New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Fight ON Spies
Centralized for
Port District
Brooklyn, New Jersey and
Manhattan Put Under
Single Control
Work Is Co-ordinated
Assistant Attorney General in
Charge, With Aids From
Other Departments
Work Is Co-ordinated

A central office from which will be
waged relentless fight against the
German spies operating in the Port of
New York, will be opened in few days
IN the Federal Building. One man, in
luil control of the enemy alien situA-
ton III Brooklyn and neerby New Jcr-
sey, as we'll as Manhattan, will be at
the head of the office and direct the
operations of the most efficient machine
for safeguarding ships, piers and docks
yet dovlsed by the Federal government.
William Wallace, jr., a lawyer, with
offices at Ia Wall Street, who has been
appointed chief of the new orpaniza-
ton. yesterday made public the first
announcement of his plans. on his re-
turn from Washington. Mr.. Wallace
has been made Il Speclal assistant to
United States Attorney General Greg
DRY. position he occupied once before,
IN 1913. He is hfty-four years of age,
and brings with hH from Montana,
his eighteenth year, reputation as a
vigorous and original prosecutor.
In the modest little Office to be
opened on the fifth floor of the Federal
Building will be stationed official rep
resentatives of every branch of the
Federal spy-hunting system-Naval and
Army Intelligence bureaus, Depart
ment of Justice, Customs Service, Sc
cret Service and Military Police.
Espionage Clearing House
Marshals, United States ATTORNEYS
and other Federal officials in Jersey,
Brooklyn and Manhattan will promptly
report enemy alien activities to the
,central Office Whatever branch or
branches of the service would be inter
ested in the news viii be notified
through its representative statione9 in
one blg room through which all re
ports VIII pass. Discussing the new
department, Mr.. Wallace said ycster-
day: ~ ~'''N
"The New Department is part of
the Department Of Justice. Chiefly in
an admin strative way. i ,vill care for
phases of the alien enemy situation
IN the port of New York so far as
lhat department is interested. Tt was
porn OF the fact that the port Of New
0fk' essentially single subject of
aadmlnlstration, lies partly in the
southern, partly in the Eastern and
partly in the New Jersey Federal Judi
cial Districts. and there was cmbarrass-
ment IN the administ tration of the affairs
OF single port through three difTcr-
ont controls. The District Attorneys
offices will function as before in alien
prosecutions, ard in all other re-
staiTs, as before.
''lts work Will be largely adminia-
trative, rather than in the courts.
where the alien enemy prosecutions
will be carried on by the United
States District Attorneys and their
STATS as before.
10 Hurry Organization
at is hoped 10 complete. the organi-
zation so as to take on the work with
in week or zen DAYS. It's Offices will
he in the Post Office Building. Such
proper staff and Office organization
viii be created as the work demands.
expanding as need be. It's general
purpose will be to make SAT the
docks along the waterfront, property
IN the barred zones and I'd handle the
detention and internmcnt Of alien enc
mes in the port, looking after regis
tratlon and issuance Of barred zone
permits"
Mr.. Wallace issued warning to alien
enemies who had not registered that
they would be dealt with severely
unless they complied with the Presi-
dents proclamation at once.
Vigorous measures must and will
be taken,' ne said. at would seem
that common sense would incline any
one in this class to anticipate trouble
hy coming in Mt once and making good
the omission. BY presenting himself
at proper registration. Office he will
receive favorable consideration, which
hn must NOT pvDoct IF NO c+1,rc a,,,a,- >,