The record-union., 1899-09-05

ATLANTA (Ga-), Sept. 4.-The gen.
tleman who claimed to know how the
French War Office secrets reached
Germany and the names of those in
strumental in their transfer from
France was seen to-day by the Atlanta
representative of the Associated Press.
All the matter given in the Jewish
Sentinal' story sent out in these dis
patches Thursday night was gone over
and substantiated as far as possible,
and much information tending to am
plify and elucidate statements made
there was obtained.
The additional and highly interests
ing information was elected that the
letterhead, envelopes and consular
seals of the United States Government
were used as a safeguard in transmit
ting the French War Office documents
from that country to Germany, and
also that ore of the chief actors in the
underground" system at the time the
traffic in the French War Office mer-
chandise was going on held the position
of United States Vice Consul in a little
German city.
The informant gives his name as
Charles E. Bentheim, and his discharge
papers, which are regular and duly
signed, show that he was a private in
Company NJ, Twenty-second New York
Volunteers, during the war with Spain
He was, he says, not at camp drill over
ten minutes, but was put in the Com
missary Department, and later trans
ferred to headquarters division, where
be became brigade clerk.
He accompanied the Twenty-second
New York to Cuba, and in addition to
duty as brigade clerk, was called upon
to perform the duties of stenographer
at the court-martial held from time to
time at Pinar Del Rio, where the New
York Regiment was stationed. The
paper to the Adjutant Generals office
in Washington, recommending his dis
charge, is signed by William E. HOrto,
Assistant Adjutant General. and came
from General William c. Oates, brigade
commander. The stamps of different
railway companies from which he OBJ
tanned haIf-rate transportation on his
discharge papers are plain.
Bentheim is an artist, and this is the
avocation given in his discharge papers.
Since he left the service of the United
States he has been travelling over the
South, and is at present on his way
from Montgomery to Washington,
where he says he will visit Sculptor
Trentanove.
Bentheim says he has no interest in
the matter, and wished no notoriety.
His name was given only at the last
minute, and under pressure. His story
was not told with that evenness denot-
ing rehearsal, and his conversation
shows that he is fully acquainted with
the cities of Germany and the French
Capital He says that although he has
known these things for a long time, he
has never made public the information
of which he is possessed. This is the
story:
Il was born in Denver, Col, and am
SO years of age. When quite young
was sent to Paris to be educated.
went to several countries on the conti-
nent pursuing my studies and finally
to Germany. Here I was employed
about four hours each day as a trans
lator of documents and map engraver
by the Government and was in the
headquarters of the general staff at
Koniggratzerstrasse Berlin. During
my service there 1 several times trans
lated papers bearing information con-
warships and land plans and know all
those concerned in the purchase of this
information The obtaining of intelli-
gence regarding the French army and
navy was operated by the Secret Ser
vice Department of the Imperial Min
istry of Marine. This bureau was at
one time under the control of Prince
Bismarck and Herr Won Moltke. The
Germans in Paris were always on the
alert for information. When docu-
ment was obtained from the office OF
the Minister of Marine or the War De
partment in Paris, it was taken to
Prince Heinrich Hans Pless, the Ger
man representative in Paris. Through
him it went to the house of one of his
sweethearts, where a copy was made,
and later on, being allowed for clerk
hire put his wife, Lima, in that position,
giving her name on the reports as L.
Florschuetz. All the time that the
traffic in war office merchandise, as il
was known, was going on, Herr Fiors-