Marshal Powers
order issued on Tuesday was made
early yesterday. Originally it had been
announced that all aliens working in
factories or shipyards on the water
front would be arrested and interned.
Applies to Shipyards
But it was decided that the order
should apply only to Germans working
in shipyards, docks and other "open
spaces" on the river front. One effect
Of this modification was to make ex-
ceptions of enemy aliens working in
factories that are adjacent to shlpyards
engaged in government work.
Another result was exemption from
arrest of twenty-three enemy aliens
employed by the E. W. Bliss Company,
manufacturers of torpedoes and other
war supplies aliens at the concerns Of
tho Robert Gair Company, manufact-
urers of paper goods and employers of
Germans, and scores of Germans en-
ployed at Wallabout Market, stones
throw from the navy yard.
All day long the various firms az
fected by the order as IL stood org
inally were appealing to Marshal Pow
er's Office to find out whether the order
applied to their firms. Many were ex-
empted.
All told. il was estimated by the
marshals Office that approximately
1000 aliens would be removed, but
lust how many would be permitted to
remain not in the "open spaces" but
nearby, they were unable to say. They
do not know how many enemy aliens
there are in that vicinity.
About 1000 TO Lose Jobs
Some firms, among them the Robins
Drydock and Repair Company, dis
charged a number OF men identiied
as aliens. and Marshal Powers depu--
ties estimated from information gained
during the day that the total might
reach 1000. But there were no signs
Yesterday Of A general exodus of aliens
from that section.
"Why have. you modified your order
so as to allow German aliens to stay
on Second Avenue in such close prox'
unity TO plants in which government
work. is being done" one Of Marshal
Powers deputies was asked.
"There Is a wall along the river side
OF Second Avenue; it is quite difficult
TO get or the river front from there"
was the answer.
"But what is there to prevent enemy
aliens from exploding bombs on the
other side of the wall?'
Nothing at ALL" admitted the depu-
ties. THAT could be done from Sec
ond Avenue
"Why not round them all up and
Icck them up on Barren Island" sar-
castically suggested the deputies.
swell. why not?" was the rejolnder,;;
"You'd make a peach of a marshal,
chorused the deputies, Laughing
heartily.
Yesterdays unsuccessful EFFORT TO get
aIicn enemies under control was the
fourth attempt.
Tho frs. was the general Federal
order excluding enemy aliens from
within one-half mile or any DOCK ar
mory, arsenal or munition factory Inc
second was when United States Mar
shall Thomas D. Mccarthy posted, no
tices barring aliens from certain pleas
ure boats. The third was another type
written order directing the prohibition
of aliens from ferryboats. All these
prohibitions failed to prohibit.
However. United States Marshai Nc
Carthv still has hope. He says tne
condition can be remedied. Here IS hI'
plan: .o1 % Fuller
po,tor Srecial Deputy Police Commls.
rioner. that he arrange the names OF
Tho enemy aliens by precincts, suodi'
y;de them into beats, and PROVIDE po.
I;cen,on on beats with the lists OF
names Thus, these policemen would
Lnow every enemy alien. | have sup
ni,ed the department with list OF the
5s 600 enemy aliens who have received
nermits from this office"
ayes, but that would only mean tnat
onemv aliens with permits wou!c De
Under police surveillance. How would
they check unregistered enemy aliens
Marshal Mccarthy was asked.
Plenty Of Agencies
after them and tens of thousands OF
good citizens only too anxious TO heip'
he said
Since the United States entered the
war there have been thirty-two suspic-
;ous fires along Brooklyn's waterfront.
These fires are believed to have been
started by alien enemies.
Yesterdays attempt to solve tne
enemy alien problem amused one red
eral official, who said:
at is ridiculous to say that enemy
aliens can be prevented from entering
barred zones in this city: They have
placed bombs in two ships, TO my
but these were discovered
before the vessels cleared. This
nroves. of course, that they can get !
net only on docks and piers. but on
boats"