The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective LeagueHough, Emerson
History
The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective League
Hough, Emerson
American Protective League; Propaganda, German; World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- United States
A case came down from Seattle to Los Angeles, having to do with an
itinerant slacker who came from Pennsylvania and who, since then, had
lived in Idaho, Washington, and California. The suspect’s physical
description was that of a man six feet tall, weight about 220 pounds,
health apparently the best, appearance very shabby, an additional
circumstance being that he had a pronounced aversion to the use of
water which was very evident at close range. It was stated that the
man owned at least nine different properties, and although indolent,
was apparently well to do. He was found in possession of Socialist
literature, and declared that he would not buy bonds or assist the
Government or have anything to do with the Red Cross. He was asked how
he would like to join the Army. Since he did not like the proposition,
he was arrested for violation of the Selective Service Act, found
within the age, and indicted September 20, 1918, by the Federal Grand
Jury for failure to register for the draft.
Los Angeles had a practicing physician who fled from Germany to escape
the rigors of its military laws. When war broke out between this
country and Germany, this suspect—for he very soon became a suspect and
was placed under the espionage of A. P. L.—planned to turn a pretty
penny by the practice of sabotage, not upon property, but on personnel.
There were some cowards in this country of so yellow a type that they
were willing even to have their eye-sight tampered with that they might
escape the draft. This monster in human guise assisted such depraved
beings, sometimes perhaps to the permanent loss of their eye-sight—they
took their own chances. This man got a sentence of ten years in the
penitentiary and a fine of $5,000. A woman accomplice was sentenced to
eleven years penal servitude.
A German, von B——, was a close friend of R. B——, the two rooming
together. The latter was with the National Guard of California in
the Mexican trouble, was mustered out, but registered for the draft,
being exempted on the grounds of having a dependent wife and child.
After he had received his exemption, B—— was told by von B—— to get
into the Aviation Corps at San Diego, and that he would show him how.
The exempted man was admitted to the Aviation Corps in the United
States Army, went to Berkeley for three months’ training, and then
was transferred to San Diego. He is a German and his wife is also.
These two men were reported to have made a great many mysterious trips
together. Subject was interned on presidential warrant, it being
obvious that neither he nor his room-mate meant well towards the United
States.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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