Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-09-07

Monday by an Associated Press re-
porter. All the matter given in Jewish
Sentiments story was gone over and
substantiated, much of the information
tending to amplify the statements
therein. The additional information
was elected that letter heads, enVel-
Opes and consular seals OF the United
States government was used as a safe
guard in transmitting the French war
office documents from that country to
Germany; also one of the chief actors
in the ''under-g ground" system at the
time traffic in the French war office
merchandise was going on held the po-
sitiOn of United States vice consul in a
little German city. Bentheim's dis
charge papers show he was a private |
in company NJ, 22d New York volun-
teers, during the war with Spain, en-
listing August 5, '98, and accompany |
ing the regiment to Cuba. Bentheim |
is an artist and since he left the service |
of the United States has been travelling |
over the south, and at present is on
his way from Montgomery to Washing |
ton, to visit Sculptor TrentanoVe.
Bentheim says he has no interest in
the matter and dislikes notoriety. His
name was given only under pressure.
He said:
"The obtaining of intelligence re-
garding the French army and navy
was operated by the secret service de-
partment of the imperial ministry
of marine, this bureau at one time be-
ing under the control of Prince Bis
marck and Herr Won MOlke. When q
document was obtained from the office
of minister of marine or the war de-
partment in Paris it was taken to
Prince Heinrich Hans Pless German
representative in Paris. Through him
it went to the house of one of his
sweethearts where a copy was made.
few hours later the original paper
was returned to the office from whence
it came"
Bentheim reiterated his statement
about the sending of documents
through the medium of dolls dressed
in Paris. He continued: about this
time Herr FlOrschuetz was recommend
ed by the German government to the
United States as consul for this coun
try at Sonnenburg All this time the
traffic in war office merchandise as it
was known, was going on, Herr Flors-
chuetz was vice-consul of the United
States
WAS the doll plan the only one
adopted as a means of communication
between the two cOuntries?"
ooh, no." replied Bentheim. "Sev-
eral times I received documents of this
kind in a regular United States con-
sular envelope. 1t was a large white
envelope with the usual words official
business only and sealed on the back
with a white paper seal about the size
of half a dollar. An eagle was the
center figure. Above it in a semi-circle
were the words United States consul
ate. On the other half of the
circle below the eagle was
the single word 'SOnnenburg.
Nearly all descriptions of war vessels,
new Inventions armor plate, under
ground mines, Notifications, etc, were
on letter heads bearing the inscription
'ministre De La Marine Paris When
ever Frigate Captain Sigl, who was IN
charge of this work at Berlin, went
out on a scouting trip by himself ne
carried supplies of United States sta
tionery and I have seen information of
this kind from the French war office
come into the staff headquarters in an
envelope bearing the consular seal OF
the United States government. This
was perfect safeguard, as nobody
would open letter with this seal on it.
Florschuetz told me how he got the
plans Of the new marine boat GOubet
while it was being built at ToulOn. He
landed at TOulon, went to hotel there
and sent note to Nine. Jansen telling
her what was wanted. He then pro-
ceeded to Monte Carlo. Nine. Jansen
is the wife of "a naval officer and had
entire to the arsenal at Toulon. She
secured all the informa ton desired and
it was handed to FlorschuetZon his re-
turn to Toulon in less than week.
Information regarding the construction
of the war vessel Gymnote, at that time
building at Cherbourg, was obtained IN
the same manner.
"a sergeant in the naval arsenal at
Of a woman purloined a drawing which
gave clearly the inside Of the fortress
with the location of the submarine
mines in the harbor. This information
know went to Esterhazy, but it took
half dozen women to get it to him.
The espionage system was such
that Germany was advised Of
the meeting of all boards
connected with any arsenal or forti-
fication. Often a report on the test Of
a new invention would be in the hands
of the German government before it
reached the ministry Of war in Paris.
During all this time I never heard of
Captain Dreyfus and did not know
there was such a person until I heard
of his arrest
Bentheim was asked who handled
the money for the maintenance of this
information bureau. His reply was:
Captain Sigl handed all the money
for this merchandise to Herr Flor
schuetz. Emperor William did not of
course have any direct dealings with
those who did the work, but knew
where the money went Every second
month a remittance was made anony-
mously to Baroness de Delden in Paris.
was the sweetheart Of Prince
Henry Pless, but later trans
ferred her Affections She is the
yelled lady" of the Rennes court-mar-
tial. Bentheim, questioned IS to his
reason for leaving Germany, replied
that a quarrel with the emperor over