The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-05
GERMANY'S SECRET SERVICE.
EX-TRANSLATOR FURNISHES ADJ
OPTIONAL INFORMATION.

Interviewed In Atlanta. Bentheim
Says United states Consulate sta
tionery and n Consulate Seal Were
Used-RpundnbOut Way In which
Copies of French Documents We're
Sent 20 Germany-A United states
Vice Consul Involved.
Atlanta, Ga. Sept. 4-The gentleman
VINO claims to know how the French war
office secrets reached Germany and the
names OF those instrumental In their trans
fer from France. was seen to-day by the
Atlanta representative of the Associated
Press.
All the matter given in the Jewish Senu-
ment story sent out in these dispatches
Thursday night was gone over and sub
stantiaed as far as possible, and much in
formation tending to amplfy and elueldate
statements there made, was obtained.
The additional and highly interesting IN
formation was ELECTED that the letter
heads, envelopes and consular seals Of the
United States government were used as a
safeguard in transmitting the French war
office documents from that country TO
Germany, and also that one of the chief
actors in the underground" system at the
time the traffic in French war office mer-
| chandlse was going on, held the position
| of United States vice consul in a little
German city.
The informant gives his name as Charles
p. Bentheim, and his discharge papers
which are regular and duly signed, show
| that he was private In Company NJ, Two
Hundred and Second New York Volun-
teers, during the war with Spain. lie
was made brigade clerk to Cen w. c.
| Oates ana accompanied the Two Hundred
and Second New York to Cuba. He was
| the only man of that regiment who was
mustered out in Washington. The paper
to the adjutant generals office in Wash
| ngton recommending his discharge IS
signed by William f. Horton, assistant
| adjutant general, First Brigade Third Di-
vision, Second Army Corps.
Since he left the service of the United
States Bentheim has been travelling over
| the South, and is al present on has way
| from Montgomery to Washington. where
he says he viii visit the sculptor, Trent
| anove. Benthelm says he has no interest
in the matter and wishes no notorety.
How Ii Was Done.
THE obtaining of intelligence regarding
| the French army and navy" said Bent
| helm, was operated by the secret service
/ department of the imperial ministry of
| marine When a document was obtained
| from pX.of the offices in Paris II was
/ taken to Prince Heinrich Hans Pless the
! German representative In Paris. Through
| him 1t went to the house of one of his
! sWeethearts, where copy was made A
| few hours later the original paper was
returned 10 the office whence 81 came.
| The next move was to get these papers
/ 10 4AVltV L.
| turer al SOnneburg, Germany, aided in
| this. He would send dolls to Paris to be
| dressed. In the body Of these little play
| things these copies of drawings and de-
soriptlVe notes were placed. From Paris
| they were sent by post TO Holmbrook, a
| village in England. Here another agent
| was located. He was Herr Lindau. at
! that time a partner in some mining opera
| tons being carried on there. Lindau re-
| turned the dolls to Herr Franz at Some
| berg, and once there they were safe
| From Sonneberg they were brought to
| The great headquarters of Herr Franz.
where l translated many descriptions.
Herr Alvin Florschuetz a bank direct
or of Sonneberg, was also in the scheme
He was the United States vice consul
| there"
United states Stationery Used.
Was the doll plan the only modus oper
|
countries2"
"Oh, no." replied Mr.. Benthelm Several
times l received documents of this kind I'm
the regular United States consular enveI-
ope. | remember it distinctly. The corre-
spondence which was carried on between
the few people regarding the war office
traffic was always done on letter heads
bearing the one line inscription United
states Consulate Sonneberg.' Nearly all
the descriptions of war vessels, new in
ventions, armor plate, etc, were on letter
heads bearing the inscription 'Ministere de
Ia Marine, Paris or 'Minlstere de Ia
Guerre, Paris Whenever Frigate Captain
Sigl who was IN charge Of this work al
Berlin, went out on a scouting trip by
himself he carried a supply Of United
States stationery, and l have seen infor-
nation from the French war office come
into the staff headquarters in an envelope
bearing the consular seal Of the United
States government"
Mr.. Bentheim described infinitely the
plan followed for the securing of the COW
eted Information, and mentioned many
cases in point which were highly interest
ing He signihed his willingness TO go be
fore a notary public and make oath as to
the truth Of his statements.