Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1918 — Every Citizen Should Help Fight Sabotage [ARTICLE]

Every Citizen Should Help Fight Sabotage

Policing War Work Is a Patriotic Service Open to Men, Women and Children Everywhere

It is a wartime duty of every citizen to be a policeman for Uncle Shm under the “sabotage law;” to keep eyes and ears open for attempts to injure or destroy war material, war premises or war utilities. Offenses Covered by the “sabotage law" can be committed by the individual alone and unaided anywhere—in factory and shop, storehouse, grain elevator, village garage, blacksmith shop, railroad yard, at a country railroad crossing or on the farm, as well as in shipyard or munition plant. Hence the need of many eyes to watch for them. The seriousness of these offenses is indicated by the penalties: A fine up to SIO,OOO, imprisonment up to 30 years, or both. They are of two general Hasses: L Wilfully injuring or destroying, or attempting to injure or destroy, any war material, war premises or war utilities. 2. Wilfully making or causing to be made in a defective manner, or attempting to make or cause to be made in a defective manner, any war material, or any tool, implement, machine, utensil or receptacle used in making, producing, manufacturing or repairing war material. To get an idea of the widespread possibilities of “sabotage,” note the definitions of “war materials,” “war premises,” and “war utilities,” damage to which is “sabotage:” . . “War material” Includes: Arms, armament, ammunition, live stock, clothing, food, foodstuffs and fuel; also supplies, munitions and all other articles, or any part or ingredient thereof, intended for, adapted to, or suitable for use in the conduct of the war. “War premises” includes: All buildings, grounds, mines, or other places where war material Is produced, manufactured, repaired, stored, mined, extracted, distributed, loaded, unloaded or transported, together with all machinery and appliances therein contained; also all boats, arsenals, navy yards, camps, prisons, or military and naval stations. “War utilities” includes: All railways, electric lines, roads of every description, railway fixtures, canals, locks, dams, wharfs, piers, docks, bridges, buildings, structures, engines, machines, mechanical contrivances, cars, vehicles, boats, air craft or any other means of transportation; all dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, water and gas pipes, storehouses, and buildings used in connection with water and gas works, all electric light and power, steam or pneumatic power, telephone and telegraph plants and poles, wires, fixtures, buildings or structures connected with them. Keep eyes and ears open and report suspicious acts to the nearest representative of the United States government or of the state council of defense.