Omaha daily bee., 1917-12-26
GOVERNMENT HAS
EVIDENCE OF AN
EXTENSIVE PLOT
Officials Say ShiIke Incident
One Of Many in Great Revo-
Iutionary Scheme Against
America.
(By Associated Press.l

Washington. Dec. 25.-Evidence has
been uncovered by Government agents
indicating that American Industrial
Workers of the World, Russian Boil
| sheviki, Irish agitators and revolu-
| tionists in various countries at war
with Germany may be seeking to lay
the foundation of an elaborate world
wide plan to overthrow existing social
order.
This was admitted today by officials
here in connection with news of the
-diseevefy-ef-a eeuastity ~of~riflesy re-
volvers and ammunition in the Rus
sian freighter Shilka, which has just
arrived at a Pacific port, manned by
Bolsheviki crew. Government agents
suspect that the guns and munitions
we're intended for the Industrial
Workers of the World in this country,
although it was said full report on
the. mysterious cargo has not yet been
forwarded by officials at the port OF
arrival.
Link in Sympathy.
The Silka incident is only one OF
many cases leading officials to believe
the connection between plotters in
several of the allied countries may
be more tangible than the indefinite
link of moral sympathy Certain
Irish agitators and /. w. w. leaders
recently have gone from the United
States to Russia, after being in close
touch with each other here, and re-
ports have been received that Boil
sheviki organizers would come to
America before long to spread their
doctrine of direct action for COM
munal organization.
No(objection will be raised by the
government to any agitation which
does not interfere with the progress
of the war, officials declare, but action
will be particularly swift, when armed
resistance to the law is threatened
and when other material forces are
employed by the agitators. Customs
inspection will serve to' prevent inn
portation of arms, and the close ST.
peryision of crews of incoming and
outgoing vessels is expected to make
impossible the traffic of communica-
tions on large scale intended to fos-
ter revolutionary activity.
Prosecution of |. w. w. leaders re-
Gently has been vigorous, and officials
have evidence which they claim shows
that the menace of this organization,
believed to be supported largely by
German money, remains strong.
Further action against the agitators
is fore EAST. This will be fastened
if it is found that the band is working
with Russian Bolshevki leaders to
bring about premature peace in Ger
many's interests, or to. hamper Ameri-
ca at home.
Reports that the Bolsheyiki crew of
the Shilka mutlnied when the vessel
was few days out of Russian port,
were denied today by Captain Boris
Bedel, master of the vessel. The
captain said he was an "officer Of the
Russian navy and asserted all his men
were enlisted sailors and subject to
his orders.
Not Unusual Thing.
Captain Bedel, through an interpre-
ter. told officials there was nothing
unusual in the formation of COM
mittee of five members of the crew
to help control affairs on the vessels.
He said such committees were placed
on all Russian naval ships afteh the
overthrow of the car and had clarke
Of the compensation paid the men, the
hours Of work and other such mat
ters.
The presence OF guns and ammni-
ton discovered aboard the vessel by
federal officers yesterday, the cap
tain explained by saying the Shilka
was formerly a naval vessel and when
she entered the merchant service her
arms and ammuniaion were stored in
the hold.
He also denied recent rumors that
his ship carried gold for defense of
Industrial Workers of the Dorld on
trial in Chicago and laughed at re-
ports that his crew was involved in
all |. W. W. plot.
Federal officials did not continue
their investigation OF the vessel to-
day.