The Washington herald., 1918-06-09
ENEMY ALIENS
WILL Be HELD
BY WAROFFICE
Closer Hold Assumed to
Answer German Threat
of Reprisals.
CHANGE IN LOCATION
twenty-five Hundred In
terms at Hot Springs to
Be Moved Elsewhere.

Steps were taken by the American
government to strengthen its hold
on enemy aliens interned in this
country in the event that Germany
carries out her threat Of reprisals
against American prisoners of war
in that country.
Following conferences between
representatives Of the Departments
of State, War. Labor and Justice.
announcement was made that Pres
idential warrants would soon be is
sued for all alien enemies now in
termed under the Jurisdiction of the
Department of Labor. and these
persons transferred to the custody
Of the War Department.
Result of German Threat.
While it was explained that this
action would not make of the in
termed enemy aliens actual prison.
ers of war, 1t was not denied that
the action was taken as a result of
Germany's threat to take severe
measures against Siegfried Paul
London. an American prisoner of
war in Germany, unless the United
States at once released and return
ed to Germany Capt. Lieut.. Fritz
Won Rintelen. who was convicted OF
conspiracy to blow up the Welland
Canal and to carry out other plots
of sabotage against the United
States.
The following announcement was
made by John B. Abercrombie. solici-
tor for the Department Of Labor:
Presidential warrants will shortly
be issued for all alien enemies at
present interned under the jurisdlc-
ton of the Department of Labor. The
Department OF Justice will transfer
custody to the War Department.
which will assume. formal charge on
July !. 1t is believed that nearly all
of the aliens involved will be trans
ferred to Forts Oglethorpe and Mac
Pherson.
Reasons Diplomatic.
diplomatic reasons prompted the
transfer. which was made after con-
ference between representatives of the
Departments of State. Labor, War
and Justice. 1t was felt that a lack
Of uniformity in handling interns
added unnecessary complications. AL
alien has been gathered and classified
according to the War Department
system. so that the transfer can be
made smoothly.
"Fingerprints OF each man we're
taken several months ago under The
direction Of Alfred Hampton, direc-
tor of internment for the Depart
ment Of Labor.
"The change in Jurisdiction affects
approximately $500 persons, about
200 of whom are at Hot Springs,
n. C.. Among the prisoners are many
crewmen from German and Austrian
vessels, which were interned prior
to the declaration Of war and later
taken over by the United States
Four hundred are from vessels held
at the Philippines. About 500 others
are held at immigration stations at
New York, Philadelphia and other
ports.
Ask Reimbursement.
MANY of the aliens have made re-
quests that they be reimbursed for
the loss of gardens and small cot
tages constructed by them, but the
Department of Labor has refused to
assist them. The sum involved ranges
from so to $50 per man. 1t Is un-
derstood that the War Department
has now under contemplation the con-
struction of hospital on the site
after its abandonment for its pres
ent purpose.
The State Department had no fur
ther information yesterday as to the
attitude of Germany following the
sending of the Lansing note defying
the Berlin government to carry out
its threat of reprisals against Amer
ican war prisoners. In that commu-
! nication Secretary Lansing called at
tention Of the German government in
pointed fashion to the fact that there
were thousands of German subjects
In the United States who might suf-
fer II Germany undertook such re-
| prisals.