New-York tribune., 1918-01-21
German Spies Plan Reign
of Terror Tomorrow,
Is Rumor
Say Dynamite and
orch Will Be Used
Police Doubled Around
Waterfront Factories
and Shipyards

Information that Germans, aided b,
an aht'-Brltlsh element, had planned ;
campaign of frightfulness, which wa,
10 destroy shipping, piers. factorie,
ana supplies in this ice-locked mort or
or before tomorrow night has led tc
strong reinforcement of the Waterfront
paerol by the United States and the
Guy. New guards have been mustered
and sent to vital points. 1t is believed
'"a' 'he relnforcements numbered close
to 500 last night.
south Brooklyn. with it's Yacht ba.
SINS. shipyards, drvdocks and munit;on
plants; Staten Island. with it's govern.
ment property, shipyards and niers
and the important government indus
trial centre that has sprouted in the
meadows at Port Newark Terminal
were among the points under cytraor-
dinary guard
Kumors Heard for Week
For a week there have been rumors
that an extensive and particularlv vim
lent plot was hatchlng against the
safety of the port. The rumors were
persistent and discuicting in view of
the vast accumulation of stores and the
hundreds of ships that had been de-
'a'ncd oy the coal famine. The threat
OF ire also had peculiar perils this
time. Ice clogged the river, hamperino
the efforts even Of the powerful FIRE
boats; vessels were practically immov-
able at their piers; the streets we're
slippery with ice, rendering the shore
hreman's task more difficult; high pres
sure MIGRANTS We're ,reezing and burst
ing and the number of sprinkler sys
TENS rendered impotent had im2elled
Chlet kenlon to serve notice on the
city OF the conflagraton hazard.
On Friday the Secret Service or the
Department of Justice got information
that seemed to focus the peril on that
and the succeeding four days. Accord
ing to the information received, the
pIotters might put their schemes into
practice at any moment, and, in any
event, they would make the attcmpt bv
tomorrow night.
SO grave was the situation deemed
that high authorities in Washington
were notified at once, and the orders
which have sent police reserves to take
up chill vigil at the river front.
which have brought soldiers from their
quarters and marines from the navy
yard for the same purpose. are said
10 nave been sent from Washington.
100 Guard Bush Terminal
The Bush Terminal plant in Brooklyn
evidently was regarded as an especially
tempting point, for leo men from the
navy yard were taken there in a TUG
Just after dark last night, it is under
stood. despite the fac, ;nac a company
OF regulars has been assigned for weeks
to guard that and Tie Morse dry dock
Extra police from the Fourth
and Firth avenue stations in Brooklyn
TOOK up mllc-Iong patrol of the rest
of the South Brooklyn Waterfront at
urgent speed on Saturday night
The police are aiding extra details
o1 soldiers in guarding important
points on the Staten Island shore also.
and so heavy with rumors of plots was
mat borough that when it was discov-
cred that burglars who had been at
work in Stapleton in the carly morning
1ad fled in the direction of tho watnr,
'front.' 1t was Immediately surmiscd that
The "burglars" had in reality been dv-
1amtcrs who had been Frightened
away from their real purpose of blow.
ng up = ship or pier. and had under
,aken the burglary Just to pass the
,'mc. 1t was said that they had used
dynamite on tho safc--a proccedino
somewhat unusual with real burglars,
information received in Newark Of
plot to burn or blow up the great shin.
building plant of the Submarine Boat
corporation at Port Newark Terminal
prompted the Federal and city authori-
Iics TO place strong guard about tho
place and the twelve adjacent ware
1ouses of the quartcrmaster's corns
no one except employees and men
"hosc records arc known to the guards
may approach either shipyard or ware
'ouses. company OF infantry. with
',ecret service men and detectives from
he Newark Police Department are an
watch day and night.
Newark Police Active
Newark received it's first news of tbo
alleged plot on Saturday, when govern
nent officials informed Mayor Gillcn
nat the local police would be asked to
10 thelr share in guarding tho threat
'ned buildings. 1t was said that tho
attempt to damage this centre of way
lct'vlty would be made on January 10
20 or 21. '''
In the last .wo days the watch lcnt
lpon warehouses and ship yards has
become much more vigilant. Jjtnev
irlvers who were formerly allowed to
lrive employees directly up to the build.
ngs arc now forced to stop safe dis
ance away and discharge their passen-
,ers. who are obliged to identify them
selves ana receive passes before on
ering the barred zone.