New-York tribune., 1918-01-28
Vital u. S. Secret. Still G.
to Berlin in a New
Cuise
Defence Society
Launches Protest
Shows How Location Of
Carload of Dynamite Va,
Revealed to Aliens
lStof Correspondencel

"ASHlNGTON, Jan. 27.-On Az;
dence that camouAaged enemy inss,-
ance companies are obtaining inform.
tion valuable 10 Germany and ~.
transmitting it to that country -.
American Defence Society TODAY a.,
nounced that it had asked for be,,
ing in Washington to oppose the an
plication Of certain ire insurance con
pan:cs in Europe to do business in n.
United States. Al the instance Of n.
society, Secretary McAdoo recently d..
prived several alien companies Of ths
right to do business in this cour.,r
but ways and means 20 get around IN,
prohibition appear TO have been found
The rcQuess Of the society for
hearing is based on evidence held BY
it that German Insurance companies
have reorganized in neutral countries.
For instance, it is reported that, since
the dissolution OF the enemy fire in
surance companies in this country, six
new insurance companies, capitalized 4.
$4,000, 900, have been formed in Nor
way, with the probability that their
capital is largely German money
These companies are licensed in III.
United States and. according to the
American Defence Society, have access
through state and national boards Q.
fire underwriters, 10 information o.
military value.
Dynamite's Location Revealed
The society draws attention, FOR in
~, ~
board, which informs these companis
that at a specified pier OF a specific.
railroad (the names bein. given in al
cascs) there are daily four carloads 0.
dynamite. and each week the day be.
ing speciiied) a carload of small arms
ammunition. Another report states ths,
On Railroad Q. Station IT, at an open
platform about 1000 feet from BLANK
Avenue bridge north there arc seven
cars week Of explosives, including
loaded projecriles.
The letter requesting hearing was
addressed 20 Secretary McAdoo by
Richard II. Hurd, chairman Of tn.
board of trustees Of the American De-
fence Society, OF which Colonel Theo-
Gore Roosevelt IS honorary president
Puts Loss at s5O,OOO,000
Mr.. Hurd said to-day:
in the nine months o. war enemy
;ncendiaries have destroyed s50,O00,0 900
worth OF property in this country. This
property includes munltion factories
grain elevators. stochyards, oil prop
erty, marine properties and other In
dustries vital 10 war efficiency, accord
ing to the table preoared by the Ma
tional Board OF Fire Underwriters, ani
so FAR little progress has been made IN
running the enemy iacend!ary to earth
There is not single industry in this
country essential TO + ar efficiency which
has not suffered.
This. OF course IS a very definite
method Of warfare. and one IN whichs
far, the enemy has made great prog
ress. We must take every possible
step 10 prevent the enemy from gei
increase his victories along this
: line"
Basis of Campaign
In opening is campaign some time
ago for the liquidation of enemy fire
and marine insurance companies, as
American Defence Society based its
light on arguments that the Licensing
Of enemy insurance companies was a-
safe because it permitted German
agents 20 get valuable military infor-
nation. and because there was ev-
dence that part OF the profit was being
spen. to conduct a German propaganda
in this country, and proof was glwss
on these lines. Also it agued that suea
licensing WAS uEsound, because OF tho
precarious condition OF German fin
ances, and because all the enemy CON.
panjes were carrying extremely hesH
risks as against their assets.
Finally. II was argued that susn
licensing was unpatriotic and unneces'
sary. and experts were brought 70
Washington TO testify that American
companies could easily absorb the II
surance shifted from German concerns
he enemy marine Insurance com
panies we're forbidden to DO business
BY President Wilson's proclamation
and the proofs presented by the So
clety also moved Secretary McAdoo
order the discontinuancc Of the enen!
tire insurance business.