With the American entry into WWI in April 1917, a strong concern and almost xenophobic reaction occurred with anything associated with the new national enemy: Germany. War hysteria had an obvious impact on Pennsylvania, due to its ethnic diversity and large number of citizens with German roots. There was an official reaction to the threat of German subversion leading to a spy “hysteria”. Actually, German intelligence did have an active network of agents throughout the western hemisphere between 1915 and 1917 who genuinely did undertake sabotage attacks against munitions plants and infrastructure of then neutral America.
Once war broke out there was a concern of more serious attacks, especially in the crucial heavy industries of Pennsylvania. Against this real threat, state and federal agencies were short of personnel and finances. Also unlike WWII when the United States entered the war with an overwhelming consensus, many with ties to Germany in Pennsylvania were against the U.S. entry into the war. Even in
