AMERICAN GERMANIA

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 74, 28 March 1917, Page 5

AMERICAN GERMANIA

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST OUT-

RAGES

SURVEILLANCE OF GERMAN*

AMERICANS

RTTSH FOR NATURALISATION

PAPERS

iawtraliait and N.Z. Cable Association

(Receiver! Mnrcl 28. 11.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 27. The newspaper The Nation states thnt wide precautions are being 'taken following upon the realisation of the necessity to prevent bomb plots- and pro-Ger?naii outrages in the event of a declaration of war. : Local governments as well a8 the Federal authorities throughout the United States are co-operating with the police force of New York, Chicago, St Louis, and other cities with large German populaticns. An exhaustive canvass is beir.g made to ascertain the addresses, occupations, sympathies, -i'nd possible activities of German-Americans, also surveillance of German restaurants o.nd clubs foi the purpose of familarising the authorities with their probl--able operations in the event of w»i ■ Tlie New York police hayS worked out elaborate details to meet an emc-r----goncy) Many sections of New York are almost exclusively composed of German population. These are under particularly close -surveillance,.- with macl..'nu-s:uns and motor-lorries ready in case of emergency. Cabinet Ministers realise the need for rigid precautions to prevent plotting The first step was the decision to or 11 out the National Guard to prot<K2b public works. Many leading German-Americans are openly proclaiming their loyalty to America and signing a loyalty pledge. _ Members o* one German eliib refuse to sign, asserting thai it is unnecessary. There is much comment over- this action. The nation's precautions are known to pro-Germans, causing them intense uneasiness. The knowledge of the Government's .intention to inflict extreme penalties for plotting is likely to have a deterrent effect.

The newspapers point out that the firmest -.policy. ir. the only way to prevent outrages. Meanwhile the remarkable rush for naturalisation continues. Pamphlets explaining how to l>ecoPK: American citizens sold like wiMfiro ir> the streets.