THE SPY MENACE IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 6

THE SPY MENACE IN AMERICA

. ft STAB-IN-THE-BACK METHODS. Recent American newspapers show the grim determination of the people of the United Statos to leave nothing undone w-hich can help to win the war, and the growing sentiment in favour of taking further measures of self-pro-tection against German, sympathisers. Already German subjects over 14 arc forbidden.

To approach any place of military importance.

To reside in the capital or in the Panama Canal zone.

To change their' residence without permission.

To take passage in any steamboat, excepting public ferries.

To ascend in any balloon, air-plane, or airship.

To stir out without their registration cards, which they must produce upon demand.

This, it is reckoned, affects about 600,000 men—l3o,ooo in New York alone—but majiy editorial articles consider it does not go far enough to stop "the carnival of incendiarism." It appears that 600 persons have been convicted of crimes in the German interest on or near the Groat Lakes, through which millions of tons of war material pass every week. Food supplies, valued at £3,600,000 have been destroyed by fires attributed to German sympahtisers. Clearly, • the "New York Tribune" thinks, thore is a wide-spread-ing organisation at work. The cry goes up, _ therefore, for the internment of all alien enemies. This, the "New York World" admits, would be hard upon those who are innocent of criminal designs, but for it they will have to blame' Germany and the "German propaganda 'of crime and treachery .throughout the world. Every German who suffers, as lie thinks, unjustly may be assured that his punishment is the direct result of teachings for which the ruling class of his country accepts full responsibility." Mr. Curtis Roth, who was a United States Vice-Consul in Germany, drives this home in the "Saturday Evening Post." "The world is literally aorawl," he declares, "with the spies of Central Europe. They are recruited from all nationalities, and are paid mostly according to tho value of each piece of work. Some, are 'patriots'; some hope for commercial and political support after the war; a few derive social advantage and orders in tho gift of the Kaiser."

A solemn warning'has been given to the disaffected by Mr. T. W. Gregory, a-high legal oJHc'er of the Department of Justice. "Ninety-five per cent, of the people of ihe United States," he said, "would die as willingly for their beliefs as the men of 1776. It is for the other 5 per cent, to show not tho slightest manifestation of disloyalty. Our message to them will be delivered through the criminal courts all over the land. And may God have ( mercy on them, /for they need expect none from an outraged people and an avenging Government."