The Washington herald., 1918-01-28
so MILLIONS
LOST BY FOES
INCENDIARISM
War Materials Destroyed in
Vast Quantities, So
ciety Shows.

I'm the nine months OF war enemy
incendiaries have destroyed, $4,000, ,O0O
worth Of property in this country.
This includes munitions factories,
grain elevators, stockyards, oil prop
erty, marine properties and other in
dustries vital to war efficiency"
This startling statement was made
yesterday by Richard NJ. Hurd, chair
man of the board of trustees of the
American Defense Society. who an
nounced that the society had asked
hearing to oppose the application of
certain fire insurance companies in
neutral countries of Europe to do
business in the United States. The
society says 1t has evidence that dis
guised enemy insurance companies
are obtaining information of great
value to Germany and transmitting it
to that country.
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo
recently deprived several alien COM
panies Of the right to do business in
this country. at the instance of the
society, but 1t is said that the con-
Germs have found ways Of circum-'
venting the prohibition.
"straw" Concerns Alleged.
For instance. the society reports that
since the dissolution of the enemy
companies in this country, six new
insurance companies, capitalized at IS, =
100000 have been formed in Norway,
with the probability that their capital
Is largely German money" says the
society. These companies are licensed
in the United States and, according
to Mr.. Hurd, have access through
State and national boards Of fire un-
derwriters to information of great
value.
One State board, the society points
out. informs these companies that at
specified pier of specified railroad
(the name being given in all cases.
there are daily four carloads of dyra-
mite and each week Cthe day being
specified) a carload of amall arms am
munition. Another reports that on
Railroad @. station z. at an open plat
form. about 5000 feet from Blank
Avenue Bridge. north, there are seven
cars a week of explosives, including
loaded projectiles.
Mr.. Hurd's estimate OF the damage
done by alien incendiaries was "ac-
cording to the table prepared by the
National Board of Fire Underwriters,
and so far little progress has been
made in running the enemy incen-
diaries to earth. There is not a sin
gle industry in this country essen
tial to war efficiency which has not
suffered.
Foe Makes Progress.
This, of course. is a very definite
method of warfare. a. Une in which
so far the enemy Ia. made great
progress. We must take every possi-
BILE step to prevent the enemy from
getting information which will help
to increase their victories along this
line"
In its campaign against the enemy
fire and marine insurance companies
the society produced evidence to show
that profits derived had been spent in
conducting German propaganda in
this country. 1t argued that such Ii
censing was unsound because of the
precarious condition of German
finances and because all the enemy
companies were carrying extremely
heavy risks as against their assets.
The enemy marine insurance COM
panies were forbidden to do business
by President Wilson's proclamation.
and the proof presented by the socie-
ty also moved Secretary McAdoo to
order the discontinuance of the en-
emy fire insurance companies. It now
moves to block any such companies
that have reorganized in European
neutral countries.