The Alaska daily empire., 1918-03-04

The Literary Digest, in recent issue contained the following article dealing with the spy problem in America
 "The extremely low mortality among German spies in America is considered very encouraging, by our observant editors, to their continued activity. NO other country in the world, it is maintained, is so healthul and saubrious for persons of occupation which in lands is thought bit hazardous or risky. The Syracuse Herald notes cheeringly that while we haven't hanged or shot any spies yet, we have reprimanded some of them very severely Var idle brick and stone walls mentioned in this connection available for use in the early morning hours The worst that happens "seems to be Imprisonment internment," remarks another ob- server, which is a little inadequate for fast as we put one agent in jail another springs up to take his place The spy is entitled to no more mercy than his actions have indicated he would show to na- tion involved in deseperate war remarks the Mem. phis Commercial-Appeal, which ayers that the con certed demand of the American people and of the American Army and Navy is that the Kaiser's agents be sent before firing squad, for the only place a spy be trusted is under the ground" Sum mary execution of every spy caught is "a prime mill tary necessity, echoes the St. Louis Globe Democrat which finds increasing signs of the aim of German agents terrorize this country by fires, explosions wrecking railway trains, damaging cars and ships, and by all depradatons within their power The Insurance Press (New York) records that:
 
 declaration of between the United States and Germany. the destruction by fire of prop erty classified warindustres amounted to $43,53S,O00.
 "As the total fireloss in the United States during 1917 $263OOO0OO, the foregoing fi- ures furnish a concrete and incontrovertible evi- dence of at least visible effect of war, not across the seas, but within our own shores
 "One-sixth of national fire loss, destruc- tive of industries and properties needed for the successful prosecution of the is a fact so momentous and personal as to convince the hat stretches over our broad land momently threatening the homes and lives of unawakened Americans, who despite Liberty Loans, fuel or food regulations, military drafts and varied signs of significance. still slumber in uncon- cern, and dreamily regard war as remote and nebuous fantom
 Tt is fantom foe which burns $5,OOO,OOO worth of American property every month It is rea The enemy whom we are fighting is no far-away monster, safely barrcaded by a 5000 mile wall of guarded The enemy is within gates.
 "The proportion between fires due to accident and fires due to intent in the destruc
 tion of s43OO0OO0 of warindustry property will never be known While high explosives, speed
 ingup methods, and inexperienced labor have undeniably contributed to increase the firehaz ard in warindustry plants the crcumstantial evidence has become so cumulative and so con-
 elusive that even the most incredulous and Of mysterious origin to the torch Of the traitor!"
 The Providence Journal asserts that the German spy system here has continuously been better in man-power and money for war against the United States than service. which is relied in vain to protect the people at home from tho enemies that striking such deadly blows at oul resources day by day.. and it asks:
 Are we to do nothing in the face of this continuous calamity but confess that can not cope with Germany in soil? It seems preposterous talk to talk about driving the Kais CT back Ito the Rhine, when we do not drive off his American army. which reports its vic tories to Berlin in every issue of the American newspapers"
 If the lack of laws with teeth in them is the reason for the "namby-bamby' methods of the De partment of Justice, says the Minneapolis Journal