New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Taking Up
the Enemy
Alien
NVTHAT shall be done with the enemy
Nv alien, the spy, the plotter and

engroSSlng pfOOlcM, ana Il IeCeIFHIS 'ISVi-
GUS treatment in the editorial columns Of
the press throughout the country.
The action Of the government in tighten
ing the lines to be drawn about the alien
plotter is being universally greeted as a
step in the right direction, but THE Buff
falo Express" seems to have summed up
the prevailing feeling in the caption of its
comment: "Not Enough"
Under the Presidents proclamation all
enemy aliens must now be registered, and
must be prepared to show registration
card at any time; must keep away from
barred zones, including the waterfront and
the neighborhood of munitions plants, ETC.,
and must not travel or change residence
without permission. They were also barred
from the Panama Canal Zone and from the
District of Columbia and, with fine touch
Of severity, it is provided that no enemy
alien shall ascend into the air in any
aeroplane, balloon, airship or flying ma
chine"
The strict enforcement of this order
created CONSERVATION among Germans,
especially in New York. Many who had
large business interests in barred zones
found themselves, according to the Thurs
day newspapers, facing the obligation of
keeping away from their Offices, although,
they pleaded with the marshal, brought
friends to vouch for their integrity and
Importance. and complained that they
would be thereby ruined financially. "Are
Al L.
query. and to those who could not show
American citizenship here his invariable
answer was "Vacate" Among such aliens
were the presidents and officers of many
large trading and manufacturing con-
Germs. Even residents of Riverside Drive,
it was stated, may be ordered to move.
A detachment of soldiers last week made
n roundup" of several hundred Germans
along the Hoboken waterfront. Similar
raids bagged number at other points, and
there was notable increase in the number
of arrests by the police and by United
States marshals and Secret Service men
throughout the country.
It brought to the fore the problem OF
properly policing the waterfronts and .
other danger points. The War Depart
ment called upon the various states for
help, and also detailed Federal troops at
some points. 1t was estimated that 1000
were needed for New York Harbor alone.
The futility Of restraining the Germans
only while still allowing Austrians and
other German symDathizers TO roam at
large came in for much comment. There
was oven a loudly renewed demand In
many quarters for declaration of war
against Germany's allies when Congress
reassembles.
A considerable exodus from Washing
tom, occurred, including in the number
a large squad Of clerks from various gov
eminent departments-enemy aliens COM
ing under this ban, who had been in re-
sponsible positions, many of them for
years Many firms engaged in war work
in New York and other ports were obliged .
to discharge a good many employees.
Some time ago The Tribune led the way
in calling for the actual internment Of all
dubious enemy aliens. Commenting on
this last move toward restraint, The Trib- .
une called it the "end of a farce" but
hoped for more drastic action, saying:
Ut is time 10 put all such Germans under
military guard We shall have to come
sooner or later 20 the policy Of general in
te-nment. The Administration is not willing
20 20 that far just now. But its new order
is a step in the right direction. We hope
that it will not break down, the first order
did. from lack Of genuine compulsion behind
it,iY The barred zones must be policed by
soldiers II German subjects are to be kept
out Of them. The moral suasion method has
been an absolute failure Employers doing
government work still employ enemy aliens,
thousands Of them still have access to the
waterfront and thousands Of them are still
engaged in espionage and sabotage. The
more stringent regulations aim at com
pleter control Of our enemy population. But
that control can be assured only through the
employment Of large bodie3 Of troops in this
CITY and in every other centre in which en-
cray aliens have congregated and military
wqEk il being carried on"
That more radical action is demanded
was the opinion Of THE Christian Science
Monitor" which said that "the way to pro-
tect the innocent and to render harmless
the mischevous is to follow the example Of
Great Britain and Canada and intern all
persons reasonably subject 70 suspicion or
doubt"
sIet the Federal authorities apply
; The law Of war toward traitors and rene
gades, +" said "The Detroit Journal" adding
that "the wages Of treason is death in all
countries except America"