New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
A PLOT DTSCREDITED.
TALE Started IN Paris.
Details of Reported Conspiracy to
Destroy Fleet.

Washington Jan. 2O-That the American gov
belief Of ulterior designs against Admiral
F7vanss ba1tleships in the harbor of Rio de ia
neiro admitted to-day in administration cir
cles. The news first reached here by way OF
Paris. where somebody communicated it TO the
American Embassy. The officials quickly sent
TIE report 10 the State Department at Washing
ton. which in turn forwarded it to the American
Embassy at Rio and also to the Navy Depart
nlent
The intimations contained were vague, but in
view Of possibilities no time was lost in trans
rnitting the message TO Rio. The data forward
&c Washington. it is understood, contained
The names Of some persons said to be impIi-
Gated in the alleged plot but their names were
not disclosed az the department to-day.
While admitting that some damage might be
Done under the most favorable circumstances by
persons having evil designs against a battleship,
many Of the officers who discussed the matter
pointed out how difficult this would be without
mine laying apparatus operated by skilled per-
The alleged plot is regarded at the White
House as q repetition Of one Of the many
schemes which are constantly being presented
10 the Secret Service agents OF the government
ny persons who say they have information which
zhey are willing 70 part with for consideration.
No credence is placed here in the existence OF
actual plot
Paris. jan 20-The reports from Rio de
Jeneiro that the Brazilian authorities were
warned from Paris Of & possible attempt to
blow up the American batteshp feet while in
the harbor there are true
Some time ago suspicious OF a plot TO destroy
the whole or part of the feet. either at Rio
de Janeiro in the Strait OF Magellan. were
aroused here, and naturally communicated 10
Rio and Washington A chartered steamer was
reported TO have conveyed explosives for the
use of the conspirators to Rio de Janeiro. ar
irving there about the middle Of December. and
John Fedher. whose name is mentioned In the
Rio dispatches was one Of the men whose names
were revealed here as implicated in the con-
spinecy The alleged plot is supposed TO have
some rather startling raInihcations but the evi-
1ence along this line is far from conclusive and
rests chiefly on the statement Of an individual
whose record has been subsequently shown TO
be bad.
The whole affair is regarded here with much
skepticisn. and it is intiulated that it may have
been deliberately concocted scare. Only few
persons here treated the story seriously; others
regarded il as fantastic while many dismissed
the whole affair myth
The story as given by those responsible for
it is substantially follows:
a young man here says that he overheard
snatches Of q telephone conversation in which
vague references were made TO the cruise Of the
American feet and of plans being Matched at a
certain cafe. He communicated his information
- an American official in Paris and also had
the cafe watched It said that espionage
showed that suspicious persons were holding
meetings. Their movements are said TO have
been traced and their plans in part learned as
azs1 hon
the alleged eonspirators were surprised they are
said to have shown fight. and in scrimmage
the Young man says he obtained piece of the
paper over which they poring, containing
The words -'nenaced. destroy supposed 10 mean
If menaced. destroy
Meantime the official to whom the young man
had confided the secret made inquiry TO the
shipment of explosives TO Brazil This inquiry
appeared 10 give some color to the story, for il
showed that a small steamer which the sus
pected persons mentioned had sailed from a
North German port with certain boxes which
were a, least open to suspicion It is said that
the testimony Of men who loaded the boxes
showed that they contained explosives. The
destination of the steamer WAS Rio, where she
arrived early in December This appeared to
coincide with the disclosures at the cafe and
with the writing which is said TO have shown
that the conspirators intended to plant subma-
rine mines of Esclave Island, at the narrowest
point in the Strait Of Magellan. using the island
as their base Of operations. How the explosives
were 10 reach this island from Rio is not dis
closed
The persons responsible for the story did not
neglect 10 make the most Of the Japanese
scare which has affected Paris recently 1t was
said that the mysterious strangers were Ger
mans but vague references We're made to Jap
anese names which said to figure in the
affair