Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-07-06
SYSTEM OF SPYING
IN The BIC CITIES
Intelligence Officers" Of For
eign Nations Are Busy.
SEEK SECRET INFORMATION

Most Active In Capital and Seaport
1owns-Try to Find Out Moves Of
Other Nations and Make Efforts to
ForestaII Them-eritish Spy System
10 the Finest.
Washington is honeycombed with
nests Of spies and SO are the cities Of
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Bal
timore, Norfolk, New Orleans, Calves
ton, San Francisco and other seaports.
says the Washington Star.
There has been rather complete
system of espionage in Washington
since the European war began. Here
tofore intelligence officers Of the vari-
GUS European governments have been
more occupied in ascertaining the
moves Of each other than in ascertain
ing moves Of the United States gov
eminent. But it Is believed now that
some of this expert attention has been
turned upon Washington activities, al
though, as an intelligence officer Of
foreign nation put it:
'What's the use? Any possible op-
ponent of the United States knows all
about this country's affairs that is de-
sired to be known anyhow"
Little Secrecy In United States.
This remark recalls the fact that
there has been very little secrecy about
United States military affairs In years
gone by, owing to the system Of pull
lie hearings and the system Of making
public the information in regard to
hearings on military affairs before con-
gressional committees which has been
in vogue in the United States.
Several years ago, when Major Gen
eral W. W. Wotherspoon, U. s. A., re-
tired, was chief Of the war college, a
Japanese prince visited the United
States and was shown through the war
college. Just before his arrival Gen
eral Wotherspoon was showing friend
through the building and pointing out
some of the systems in use, which, he
said, he proposed showing the prince.
General WotherspoOn's friend ex.
pressed surprise that such entirely
complete courtesies should be placed
at the disposal Of the distinguished Wis
itor. General Wotherspoon replied:
"Oh, well, the prince will know all
about this anyhow before he gets here
The Japanese have a pretty good intel
ligence system"
Queer Happenings In Washington.
Queer things. however, have been
happening in Washington the past few
days. Splendid looking Hmousines Of q
character not used by ordinary mes
sengers have been seen standing in
numbers before the doors of European
embassies as early as 6 o'clock in the
morning, when the ordinary worker in
Washington has hardly turned over for
his last nap. Queer things also have
been happening in connection with the
use Of the long distance telephones.
These have come under the notice of
observing persons. who have readily
understood that the intelligence officers
of various nations could give an ex-
PLANTATION of them if they wanted to do
SO. 1t is proper to add, perhaps, that
such explanations might be fOrthcom-
ing from the department of investiga-
ton Of the department Of justice Of the
United States too.
The British intelligence system is be-
lieved to be the finest thing Of its
kind ever put into operation in the
world. 1t is known to be in charge Of
Captain Guy Gaunt, r. n, the young
est captain in the British navy, an Aus
tralian, who is as much at home in the
country houses of Long Island as he IS
in Washington. Captain Gaunt is de-
scribed by those who know him as the
ideal of the romantic type Of modern
intelligence officer, man Of indom-
liable energy, to whom could possibly
be applied the old fashioned detective
phrase, He never sleeps"
Great Britain is watching out for the
intelligence system for the allies OH
the eastern coast of the United States.
and Japan Is watching out on the west