New-York tribune., 1914-12-23
PLOT TO WRECK
WAR CARGO SHIPS
Confession That Internal
Machines Are on YES
sells Now at Sea.
rBy Telegraph 70 tn, Tri5une.l

New Orleans, La, Dec. 22.--An al
legged wholesale plot to destroy ships
carrying horses and mules or mum
tons Of war 70 the allied armies was
unearthed tonight by the police, fol-
lowing a series of arrests. The plan
IL Is said. was to place internal ma
chimes, operated by clockwork, in the
cargoes Of the vessels These ma
chimes we're TO 20 Off after the vessels
were well at sea.
It is reported that several ships now
on the way to Europe have the deadly
missiles aboard One Of the bombs was
recovered from a hotel room in which
an alleged member Of the gang was
stopping.
The police are working on the theory
that the plot was Matched in New York
City One man is said TO have con-
fessed and told the full details Of his
part in the affair lie told story OF
how he hoped to achieve fame and a
large monetary reward for his work.
The man who confessed is Hans
Halle, alias Frank Holm, alias Holmes.
Under police sweating he poured out
a tale Of horror that caused his listen
ers TO gasp. He explained the mech
anism Of his engine Of destruction and
told how It could be placed aboard 4
ship without much danger Of its dis
covery. The usual time for the clock
work to act was six and a half days,
although this was varied at times.
The bomb taken from his hotel was
q big affair, several feet square. II
contained enough explosive TO wreck
q dreadnought. The arrangem.lt Of
the wires, caps, etc, snd the precau-
tions taken to protect the mechanism
indicated that it was the work Of a
man VINO knew his business.
Halle contradicted himself several
times. Once ne stated according TO
The police. that he shipped a bomb to
New York City and that 10 was placed
aboard the liner Rochambeau two days
ago. The Rochambeau has been re-
ported off the Lizard, and when Halle
was confronted with this statement
from New York in special telegram
he admitted that there was nothing TO
that affair and said the bomb which
the police had in their possession was
the first he had made.
Halle is not the only man who has
confessed George Sommers, well
known I'M New Orleans, made a state
ment on which he is held as an accom-
Dlicc Sommcrs. the detectives say,
admits knowledge of the manufacture
of the bomb, which. according 10 Som
mers and Halle, was made IN the Faust
Hotel. Sommers also is said 20 have
confessed that he knew of the plot.
lie did not believe bombs had actually
been shipped.
Conrad Brinckman, another German,
s held as material witness. The po-
lice declined tonight 90 give details
of the arrest Of other persons under
suspicion. Holie says 1t was the sue
cess Of the Mcnamara plot IN the de-
,-ruction Of the Los Angeles Times
Building that inspired him.
Halle is thirty-iive years old and
native of Hamburg, Germany. He has
been lu the United states fourteen
Years. working as . railroad machinist
and mine worker. He came TO New Or
leans a year ago. He employed con-
federatcs and adopted elaborate
schemes 70 get his bombs placed, but
through the accidental taking Of
room with a detective as fellow
roomer his plot was foiled just when
II was ready for execution.
Rumors Of an attempt to place
timed bomb on one OF the French liners
reached tho New York police last night
through newspaper channels The po-
lice denied any oaicinl knowledge Of
such an attempt, though some detec-
tives aided in spreading the impression
that something big was afoot and ar
rests might be expected by morning.
The Rochambeau. 10 which the rumor
Of The bomb was first applied. is said
20 be safe n Hayre. La Tourane
sailed on Saturday.