The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-29
i. s. IS WARNED Of
ENEMY INTRIGUE
Germany Gets War Data
Through Camouflage In
surance Companies
NOW ORGANIZED IN
NEUTRAL COUNTRIES
American Defence Society Asks Secre-
tary McAdoo to Take Prompt Action
Claim That Incendiaries Have De
stroyed S50,0O0,0O0 in Property.

WASHINGTON, Jan 29.-Asserting
that it has evidence to show that
camouflaged enemy insurance compa
MES are obtaining information of i'm
mense value and forwarding ii TO Ger
many. the American Defense society re-
quested q hearing here to oppose the
application Of certain fire insurance
companies in Europe to DO business in
the United States. Recently Secretary
McAdoo, at the instance of the society,
deprived several alien companies Of the
right to conduct business in the United
States during the war, but ii was de-
clarcd tonight that "ways and means
to get around this prohibition appear to
have been found.
The basis Of the request for 4 hear
ing is evidence said to be in possession
of the American Defense society de-
signed TO SHOW that German insurance
companies have recognized in some of
the neutral countries and placed them
| selves in position 10 forward valuable
| information to Berlin. Six new fire
! insurance companies have been formed
in Norway since Secretary McAdoo
acted, it was said, and capitalized at
| $4,000 600 with the probability that
their capital is largely German money. -
/ These companies, il was pointed out,
are licensed TO do bu.iness IN the
| United States and through state and
| national boards Of fire underwriters
have access to information Of meal
| culabla military value
An instance to which the American
Defence society drew attention is con
tanned in the report Of one state board
which informs this country that at a
| certain railroad pier, naming it, there
| are daily four carloads Of dynamite
and oil a specified day each week :
carload Of small arms ammunition. 9th
ct instances are given where infOrma
tion equally valuable would reach thcs,
companies.
The reque3, for q hearing to remove
this alleged menace was addressed t
! Secretary McAdoo by Richard NJ Hurd
chairman of the board Of trustees o.
G the society. In its campaign to fore,
Q the liquidation of enemy fire and ma
iiit lhAuid Hct HhdlltS tue 6Ega0lZd
b ton based it's fight on arguments tina
G the failure to take such action woul
d permit German agents to get valuabl
$ military information, because there wa
j evidence Of q German propaganda cam
pai9n in the United States that sac
t | licensing was unsound and that sue
I licensing was unpattiotic and unncc
{ eSsary.
d Mr.. durd made this comment on In
9 necessity Of the move now being urge
$ upon the administration:
IN the nine months Of the war cr
e envy incendiaries have DESTROYED 500
> o0J, 900 worth Of property in this coul
n try. This property includes munitio
g factories, grain elevators, stock ward
70 Of property, marine property and 9th,
! industries vital to war efficiency, a
d cording to the table prepared by tn
National Board Of Fire Underwater
n and so far little progress has been mad
le in running the enemy incendiaIies
x earth
) This Of course, is a very dcfnit
m method of warfare and one in which
n far the enemy has made great progress
re We must take even possible step
a prevent the enemy from getting info
p nation which will help to increase the
Us VICTORIES along this line :