By means of this secret organization, Germany carried on the scheme of buying fraudulent passports for the use of her reservists, developed a scheme for the illegal provisioning of the German cruisers, set on foot various military enterprises from the United States against Canada, schemed to destroy munition factories in America, to blow up merchantmen of the Allies sailing from American ports—and planned crimes of bribery, arson and assault.
But the alertness of the American Secret Service and the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice prevented the consummation of these plans. There was need for a shifting of the Germanic spies. Immediately after the publication of Count von Bernstorff’s warning, an exodus of known spies to South America began, and the development of an effective system of espionage in every country in South America is now under way.
AMERICA’S VITAL QUESTION
The great question that confronts the American people is one of preparedness against this or a like system. Any foreign government that knows the moves of the United States before they are made is in a position to do the country much harm in peace, and tremendously greater harm in war. In view of the crimes perpetrated by Germans and Austrians in America in 1914, 1915 and 1916, it behoves the American Government to take steps to destroy the system, root and branch; to see to it that no nation ever builds up a similar system in these United States.
This Government must take such steps as will ensure it against treachery from within. The citizens of the United States must stand in time of danger as one man in defence of our lives, our liberties, our rights on land and sea, our homes and our national honour.
THE END
Printed at The Chapel River Press, Kingston, Surrey.
Messrs. Hutchinson & Co.
are pleased to announce Novels for the Spring of 1917 by the following LEADING AUTHORS, particulars of which will be found in the ensuing pages