Hunnewell, Hollis H. (Ed.) History and Anecdotes of the New York Branch of the Office of NavalIntelligence New York: New York Office of Naval Intelligence, Ca.1919 The New York Branch Office of Naval Intelligence was formed by Spencer Eddy, along with a number of other Ivy League, well-connected socially prominent young men recruited byAssistant Navy Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt into his Naval Reserve Force. In 1916 Eddy set up a clandestine branch intelligence section in New York City, and by December they had been recognized as Voluntary Agents of the ONI. With America's entry into the war on April 6, 1917, the office was formalized, undergoing a considerable expansion of quarters, personnel and responsibilities, including such activities as monitoring thousands of overseas cables; maintaining surveilance over the personnel and facilities of every plant doing Navy work in the Tri-Sate area and beyond; monitoring thousands of firms and individuals to prevent trading with the enemy, an operation aided by close ties with all New York financial institutions; overseeing cables and suspicious activities emanating from Mexico and Latin America; "corraling" leaders of the I.W.W. and similiar radical groups; keeping records on suspect firms and individuals, which grew to some 350,000 file cards; and, most significantly, maintaining a counter-espionage department handling all matters pertaining to espionage, sedition, and secret service matters, with a team of 25 special agents--precursors of the Office of Stragetic Services (OSS) and the eventual CIA. This volume, prepared as a memento after the war, consists of some 50 single-sided 12 x 9-1/2 pages reproducing typewritten text which includes a history of the organization before and during the war, its various operating departments, a listing of officers and staff, a page of 17 autographs, 7 6x8-1/4 inch original mounted photographs one of which is of a typical, involved investigative chart linking various people and groups under study, a frontispiece of Commander Eddy, signed by him, and pages of largely humorous anecdotes, several embellished with small marginal drawings reproduced in color. A typical anecdote reads: "Everyone who enters the Office of Naval Intelligence is required to take a solemn Oath, part of which is that he will not divulge the fact that he is a member of the O.N.I. to any but his superior officers. Immediately after the ceremony is over, an agent comes to him and gives him an investigation to be made. Having been very much impressed with the Oath he has just taken, he naturally inquires, "How am I going to get the desired information if the party refuses to give it willingly?" To this question he gets the reply: "Why, show your O.N.I. badge, you boob." Accompanied by a letter from editor Hunnewell to a recipient, stressing the confidentiality of the volume and ending, "[This is] not in any way to be made public, and should be treated as strictly private and confidential. Under no circumstances should your copy pass into other hands." A RARE BEHIND-THE-SCENES GLIMPSE OF U.S. INTELLIGENCE IN WWI (NAVAL INTELLIGENCE WWI) First Edition. 4to. With seven original photographs, and reproduced drawings. 3/4 tan pigskin over brown paper- covered boards, hinges cracked, slight chipping at head and foot of spine, internally fine. Dorwat, The Office of Naval Intelligence, pp. 106 et seq Price: USD 2,500.00 other currencies   order no. 27273    inquire

(To order this book, press this button)

Read the ABAA Code of Ethics

offered by: James Cummins Bookseller Inc. 699 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10065 The Mill Fairmount Rd. East Pottersville, NJ 07979 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P: James Cummins P: Carol Cummins M: Tim Johns Tel. (212) 688-6441, (908) 439-2724 (NJ) Fax (212) 688-6192 E-mail:  Internet: www.jamescumminsbookseller.com Sporting, Color-Plate Books, Private Press, First Editions, Fine Bindings, Sets, English & American Literature, Illustration Art, Autographs & Manuscripts * Contact for hours CONDITIONS OF SALE All items, as usual, are guaranteed as described and are returnable within 10 days for any reason. All books are shipped UPS (please provide a street address) unless otherwise requested. Overseas orders should specify shipping preference. All postage is extra. New clients are requested to send remittance with your orders. Libraries may apply for deferred billing. All New York and New Jersey residents must add appropriate sales tax. We accept American Express, Master Card and Visa. All items are subject to prior sale; prices are subject to change.    search our database...