The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-06
j. 5. HAS WEAPON IN
NEW SABOTAGE LAW
Local Federal Officers say Ii Is Most
Comprehensive Measure of
Kind Ever Drawn.

Under the "sa botage act" which
was approved April 20, the district
attorney OF the department OF justice
shows that prosecutions can be made
in glass in food" cases and hundreds
Of other cases where previously it has
been impossible to prosecute.
The act is one of the most com
prehensive that / have ever read"
he said.
Burden OF Defense
IA puts the burden on the defen-
dant" he remarked.
The act reads in part:
Re II enacted nv the senate and
house OF Representatives Of the United
states Of America in congress assem-
bled that the words war material.
- used herein. shall include arms.
ammunition, live stock,
stores Of clothing. food, foodstuffs. or
fuel: and shall also include supplies.
munitions. and ali other articles of
whatever description. and any part or
ingredient thereof intended for,
adapted TO- or suitable for the use OF
tho United states. or any associate
nation, i'm connection with the con-
duct OF the war,
Then the words war premises. 4"
war utilities. etc, are defined In the
act, showing the vide scope covered
ny the law.
The penalties for violation Of The
law are provided as follows.
Penalties Provided.
That when the United states Is ~
Var. whoever, with intent 20 injure
interfere with. or ohstruCt the United
states or any associate nation in pre-
pairing for or carrying on the war, or
" hoover. with reason to believe that
has act may 'uJure, interfere with. or
ohstruct the United states or any as
sociate nation in preparing for carry
ing on the war. shall wiilfully iniure
or DESTROY, or shall attempt to injure
or destroy. any war material war
premises. er wsr utilities. as herein
defined shall upon conviction there
Of be fined no7 unorc than $40. 900
or imprisoned not moro than thirty
years. or both
That when the United States is at
var. whoever with intent to inlure.
Interfere with. or obstruct the United
States or any associate nation in pre-
pairing for or carrying on the war. or
whoever. with reason to believe that
his act may injurc interfere with, or
ohStruct the | nited States or any as
saciate nation in preparing for or
"a T { INK ttfl the WAL STlHii VIII biiN
make or cause TO. he made in de-
fective manner. or attempt to make
or cause 20 he made in a defective
manner. any war material, as herein
defined, or any tool. i'm plement. ma
chine. utensil. or receptacle used or
in making, producing, man
or repairing any such war
material, as herein defined, sh IL, upon
conviction thereof, be fined not more
than $4,000 or imprisoned not more
than thirty years, or both
special letter Issued.
The department IN a special letter
on the subject shows said he. that
in short practically speaking. the
whole industrial and agricultural re-
sources of the United States, all OF it's
transportation and shipping facilities.
all of its public utilities and all parts
thereof and all products OF industry
and agriculture and all parts thereof
suitable for war use fall within the
protection of this act. Nor Is it neces-
eary in a prosecution under this &C,
to prove that the person guilty OF
in iuring or destroying any war ma
terial or war premises or war utilities
INTENDED to interfere with the prosecu-
tton of the war 1t is sufficient to
prove that he had reason TO believe
that his act might injure, interfere
with or obstruct the United States or
one of the allies in preparing for OF
carrying on the war
For the fret time the United
states, through its department of JUS
tice. is by this act furnished with ar
effective weapon against all willfu
acts of destruction or injury which
directly or indirectly weaken or re
tard the preparations for the war OIL
the actual conduct ~ the war" .