The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-28
100000 SPIES
MANY WORKING
IN AERO PLANTS
They Are Responsible for De-
lay i'm Airplane Output.
Senator Exhibits Plugged Steel
Bar From Plane.
ASSAIL SHIPPING BOARD
Results Fall Short and Pro-
gram, Too, Is Too Small.
Bitterness Over War Machine
Gets New Impetus.

spies. working in American airplane
factories, have delayed this country's
aircraft program, Senator Overman
charged in the senate today.
Replying to continued recent attacks
on the delay in supplying General
Pershing's forces with flying ma
chimes, Overman declared there are
100000 German spies in this coun-
try" some of whom were at work in
airplane plants.
Overman exhibited a piece of steel
which he said had been sawed thru
and plugged with lead by a spy. who
had then painted it so the presence of
lead would not be detected.
The presence of this spy in the Cur
tiss plant delayed the construction of
battle planes two months, said Over
man. The man has not been caught
yet.
Spies in Curtiss Plant.
IF 1 were president of the United
States. l would commander the Cur
tiss plant and turn out all the men
places | make no charges against the
men there, but some OF them have
names that sound queer to me-"
Replying to the criticism which for
days has been voiced in the senate
over failure of the airplane pr gram to
come up to promises, Overman said
he favors criticism when it is just, but
deprecates it when it is unfair
In this case it is unfair" he said
The delay in the construction of air
planes is the work of spies. That is
the mysterious blight of which Senator
Jones. Washington, spoke the other
day.
Detective Hunts Culprit
Every airplane which was partly
or wholly built had to be gone over
and examined for defects such as the
one l have pointed out. This defect
was discovered by British army Off
GER, an inspector. How many more
spies there are in airplane factories 1
do not know"
Overman gave Senator Chamber
lain, chairman of the committee. the
name of a detective, who is working
on the case and suggested Chamber
lain call him to verify Overman'..
charge of spy activities.
Prods Shipping Board.
Washington. March 2S.-When sthe
senate debate was resumed tEday the
ship building situation was taken up
with Senator McCumber. Republican
of North Dakota, attacking state
ments of Chairman Hurley of the ship
ping board, on the progress of the
governments program.
Senator McCumber cited this week s
submarine .oss as far above the aver
age. and declared that at the present
rate of construction and sinkings by
January 1. next, net loss of 1000 900
or 100000 tons of shipping would be
shown. He charged that most of the
ships Chairman Hurley reported in
! service had been reauisitio.ed and not
newly built.
Program Is Too Small
Mr.. Hurley is doing e, ,erythins
possible to speed up construction -
said the North Dakota senator. and
at last we have man at the head of
the corporation will, energy to put
things thru, but the program is TOO
small"
Chairman Fletcher of the commerce
committee. replied that thee ships
now in service were designe and built
by the emergency fleet corporation
/ Then efforts of shipping board
duced three ships" Senator McCumber
| observed.
| Senator Nelson of Minnesota. Re-
+. publican member of the committee
declared Mr.. McCumber's statement
presented a lone side and partial
view"
! BY L. c. MARTIN
! Washington. March 2S.-Bitter par
tisanship in the senate over the con-
duct of the war government threat
ened today to spread to the house.
Republicans-and some Democrats
charging that the country is being
misled as to the war work of the ad
ministration. are being answered spi-
ritedIy both by Democratic leaders
and war chiefs at the other end OF
the avenue, whose work is under fire.
Many Inaccurate Statements.
( Under the duress of the great west
| front battle, the bitterness on both
sides has led to many inaccurate
statements and it probably will result
in demanded ..pitiless publicity to
straighten the public out definitely on
| just what has or has not been accom-
| Continued on Page Two.J
Is Made Superintendent of Telegraph
| Springfield. Mo-, March 2S.-Ap-
pointment of ]. H Brennan as super