Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-09-09
SECRETS OF FRANCE
Sent {, G,~rl7.ag Te3ar the United
States Consular Seal. ,.,
GERMAN WAS OUR VICE CONSUL,

GhhMAN AO " " IL WIZ OONSO " ~
And no Aided tho German Traffic In
WAR Onlc> Merchandise - Mr..
Bcnthcim Willing To Make Affidavit
to the Truth OF MS story.
Atlanta. Sept. 5.-The man who
claims to know how the French war
office secrets reached Germany and the
names OF those instrumental in their
transfer from France WAS seen yes
terday by a press representative. the
informant gives his name as Charles
L. Bentheim and his discharge papers,
which are regular and duly signed,
show that he is an artist. and WAS
private in Company N. Two Hundred
and Second New York volunteers. dur
ing the war with Spain. Bcnthelm says
he has no interest i'll the matter. ana
wishes no notoricty. His story is i'll
substance as follows:
II was born III Denver and am So
years old When quite young | was
sent TO Paris to be educated. went
TO several countries on the continent.
pursuing my studies, and finally 10
Germany. Here | was employed about
four hours each day as translator OF
docuEents and map engraver by the
government, and Was in the head
quarters OF the general staff at holu-
gerstrasse. Berlin. During my service
there | several times translated papers
bearing information concerning French
Notifications. arscnals. warships and
land plans. and knew all those con-
cerned in the purchase OF his informa-
ton. The name Of Dreyius does not
appear in a single instance.
THE obtaining OF intelligence re-
garding the French army and navy was
operated by the secret service depart
ment of the imperial ministry of
marine. When document was
obtained from the Office OF the
minister OF marine or the war depart
ment in Paris il was taken to Prince
Heinrich Hans Fless, the German rep
resentative in Paris. Through him it
went TO the house OF one OF his sweet
hearts, where a copy WAS made. a Jew
hours later the original paper was re-
turned to the Office whence ii came
THE next move was to get these pa
pers to Berlin. Herr Franz, a toy
manufacturer at Sonnanburg, Ger
many. aided in this. He would send
dolls to Paris TO be dressed. In the
body of these little playthings these
copies of drawings and descriptive
notes were securely sewed and started
on their joarney to tho Fatherland.
From Paris they were sent by post TO
Holmrook. village in England. Here
another agent was located. He was
Herr Lindau. at that time a partner
In some mining operations being car
ried on there Lindau performed his
duty by remaiing the doll messengers
TO Herr Franz at SonneOerg, and once
there they were safe. Herr Alvin
Florschuetz, bank director of Some
berg. was also in the scheme.
About this time. Big the way" said
Mr.. Bentheim, Herr Florscheurz was
recommended hy the German govern.
ment 10 the United States as consul for
this country at Sonneberg. He was ac-
cepted. All this time the traffic in war
Office merchandise. as it was known,
was going on Herr Florschuetz was
vice consul OF the United States.
WAS the doll plan the only one
adopted as means OF communication
between the two Countries
"Oh. no, replied Mr.. Bentheim. "Sev-
eral times received documents of this
kind in the regular United States con-
sular envelope There were, OF course.
considera BILE correspondence going on
between these few people regarding the
war Office traffic, and this was always
done on the letter heads bearing the
one line inscription, United States con-
sulate. SonneberS.' Whenever Frigate
Captain Sigl. who was in charge of
this work in Berlin, went out on
scouting trip by himself he carried
supply of United States stationery.
and have seen information OF this
kind from the French war office come
into the staff headquarters in an en-
velope bearing the consular seal OF the
United States government. This, you
will know, was>a- safeguard, as nobody
would open a letter with this seal to
on it.
Captain Sigl handed all money for
this merchandise, as they termed it,
TO Herr Florischeutz Emperor Will
lam did not. of course, have any di-
rect dealings with those who did the
work, but knew where the money went.
The money was paid frcm the secret
service fund Of the ministry of marine.
Every six months remittances are
made anonymously 10 the Baroness de
Delden, through the Credit Lyonnais
in Paris. Baroness de Belden was the
sweetheart of Prince Henry Pless. but
later transferred her affections to Es-
terhazy. She is the yelled lady OF the
Rennes court martial.
Mr.. Bentheim signifed his willing
ness to make affidavit as to the truth
of his story.
-------------------------
,y-,a<,. 90 49,, >,,,,.,, 5,;,,-