Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-10
AMMUNITION MADE
HERE FOR GERMANY
Amazing Charge Will Be Made
Subject of Next Congress
sional Inquiry.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 9.--That am
munition for the German army is being
manufactured in the United States under
the supervision Of German reserve Of
ficcrs and secretly exported is the amazing
charge that is designed to be the sub
1ect Of the next congressional investiga-
ton.
FOUND ON MORSE STEAMER.
1t appears that on December 20 British
naval forces intercepted the Norwegian
steamer Tula, bound from New York to
Copenhagen, with a miscellaneous cargo
Of apparently innocent articles. The ship
had clearance papers in perfect order is
sued by the treasury department at New
York
The British commander, however, or
dered thorough search Of the Tula's
cargo. Before the search had proceeded
far boxes containing small arms ammuni-
ton were discovered. Altogether there
were 100000 rounds Of ammunition con.
signed as hardware to an individual in
Copenhagen who, according to the British
authorities. has been secretly dealing with
the Germans.
The ammunition was seized by the
British, who made a report Of the incident
TO the British government. The report
contains the statement that the ammuni-
ton was suitable exclusively to small
arms used by the German army.
FOUND BY U. s. PATROL.
Eleven days later another vessel was
intercepted after sailing from New
York. this time by American naval pa
trolls. and the cargo searched. Aboard
this ship were found 100000 rounds of
small arms ammunition identical in
character with the ammunition seized
on the Tula. AS in the case Of the
Tula, the shipment Of ammunition was
consigned as hardware to the myster-
ious individual in Copenhagen.
There are circumstances which lead
experts to believe that specifications
for the ammunition were sent from
Germany recently and that the manu-
facture was carried out under super
vision of German agents, probably Ger
man reserve officers in Disguise
HOW TRICK WAS WORKED
How long this has been going on
government officials do not pretend to
say. They are reluctant to discuss the
matter at all. The treasury department
is trying to figure out how ships could
have been cleared containing ammuni-
ton consigned to Copenhagen.
An investigation by both the treas
ury department and the department of
justice is now in progress. The theory
Upon which the investigators are pro-
ceeding Is that the ammunition was
made in one or more of the numerous
factories in the German communities
of New Jersey in the vicinity Of New
York. The boxes containing the am
munition were then transported to the
docks, probably by motor trucks, and
secretly substituted for boxes contain
ing innocent hardware previously In
spected and passed by the treasury
agents.
ALIEN ENEMIES ARE FREE.
The department of justice is supposed
to have rounded up all the allen enemies
In the United States and taken steps to
prevent them from committing hostile
acts. There is reason to believe that
these operations have been farce.
About 10000 alien enemies have been
taken into custody by the department of
justice. but only 800 have been informed.
Those released have been paroled to per-
sons who have undertaken to be respon-
sble for the proper conduct Of the allen
enemies.
The bureau of navy intelligence caused
the arrest recently Of 1876 alien enemies
employed by the Sperry- Gyroscope COM
pany Of New York. Acknowledgement
Gregory almost Immediately released 191
Of the suspects.
SPECIAL AGENTS PROTEST.
The department of justice contends that
there were no grounds for informing any
Of the alien enemies released. Some Of
the agents, however, who investigated
the cases Of the suspects. protested
against their release, asserting their con-
victons that German spies and dangerous
characters who were giving aid and COM
fort to the enemy were among the num-
Der.
1t was pointed out to the department
of justice that a German spy would find
1t to his advantage to carry on his work
II paroled to an American citizen for such
disposition would indicate the confidence
OF the American government in his in
tegrity and tend to disarm suspicion, II
later he should be caught at his espionage
activities he had nothing to fear but in
ternment.