New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-22
The Spy Peril

The disclosures made to Congress OF
German spy operations in this country are
hardly disclosures in the real sense of the
word. They tell the public nothing that is
new or surprising. They deal with facts
which have been clear for months past to
the most mediocre intelligence. Any one
who cared to investigate could easily have
discovered that the Kaiser's agents hero
were left perfectly free to transmit infor-
nation of military value to Germany by
way of Latin America and Spain.
Our censorship of outgoing communica-
tons has been amateurish and incomplete,
Cable and telegraph messages have been
scrutinzed But there has been no censor
shin of the mails to Mexico and other coun-
tries where the German spy system has
bases. For the price of postage stamp
any German agent here has been able to
convert the United States postoffice into
carrier Of military intelligence, delivering
Illicit information at some point where 1t
could be relayed to Berlin.
Moreover, only the slightest restrictions
have been put on the collection here Of
news of military value to the enemy. Ger
man-owned insurance companies were per-
mitted for long time to take out marine
reinsurance. thus getting fully into touch
with the movements Of American shipping.
They are still allowed to reinsure ship con-
struction risks and munitions plant risks,
thus getting direct information about work
in these two vital war lines. Enemy sub
iects still enjoy practically complete free
dom of movement. The Presidents procla-
nation barring them from areas Of mill
tarv activity has been a dead letter from
the day it was issued. No attempt has been
made to enforce it IN cities where such en-
forcement would be an inconvenience TO
enemy aliens.
Congress is now told that the German
spy system is in full operation here. Why
shouldn't it be? Only the slightest him
ORANGES have been put so far in the way of
espionage. The Tribune has called atten-
ton time and again 70 the facilities put
at the disposal of German secret agents
These agents have been laughing IN their
sleeves at the governments good nature. 1t
is time to stop being good natured Con-
. gres is asked to impose a censorship on
! mails, as well as on telegraph and cable
messages. That is a natural war measure.
Such a censorship should have been estab-
lished last spring. 1t savors Of anti-climax
to get excited now over disclosures show
ing that German spies have made generous
use Of a hospitality unwisely accorded to
them.
The mail censorship is all right. But the
government should go further than that.
1t knows that many business firms and
many individuals here are doing spy work
for Germany. 1t knows where the chief
centres Of pro-German sedition and con-
spiracy are 1t should make war to the
knife on espionage and sedition. 1t should
intern all enemy aliens suspected of aiding
Germany. 1t should round up all natural
lied citizens who put German interests
above American interests. 1t should re-
member that the right way to make war is
to make it thoroughly and single-mindedly
The Presidents war powers are immense.
The people will back him up in using them
to the limit in stamping out espionage, sup
pressing sedition and prosecuting treason.
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