The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
GERMANY HAS GOLD
IN ISLAND WAR CHEST
$50. 900. 900 i'm 20 Franc Pieces
Is Stored in Famous
Julius Tower.
Is FRANCES INDEMNITY
Saved for [ Sc i'm Mobilization.
1t Will Last One and a
Half Days.
Is FRANCES INDEMNITY

/ The German Government has i20. 00o.-
| 600 marks 6about $50. 00O, 00Ol stored
away in IT'S war chest" in the famous
julius Towor at Spandau. an island at
the confluence Of the Spree and Havel
rivers. I, is secret horde. known In
Baedeker as THE imperial military re-
serve fund Of six million sterling Early
last year IL was reported from Berlin.
which Is only eight miles from Spandau,
that the German war programme contem-
plated tripping the treasure. hut II such a
move was made 1t has not been an
nounced.
The Julius Tower has been shrouded in
mystery. II was first used by Frederick
the 8reat as the Prussidn war chest"
and then turned over Ia the empire for
the storage Of tho sac. o0O. 600 which W g
a part OF the billion dollar indemnity paid
by France after tho Franco German war.
Although II has been estimated that the
money would be exhausted in day and
half In case of actual war, the fund has
been reserved for tho expenses ~ quick
mobilization Of the German army. to pay
for horses and supplies already contracted
for an emergency.
The tower of Spaudau stands in the
midst of a citadel surrounded by barracks
and officers quarters. nor far from the
great German arsenals and manufactures
OF war implements II Is cylindrical built
of heavy. massive masonry. about forty
feet high and almost as thick. The tower
Is guarded by three steel doors At us only
entrance. o.ch opened by q system 90
simultaneous keys held b. different per
sons. The Chancellor of the empire holds
one set and the president OF the commit
tee for debts OF the empire another. The
treasure is protected by constantly chang
ing sentres. under a guardian who was
made cur 'or by decree In 1874.
The treasure itself made up of twenty
F~p xg1 .NtA .
by the French, is stored in bags in a dozen
small cabinets built in the walls I'm various
levels reached by "A spiral stairway. The
guard Is usually made up of twenty four
men. eight OF them on duty constantly
changing every two hours. \ patrol Is
made about the base Of tho tower. inside
and on top, once wear the gold is
weighed in bulk Tor an official account.
The amount OF the treasure never changes.
There was one attempt n robbery on
tho part OF n drunken cobbler. who got
Into the tower In some mysterious fashion.
but fell when ne was half way up the
staircase and broke his neck. Only one
American has been known to have a
glimpse Of the interior of the Julius
Tower. He was Robert W. T'oindeNter
~ Los Angeles. PondeNter. according to
the story. asked the sentinel to sec tho
commander and then slipped into tho
tower when the sentry turned his back
He got into serious trouble with the Span
dau authorities for going too near the
treasure, hut finally convinced them OF the
innocence OF his purpose The tower has
excited great curiosity on the part Of
German tourists. hut sightseers are not
welcomed on the island OF Spandau
Other nations have considered Il a
waste Of money for Germany to keep the
treasure stored at Spandau because II was
known that IL could last only about day
and half II used in case of war. II was
often said that II Germany had invested
The money at per cent she could have
increased the principal SO that the aga-,.
gate fund night las, al long as a week in
time OF war.