New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-28
80 Men Interned
Until War Ends
Others Still Wander at
Will in Barred Zones
Raid Dealt With
Only One Factory

To-day safely interned on Ellis Isl.
and for the duration OF the war are
ninety-odd Germans who are believed
TO possess mechanical secret Of vital
Importance TO this country and. there
fore, one of extreme interest 10 Ger.
many.
That is the net result of the joint
activities of the Navy Department and
Police Headquarters in greater New
York during the last twenty-four
hours. Enemy aliens are going 20 and
fro again, albeit uneasily, with and
without permits, in the barred zones
II develops that the Federal authori-
ties did not contemplate. as was frs.
thought. the wholesale arrest and in-
ternment OF enemy aliens. II was deal
ing with particular situation. The
facts of that situation are astonishing.
Thefts by German Spies
What moved the government 10 aea
was the theft by German spies of the
plans and finished parts OF one Of the
most destructive engines OF war that
has been evolved b. American genius.
All the Germans arrested were eithef
employees of the factory where the Inc
yention is being perfected or Germans
who were the associates Of these em-
pioyes.
In the homes OF many Of the men
taken were found blue print plans OF
;he invention, which was supposed to
be jealously guarded. It's inventor and
the government believed it would play
a big part in deciding the war. In
some of the homes raided were found
the finished parts Of the important in
vention. Manuscripts in German and
English, some of them in code, were
also found.
On these code experts from the
United States Navy were working all
day yesterday. One room in Police
Headquarters where the Germans were
detained until they were interned yes
terday on Ellis Island was set aside for
documents seized by the raiders.
Several weeks ago, The Tribune
learned yesterday, the government re-
ceived information that German spies
were occupying confidential positions
in the factory wnere the invention was
being perfected. Investigation on the
part of Secret Service agents developed
the fact that the place was honey
combed with Germans-nstives Of Ger.
many and still loyal subjects Of the
Kaiser.
Germans in High Places
Three of the biggest executive posis
tions in the plant were held by Ger.
mans. One Of me chiefs Of the draft.
ing department was German subject.
Another German subject was foreman
Of one OF the machine shops. Still
another German subject was one Of tho
aids Of the general superintendent OF
the plant.
According 20 The Tribune's inform.
ant, when government agents called the
attention Of one Of the directors of the
plant 70 the fact that many German
subjects were employed under him and
suggested that there might be German
spies among them, the director In
question was inconsed that any ono
would assume TO suggest that any Of
his employees could be dsloyal.
lie said he knew ne had Germans
working in the plant, that they had
worked faithfully. and he did not for
moment doubt their loyalty, not only 20
their employers but 70 the country in
which they were living.
After this conference the govern
rent, through the Intelligence Depart
ment of the Navy Department and the
Department Of Justice. working in con-
junction with rhc New York City Po-
lice Department, began 10 construct
their trap.
The trap was a simple one 7. mere
ly entailed the employment in this
plant of loyal Americans, some Of Ger
nan birth. These loyal employees got
themselves into the condolences OF
German spies working in the plant,
some of whom confessed that they had
purloined the blue prints showing the
they had at their homes parts Of the
invention.
To each German whose arrest had
been ordered by Washington Wednes-
day night at least two detectives were
assigned. In some instances three were
told 10 get their quarry.
Instruction. to Detectives
The instruction given each detective
were substantially: Hans Schmidt
lives at . Blank Street. II he isn't
home, he will be found at Braun's sa-
loon or Myers beer garden. He is an
enemy alien. Arrest him. Use what
ever force is necessary Look es-
pecially for blue prints, maps, and all
sorts of documents. Seize all you
find. Search all furniture that may
be used as places Of concealment. Rip
up carpets. Examine mattresses. ticks,
pillows and anything else that might
be used as hiding place for papers.
Seize all pieces OF machinery and tools.
IL there is safe in the house, one of
you men stand guard over it until 1t
opened and the contents removed 81