New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-26
A'r7'ral Sims Reports That
ines Were Placed in
Path Of Vessels
secret Agents Here
Plotted Destruction
Germans Knew Port De-
stroyers Were Bound to
Four Days Ahead

NEsninEtonf N0s 4" '"So WV
,l,ced in the path Of the American de-
s,royer feet which recently went
abroad because accurate information
rad been sent 20 Berlin four days be-
,ofe the arrival OF the warships, not
oply that they were on their way, but
20 what port they were bound.
Admiral Sims reported this informa-
,on 10 the Navy Department to-day.
The nor, Of entrance OF the destroyers.
he SAYS. was mined the day previous
70 their arrival.
No newspaper printed the facts that
these dcstroyers had sailed.
The information that German spies
no, only still are at their work in this
country, but that they have q swift and
sure means of communicating Amer
jcss war secrets 70 the Fatherland, IS
positively known, according TO Admiral
sims. His dispatch was not made pub
lie. and for obvious reasons nothing
will b. given out concerning how the
revs came into his possession; nor
about the precautions which defeated
the Germans plans and enabled the
aotilla 20 speed safely through the
nine field
Immediate publicity was given the
saler; fact. however. 70 let the people
lnow OF thc activity and success Of
re1,oaic spies. and 20 emphasize the
r,ee- ,y Tor absolute secrecy in con-
nec.ion viih naval operations or ship
sg movements.
DcpartLre Kept Secret
The destroyers nov aiding in the
ssct Tor submarines in European We
:srs under the direction If Admiral
Sims. put into port at Queenstown or
May l6. How long they were in cross
ing the Atlantic or from what port they
sailed never has been announced. and
until word Of their arrival came by
cable only few people in the United
States even knew OF the governments
decision tc send warships 10 Europe.
No official would comment tonight
on the possible means by which the
news was conveyed 10 Germany. II ii
I'D not go from a secret wireless plant,
}. must have been carried in some code
dispatch that the Allied cable censors
passed as innocent.
The result will be 70 redouble the
vigilance both Of the censors and o.
every agency Of the government en-
gagged IN roofing out the spy system.
Every German known 70 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 al war and the revelations Of
rs secrets may mean death TO its
,4ilors and soldiers, swift punishment
undoubtedly will be dealt out 10 any
sonvicted spy.
Spying Dangerous Now
Men now in custody operated when
the United States WAS a neutral. Spy
nc now is a very different thing and is
likely 70 lead TO hanging instead Of 10
comfortable detention quarters.
Notwithstanding this the Navy De-
osrtment in a statement given out to-
night issued the mild warning based on
Germsny's discovery OF the sailing.
The department calls attention 10
this fact as proof that the German
spy system is still at work in this coun
try, making imperative the need of Sc
recy in connection with our naval op-
era,ions. The premature publication
% ship movements is particularly a
source Of danger.
"The department, while realizing that
newspapers did not give this informa-
lion. would be pleased if the fact were
brought 70 the attention OF editors by
way OF showing what extreme care is
required in shielding military informa
ion from the enemy, whether 1t be-
come public through the press or
otherwise"