The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-08-08
SOLDIER ACCUSED eY GIRL OF
BEING AUSTRIAN AGENT
Is At LieERTY.
PAPERS TO WASHINGTON
War Department Awaits Further IN.
formation From Recruiting Officer at
lndianapoiis-Yeuns Womsn Says
Former ewssshsart's True Name 10
Count Windiseh .crastx.

Washington, Aug. 7.-Before taking
any action, the war department will
await a full report from Captain James
watson, United States army recruiting
officer at Indianapolis, In regard to the
charges that Private George Petr Is q
secret agent In Austria
Captain Watson today teiegraphed
the department that such an allega-
tion had been made against the soldier.
The recruiting officer will forward all
the papers In the case to the depart.
ment for investigation.
This Ii the first case to be brought
up under the law passed at the last
session Of congress TO prevent the dis
closure OF national defense secrets.
Under the law. those proved guilty
may be fined $1,000 or Imprisoned for
one year or three.
II any attempt Is made to communi-
cate any secrets OF defense to for
eign government. the maximum punish-
ment ID imprisonment for 10 years.
II is not believed that the charges,
II well founded. prove that the Aus
trian government even remotely con-
templates future hostilities with
America. The probable object Of the
alleged spy was to discover for his
government the composition OF the re-
markable high explosive "Dunnite'
used In army and navy shells and said
to be far superior to any foreign ex-
plosive.
Austrian Spy.
One Of the papers in possession OF
Captain Watson Is an affidavit of Miss
Clara A. Dyer. who has been previously
Interested in obtaining Petr's release
from the army. She said Petr was
stationed at Fort Totten. New York, I'm
the One Hundred and Thirty fifth
coast artillery corps and that he was
an Austrian spy sent to the United
States to obtain the secret OF manufac-
turing the explosive used by the United
States government Miss Dyer said
she met Petr on an ocean liner en-
route from Europe last September and
later. during visit of Petr to her
Kentucky home. had become engaged
to him. The girl turned over a num-
Der OF letters from Petr In which he
told OF his plans. Petr's real. name,
she said. was Count Windisch- -Gractz.
whose home is at Prague. Bohemia.
A Good Soldier.
Fort Totten. N. r.. Aug. THE
commandant at Fort Totten said to-
day that he had received no informa.
| ton either from the war department or
from Captain James Wilson. In charge
OF the recruiting office at Indianapo-
lis. regarding Private Petr.
Petr has been stationed here a year
and half. He IL said to be one Of
the best soldiers at Fort Totten. Be-
fore coming here he served three years
In the cavalry. the greater part OF the
time in the Philippines. The COM
mandant said he believed some mistake
had been made. In the absence Of Of
ficial information, he added, no action
in Petrs case had been taken.
The fort was besieged throughout
the day by reporters desiring to inter-
view Private Petr. but Colonel Strong.
the commandant. denied them admis-
sion. Colonel Strong said that he be-
iievcd Petr had not been advised oe
the charges which Miss Dyer made and
II was not proposed to call the matter
to his attention officially until Soma
action was ordered by the war DEPART
ment
Not the slightest official informa-
tion had been received at the fort to-
night concerning the case N
Colonel Strong admitted that on the
strength OF the newspaper reports Petr
was being kept under surveillance.
Affidavit Forwarded.
indianapolis. Ind, Aug. 7.-Captain
James d. Watson. local recruiting Of
ficer, forwarded to Washington today
CONTINUED on Page Two)