The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-05
NEVER HEARD Of DREYFUS.
Elaborate secret Service Always In
PossessiOn Of Informs tiOn About
Fssnee-lnitea states Censalas

| ATLANTA. Ca. Sept A-Charles E.
! Bentheim. who claimed to know how the
! French war office secrets reached Ger
many, and the names Of those instru-
| mental In their transfer from France,
was seen today by the Atlanta represent
tat.ve OF the AssociIed Press. All the
| matter given In the Jewish Sentiment
| story sent out Thursday night was gone
| over and substantiated as far as possible
| and much Information tending to ampilfy
and elgeidate statements made there was
obtained. Bentheim's story il as follows:
Il was born in Denver, Col, and am 81
| years OF age. When quite young ! was
sent TO Paris TO be educated. / went to
several countries on the continent pursu-
ing my studies. and finally to Germany.
Here ! was employed about four years.
each day as q translator of documents
and map engraver by the government and
In the headquarters Of the general stan
of konigratzersirasse, Berlin. During my
service there l several times translated
papers bearing Information concerning
French Notifications, arsenais. warships
and land plans, and know all those con-
cerned In the purchase of this informa-
ton 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.
This bureau was at one time under the
control Of Prince Bismarck and Herr Won
Moltke.
Copies Sent to Germany.
THE Germans In Paris were always on
the alert for information. When a docu-
ment was obtained from the office of the
minister OF marine or the war department
In Paris II was taken to Prince Heinrich
Please. the German representative In
Paris. Through him II went to the house
OF one OF his sweethearts. where a copy
was made. A few hours later the orig
inal paper was returned to the Office from
whence II came The next move was 10
get these papers TO Berlin. Herr Franz,
toy manufacturer at Sonnenberg. 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 Sc
curely slowed away and started on their
Journey to the Fatheriand-
from Paris they were sent by post to
Hoimbrook village In England Here
another agent was located. He was Herr
Lindau. at that time partner In some
mining operations being carried on there.
Lindau performed his duty by remaiIing
the doll messengers 10 Herr Franz at
Sonnenberg, and once there they were
safe. From Sonnenberg they were brought
to the great headquarters by Herr Franz.
Once recohect a document Of this ma
ture was brought IN by the burgomaster
OF Leipsic whose name cannot recall.
Us. Vice Consul an Agent.
Herr Alvin F1orechuetz. a bank direc-
tor Of SonnenberE. was also in the
scheme About this time by the way,
Herr Florscheuts was recommended by
the German government 10 the United
States as ceHsul for t.. country at Son.
nenberg. He was accepted and later. on
being allowed clerk hire. put his wife In
that position. giving her name on the
ports at Chi. Fiorscheu,x. All the time
that ,.Ie traffic in war Office merchan-
disc as II was known. was going on.
Herr Fiorscheutz was vice consul Of the
United States"
was the doll plant the only one adopted
as a means OF communication between the
two countries?'
"Oh, no." replied Benthesm, several
times received documents OF this kind In
the regular United States consular en-
veiopes. i remember II distinctly. 1t was
large white envelope with the usual
Official Business only and something
about a penalty. and sealed on the back
with a white paper seal about the size of
n half dollar and had serra.ed border
on II. The eagle was the center figure and
aoont In semi-circle was the words u.
s. Consulate On the other half II the
word 'Sonuenburg'
There was OF course. considerable cor
respondence going on between these few
people regarding the war office traffic, and
this was always done on the letter heads
bearing the line inscription. Il. s. Consul
ate. Sornenourg.' Nearly all the descrip
tons 90 war vessels, new inventions.
armor plate. underground mines. sortiiica-
| tons. etc. were on letter heads bearing
the inscription. 'Ministre de Ia Marine.
Paris or, Mtnsire de la Guerre Paris
Whenever Frigate Capt. Sigel. who was
In charge % this work at Berlin, went out
on a scouting trip by himself. he carried
supply OF United states stationery, and
| have seen Information OF this Kind from
the Frcnch war Office come into the stan
headquarters IN an envelope bearing tie
consulate seal OF the United States gov.
eminent. This. you will know. was a safe
guard. as nobody would open q letter with
this seal on il.
| Never without American Envelopes.
'F1orschue,x. however. id more travel
Eng from Germany into France than either
gel or Franz ard he always had some OF
/ this paper In - satchel lie would not
So into France direct. as that would bring
. him too close scrutiny at The frontier He
would go FIRST ~ Bremen and frnm there
10 southampton. Here he would beard
steamer. either from Cherhourg or Tonlon.
and land without airy trouble. ! wiz tell
you aow F9orschue,z got the plans o; the
rev submarine boat. Goubet. wAle ( was
fFtnE built az Touicn THIS he tAlt me
himself III "a theater !E Berlin a week or
two after he returned from the eype1it on.
he landed At Toalon and went 20 hotel.
Here ne sent a note 10 Madame JirsSeu
telling hcr wNst he wanted and then pro
c~SAed 10 Monte carlo scr a day or two at
the tables. II was arranged that..n case
there Was any trouble over the matter
Word would ~ sent n ~. Madame jams
sen is the wife % a navai officer and hAI
the en- rance % tae arsenal at Tnuioa. She
secured all the information desired. ard II
was hsadS. 10 Herr FioT@chuetE OF his
rrFuTu ~ TCaloa tn less than one seeS-
Information regarding tnc cpnstgUC k0a of
me VAR vessel Gymncie. At tsAt t.rGe
building at cher ssoorg. VAS o5ta.Ded IN the
same manner.
Instances OF tho Spy Sysfcas.
Y Will cite another case - Stow how
easily Aryfe AZ thst Germany wanted -ouit
Pc obtained sergeant n tHe naval ar