The times., 1899-09-06

The State Department yesterday sent an
instruction TO Oliver ]. D. Hughes. United
States Consul at Coburg Germany, to in
Vestlgate charges made in Atlanta. Ga.
Monday to newspaper reporter by Charles
E. Bentheim, who alleges that Alvin Flor
schultz, the Vice and Deputy Consul at Co.
burg, had used United States consular en-
yelopes and letter heads in transmitting
French military secrets to the Headquarters
of the German general staff in Berlin. Mr..
| Hughes was directed to forward any state
ment that Mr.. Florschutz cared to make.
and enquire carefully into all the allega-
tions OF Bentheim
That part of Bentheim's statement which
concerns the United States is to the effect
that while he was employed as a French
translator in the headquarters of the gem
eral staff at Berlin, he saw a great many
| documents relating to French naval and
military affairs. particularly in regard 10
fortihcations. that were received in Berlin
In envelopes bearing the official seal of
the United States consulate at Sonneberg.
| Germany, and that the stationery of the
( SonneDurg consulate was used by officers
of the German Secret Service in forwarding
communications from other countries. At
that time FlorschutZ was the Vice Consul
OF the United States at Sonneberg Or
June l, 1898, Sonneburg was reduced from
a consulate TO consular agency and trans
ferred to the Jurisdiction of the Consul at
Coburg. The records of the State Depart-
ment show that Florschutz was appointed
vice and Deputy Consul at Coburg on No
yemoer z, 1888. on the recommendation of
Consul Hughes.
Mr.. Huges spoke highly OF the ability
and honorable standing of Florschutz. who
mas served in the United States consular
service Tor seventeen years. He was an
pointed clerk in the consulate at Sonne-
berg, October IA, 1882, ard Vice and Deputy
Consul at that place February %. 1888.
There has not been a flaw in his record
as an employe OF the United States Gov
ernment. He was born in Germany and
is subject of the Emperor. He entered
the banking busines at Sonneberg at an
early age, and rose to responsible posItfon
IN the largest banking institution in that
place The statement made by BeDthefm
that Florschutz was appointed Vice Con-
SUI at Sonneberg on the recommendation
OF the German Government is not borne
out by anything on file in the State De-
paTtment- 1t was said at the department
yesterday, that a recommendation OF
man Tor appointment to consular position
Dy foreign Government would be a COOL
reason why he should not be appointed
An examination OF the records In the
State Department shows that the dates
given by Bentheim in his story are ap-
parently correct Nevertheless the Off
Gals OF the department are inclined TO
think that he has been romancing AT
the German Embassy the officials point
out that the story cannot be true as Ben
theim could never have been employed in
the headquarters of the general staff in
transiating confidential communications
affecting other nations.
Bentheim says he was born in Denver
thirty-six years ago. and that during the
war with Spain he served as an enlisted
man in the z07th New York Volunteers.
He claims to know a great deal about the
transmission of French military secrets TO
the German Government. and say
that he never heard Capt. Alfred
Dreyfus mentioned in that connection viii Q
he was in Berlin. He says also that the
mysterious yelled lady of the Dreyfus
court-moTtial is the Baroness De Delden,
who, he alleges, was the sweetheart of
Prince Heinrich Pless, the German diplo-
matte representative in Paris, but later
transferred her affections to Major Count
Esterhazy.
While the State Department officials are
emphatic in their declaration that they do
not believe Bentheim's story. and are viii
ling to stand by Vice Consul Fiorschutz or
account of his excellent record in the con-
sular service, they feel compelled on ac-
count of the publicity given to the inter-
view with Bentheim to make full in
vestigation of the whole matter. 1t is
believed that the French Government will
not make any representations to the United
States with view to ascertaining whether
the story is correct.