The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-05
Transmitting Papers

Plan for Transmitting Papers
1.-THE next move was to get these papers
to Berlin. Herr Franz, toy manufacturer
at Sonniberg, Germany, 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
journey to the Fatherland.
From Paris they were sent by post 70
Holmrook, village in England. Here am
other agent was located. He was Herr
Lndau, at that time a partner in some
mining operations being carried ON there.
He died two or three years ago, and his
family moved Immediately to the north of
Ireland. Llndau performed his duties by
remailing the doll messengers to Herr
Franz at Sonneberg, and once there they
were safe. From Sonneberg they were
brought to the great headquarters by Herr
Franz. Once recollect document Of this
nature was brought in by the burgomaster
of Leipsic, whose name l cannot reveal.
Herr Alvinn F'lorschuetz, a bank director
of Sonneberg, was also in the scheme.
Made United states Vice Consul
about this time, by-the-way." said Mr..
1enIneln1eT,
mended by the German government to the
United States as vice consul for this coun-
try al Sonneberg. He was accepted, ard
soon after, on being allowed money for
clerk hire, put his wife, Lima, in that po-
sition, giving her name on the reports as
L. Florscheutz. All the time this traffic in
war office merchandise as it was known,
was going on Herr Florscheutz was vica
consul of the United States
WAS the doll plan the only one adopted
as a means Of communication between the
two countries?"
.'Oh, no." replied Mr.. Bentheim. several
times l received documents of this kind
in the regular United States consular en-
velope. L remember it distinctly 1t Was
a long white envelope with the usual
official business and something about
penalty on IT and sealed on the back with
a white paper seal.
Described the seal
'9The seal was about The size of a half
dollar and had a serrated border to IL.
The eagle was the center figure and above
it in semi-circle were the words United
States consulate On the other half of
the circle and below the eagle was the
single word, iSonneberg.'
There was of course considerable cor
people regarding the war Office traffic, and
this was always done on Ietterheads bear
ing the one-line Inscription, United States
Consulate, Sonneberg. Nearly all the de-
scriptions of war vessels, new inventions,
armor plate, underground mines, fortitica-
tions, ETC., etc., continued the nara tor,
were on letterheads bearing the inscrip-
ton, "Freneh Minister de La Marine,
Paris or Ministere de la Guerre, Paris
Whenever Frigate Captain Sigl, who was
in charge of this work a Berlin, went out
on scouting trip by himself he carried
a supply OF United States stationary.
Bore United States Consular Seal
II have seen informati ton of this kind
from the French war office come into the
stan headquarters in an envelope bearing
the consular seal of the United States gov
eminent. This, you will know, was a safe
guard, as nobody would open a letter with
this seal on it. Florsehuetz, however, did
more travelling from Germany into France
than either Sigl or Franz, and he always
had some of this paper in his satchel. He
would not go into France direct, as that
would bring upon him too close scrutiny
at the frontier. He would go first to Bre-
men and from there to Southampton
Here he would board a steamer either for
Cherbourg or Toulon and land without any
trouble. This Florschuetz told me himself
a a theater in Berlin week or two after
ne returned from the expedition. He
landed at Toulon and went to a hotel.
Went to Monte Carlo
''Here he sent a note to Madame JAMS
sen telling her what he wanted. and then
proceeded to Monte Carlo for day or two
at the tables 1t was arrange6, of course.
that II there was any trouble over the
work word would be sent him there Nine,
Jansen is the Wife of naval officer and
has the entire to the arsnaI at Toulon.
she secured all the information desired
and 1t was handed to Herr Florschuetz on
his return TO Toulon In less than one week
information regarding the construction
OF the war vessel GymDote, at that time
building at Cherbourg, was obtained in the
same manner.
Il will cite another case to show how
easily anything that Germany wanted
could be obtained" went on Mr. Bentheim
"A sergeant IN the naval arsenal at Tou-
Ion, Thomas by name at the request of one
of the five OF six women skirmisf1ing
around there at that time, puroined
drawing which gave clearly the inside of
the fortress and the location of the SUBJ
marine mines in the harbor.
Esterhazy Informed
This information I knew went to Ester
hazy, but it took a half dozen women to
get 1t to him. This drawing was copied
at the home of one of the Prince Pless'
sweethearts in Paris and the original draw
ing returned two days later to Toulon.
Sergeant Thomas was found out in this
matter however, and is now In prison.
1.-THE espionage system wAs such that
Germany was advised of the meeting of
all boards connecting with any arsenal or
fertilization.
For instance, If new gun were to be
tried, Germany agent would r. lettering
near the testing place, and / remember on
one occasion when experiment of this
kind was concluded a rough sketch of the
results was handed the German agent be-
fore tine officers left the grounds. This
was sent, post haste. to Germany. Often
report on the test of new invention would
be in the hands of the German government
before it reached the ministry of war in
Paris. This caused many laughs in the
office at staff headquarters.
Hadn't Heard of Dreyfus
During all this time / never heard of
Captain Dreyfus and did not know there
was such a person until heard of his
arrest"
Mr.. Benheim was asked who handledsthe