The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-05

Used in Transferring French Mill
tary Secrets to Germany. ;
A GERMAN WAS OUR WOE CONSUL

"War Once Merohandiss - Mr..
Benthsim willing to Make Afndsyit
to the Truth Of his story.
Atlanta, Sept. 6.-The man who
claims to know how the French war
office secrets reached Germany and the
names of those instrumental In theis
transfer from France was seen yes
terday by a press representative. All
the matter given in the Jewish Senti-
ment story already sent out In these
dispatches was gone over and substan-
tiated, and the additional information
ELECTED that the letter heads, envelopes
and consular seals of the United States
government were used as safeguard
in transmitting the French war Office
documents from that country to Ger
many, and also that one of the chief
actors In the Underground" system
held the position of United States vice
consul in a little German city. The
informant gives his name as Charles
Z. Bentheim and his discharge papers,
which are regular and duly signed,
show that he is an artist, and was a
private in Company M, Two Hundred
and Second New York volunteers, dur
ing the war with Spain. Bentheim says
he has no interest in the matter, and
wishes no notoriety. His story Is in
substance as follows:
81 was born in Denver and am SO
years old. When quite young I was
sent to Paris to be educated. went
to several countries on the continent,
OFT
Germany. Here | was employed about
four hours each day as translator OF
documents and map engraver by the
government, and was in the head
quarters of the general staff at koni-
gerstrasse, Berlin. During my service
there | several times translated papers
bearing information concerning French
Notifications, arsenals, warships and
land plans, and knew all those con-
cerned in the purchase of his informa-
ton. The name of Dreyfus does not
appear in a single instance.
1.-THE obtaining of intelligence re-
garding the French army and navy was
operated by the secret service depart
ment Of the imperial ministry OF ma.
rine. This bureau was at one time
under the control Of Prince Bismarck
and Henry Won Moltke. The Germans
in Paris were always on the alert
for information. When a document
was obtained from the Office of the
minister OF marine or the war depart
ment in Paris it was taken to Prince
Heinrich Hans Pless. 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 few
hours later the original paper was re-
turned to the Office whence it came.
The next move was to get these pa
pers to Berlin. Herr Franz, toy
manufacturer at Sonnenburg, 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 we're securely sewed and started
on. their journey to the 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 remailing the doll messengers
to Herr Franz at Sonneberg, and once
there they were safe. From Some
berg they were brought to the great
headquarters by Herr Franz. Once
recollect document Of this nature was
brought in by the burgomaster of
LiepsiC, whose name | cannot re-
call. Herr Alvin Florschuetz, bank
director of Sonneburg, was also in
the scheme.
About this time by the way" said
Mr.. Bentheim, Herr Florscheutz was
recommended by the German govern
ment to the United States as consul for
this country at Sonnebers He was ac-
cepted, and later, on being allowed
money for clerk hire, put his wife
Lima In that position, giving her name
on the reports as L. Florscheutz All
this time the traffic in war Office msr
chandise,' 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. Sew
eral times | received documents of this
kind in the regular United States con-
sular envelope. There were of course,
considerable 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 Sig!, who was in charge of
| this work in Berlin, went out on a
scouting trip by himself he carried a
supply of United States stationery
! and have seen information of this
kind from the French war once come
into the STAFF headquarters In an en-
J velope bearing the consular seal of the
United States government. This, you
will know, was safeguard, as nobody
would open letter with this seal to
on 1t.
Il will tell vow HON Florscheutz got
the plans Of the new submarine boat
Goubel, while it was being built Al
! TouloR. This FlorischeutZ told me
himself at a theater in Berlin week
or two after he returned from the ex-
petition. He landed at Toulon and
went to a hotel. Here he sent a note
to Nine. Jansen telling her what he
wanted, and then proceeded to Monte
Carlo for day or tive at the tables 1t
was arranged, of course, if there was
any thouble over the work. word would
be sent him. Nine. Jansen is the wife
of naval officer and had the entire
u the arsenal at TOulon. She secured
all the information desired and it was
handed to Herr Florisehuetz on his re-
turn to 'roulon In less than one week
Information regarding the Copstruc-
tion Of the war vessel Gnyote, at that
time building at Cherbourg, was OBJ
tanned in the same manner.
II will cite another case to show
how easily anything that Germany
wanted could be obtained A sergeant
in the naval arsenal at Toulon, Thom.