[4] In addition to the above, hundreds of jewelry store investigations were made for the purpose of obtaining information regarding alleged price discrimination against soldiers and sailors; also, hundreds of investigations of tailors, clothing stores and department stores in the interest of Army uniform regulations. CHAPTER II THE STORY OF NEW YORK The Focus of German International Espionage—Center of Foreign Population—The Great Plots—Governmental Concentration—How the A. P. L. Web Helped Collect Traitors—Details of the Organization—A Metropolis Loved by a Country. The great American metropolis was the storm-center of America in the war. The heart of the great and intricate system of German espionage, the controlling financial body of Germany’s spy army, was there; the treacherous diplomacy of Germany centered there. Moreover, our shipments of men, munitions and supplies largely centered there, and that was the general point of departure of our troops bound overseas. Naturally, therefore, our Government concentrated in and around this danger spot its strongest protective measures for our troops and their supplies. Literally, it was plot and counterplot in New York; war and counter war; espionage and counter espionage. Such a story as that cannot be covered by the printed page. No volume can describe New York’s part in the war, for that man does not live who knows or ever will know all that went on in New York in war time. New York herself never will know how she was endangered and how she was protected. Until war broke out, New York was much like London. Grown indifferent to her vast foreign element, she was disposed to let these people meet and march, preach and pray and then go home again, red flag and all. No great world city can have a homogeneous population, nor can any such population be governed as a whole. New York accepted the fact that she was one of the centers of the world’s transient life. Her entire business prosperity is built up on the transient trade. With an amused indifference, New York allowed her visitors to meet and march, preach and pray, amuse themselves so long as they liked, so long as they paid for their privilege of passing through. She had long since ceased to analyze her population, but has entertained it instead, regarding it with neither fear, shame, pride nor alarm. She was truly a metropolis.