The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-01-22
Tampa's Mayor Calls Out
Home Guards; Germans
Plot to BLOW UpShips There

That the nest of Germans in Tampa
as well as all over the United States
will go any length to serve their kai-
ser is proven day after day. The fol
lowing from the Tampa Tribune OF
this morning discloses the situation in
Tampa:
FOLLOWING the uncovering of one of
the most diabolical plots yet Matched
in this country by Germans enjoying
its hospitality, an organized propa-
ganda directed at this country,s ship
ping and public utilities with it's aim
eliminating in doing thousands of dol
lars worth of damage to shipping and
public utilities on or about January
~, Mayor d. B. Mckay and Sheriff
A. J. White yesterday asked that one
company of the Hillsborough county
guard be called out to provide addi-
tional guards for the waterfront, Ship
ping and public utilities interests. The
Duval county guard and some regu-
lars from Camp tombstone are doing
similar guard duty in Jacksonville.
The propaganda is nationwide it is
understood here, though Federal Off
Gals are unable to discuss the situa-
ton for publication. For several days
extensive plans for taking added pre-
cautions have been in the making. Ad.
ditional guards were placed following
advices from Washington to Peter o.
Knight, the Tampa Dock company,
and other concerns and the lighting
system improved SO that the proper
ties can more easily be guarded. 1t
was understood last night also that
the German gatekeeper at the Tampa
Shipbuilding & Engineering comr
pany's plant had been removed.
1t is understood here that the Ger
man propaganda involved extensive
ramifications, even to designs against
shirs LEAVING nor. 81 = 4 a ~ u.s.
q Iarsisssn lie. With tie fiIS were
the danger officials throug :. = ..,,l
country were warned to tai I.hd,,t ,
precautions to guard against rs a..
building concerns here increase q NJ
guard and it is understood tAd in
other places troops were called out
Saturday night.
s.For the elimination set for the
week beginning the 22nd, however, the
sheriff and the mayor here held their
hand until last night, though stacking
the cards meanwhile by having light
ing increased and extra guards placed.
Incoming and outgoing vessels have
been closely watched, the federal au-
thorities taking every. precaution to
prevent possible catastrophe or dam
age. Private parties fastened to put
extra guards out Saturday when the
advice was received.
.When the order was signed yester-
day afternoon by Sheriff White and
Mayor Mckay, asking for one COM
pany of home guards, plans had been
completed by the authorities for sta
tioning these men SO as to adequately
protect everything. Major Conoley,
however, called out the three compa-
MES of home guards here and the
added 200 men put in the night scat
4,,.aI about tho oitu also
The home guards were called out at
z o'clock and Major Conoley says they
were distributed and at their posts
under arms by o'clock. The conpa-
mics are commanded by Captain Webb,
Captain Baya and Captain Bigham
The commissary department under
Lieut.. w. F. Stovall and Lieut. ]. S,
Minis, chased up bunch of coffee and
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