The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-02-01

German club In New York for the invasion of
Canada by Germans in the United States, the spe-
cial agents knew of his plans. The fasco of the
Weand canal, the unavaing activities of Paul
Koenig. chief detective of the Hamburg Ameri-
can line; the Vaccinations of Capt. Karl Boy
Ed-all came to naught and were well known by
the American authorities.
Finally came the master spy of them all, Capt
Franz Won Rintelen, intimate of the kaiser man
Of highest social rank and vast wealth, with
plans to overturn all in America that worked
against the interests of Germany. He poured out
money like water and met enthusiastic co-opera
ton all sides. 1t seemed almost as If every
In America willing to help to the ex-
tent of accepting large amounts of money from
Rinteen. In fact, Americans took his money
right and left, and rendered no service In re-
turn. Great quantities of German money were
spent but little progress was made toward attain
ing the results for which Germany strove.
When these activities surveyed whole,
the effort of German intrigue in America Is seen
to have been astonishingly fertile. In the face
of such a lack of results 1t is difficult to believe
in the excellence and ceverness of Prussian es-
pionage. This newly organized agency of the
United States. intended for application to the
tasks of peace. crossed swords with what is
termed the greatest spy system in the world. and
thus far it has not been bested.
Then suddenly the United States itself was
thrust into the With tens of thousands of
German reservists hundreds Of thousands of Ger
citizens. millions of people of German blood,
this country would appear to have been In po-
stion of great danger from within Certainly
there was need of sharp watchfulness No other
beligerent nation was confronted by an internal
alien-enemy problem of such magnitude
The government In this emergency offered b.
elaski the assistance Of representatives Of its
other departments elsewhere. There were, for
instance. certain representatives of the depart
ment of agriculture, scattered from to coast
who knew their communities well. These were
instructed to watch for individuals who gave evil
dence of disoyalty to che United States and re-
port back to the department of justice. when
there was time, to the nearest United States
attorney when quick action was required. The
post office sent instructions to 600 postmasters
$1,000 letter carriers and $1,000 rural delivery
man. Each of these instructed to keep his
ear to the ground for any showing of dsloyalty
from within and report promptly. The land Of
fee the Indian Office the public health service
the reclamation service-all those governmental
agencies that spread out among the people were
officially instructed to help protect the nation from
any possible foe from within.
Those other detective agencies of the govern
nent such the secret service, the post office in
for skilled assistance. On the instant, almost and
entirely aside frtm these government agencies
there was built up in silence a secret service OF
volunteers which is today effectively at work Its
tentacles steal out through newspaper Offices
banks hotels railroad systems. into munich
pal governments, through the radations Of trav
cling statesmen. 1t is loose organization, but II
works under instructions and knows what to dc
when 1t finds plague spot.
And this vast machine has been placed in the
hands of a young man. who IL years ago. fresh
from high school. entered the government service
as a laborer at $500 year. "Home Run" Bel
ask, son of minister, grandson of Capt. Alex
ander Belaski, who died in battle at Bull Run
descendant of Polish patriot who fought that
America might become nation, is making opera
ton difficult for the spies Of the enemy.