The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-16

attitude Of the United states concerning
the sinking Of the Lusitania 10 swept
away by reason Of the fact that Baron
Zwiedinek and Consul Ernst Ludwig Of
Cleveland both conspired with Emerich
Retegi. better known TO the American
public at the present time a DR.. G. w.
Ritter. to present false afhdavits to the
American Government attempting to
shift the blame Of h e Lusitania tragedy
from the shoulders Of Germany to those
Of Great Britain.
THE Department Of Justice has In Its
possession facts which prove conclusively
that these three men, all Austro-Hun-
Garian subjects and apparently not In
any sense concerned In the matter. de-
liberately attempted by means Of fraud
to turn the wrath Of the country away
from Germany In connection with tho
Lusitania matter.
The plain inference In the opinion Of
the Department Of Justice and State De-
partment Is that high German officials
In his country u have been back OF
this action and must " deliberately
used the Austrian officials In order TO
attempt to save their own Government.
In other words. the presentation Of
the Ritter affidavit In connection with
h L%usitania tragedy proves not only
that the Austrian Government we'll 'un-
derstood the seriousness n c~riininality
Of the Lusitania murders AS viewed In
this country. but also that Germany
used the Austrian Government then. In
precisely the same manner as she Ia
using 1t now. to shield herself from the
blame of the Ancona murders.
In order to procure the perjured af-
fidavit concerning the secret placing Of
Tincotton aboard the Lusitania after
she cleared from New York harbor on
her last voyage, the German Ambas-
sador n Capt Boy-ISd selected for the
las Ernst Ludwig. the Austro-Hun-
garian Consul at Cleveland. the most &C.
tive, the most shrewd and the most am
bilious representative Of Austria In this
country.
Ludwig selected for his tool the no
called c. W. Ritter. who for many
months since the beginning Of the pres
ent year had been employed by him In
spy work Of all kinds in various cities
in the middle West and who. Ludwig has
himself confessed, was known to him AZ
"A man Of no standing or character for a
long time before he made the LusitaniA
affidavit.
The following facts which have never
been before made public with REGARD 10
this matter are now In possession OF
the department OF Justice. Mr.. Ludwig,
although he must have known hat such
An affidavit was ala on its face, took
Ritter to the Cleveland law firm that
represents his consulate. Reed, Eichels.
berger and Nord. having first sent to
Washington for Baron Zwiedinek to be
present at the conference
"Zwiedinek appeared In Cleveland and
registered At the Hotel Hollenden a.
Report smith. At the conference Rit.
ter gave 10 the lawyers the names OF
two dummies who. he declared. had full
knowledge OF the placing OF several
tons OF guncOtton aboard the L~usitar!a
after she had cleared from New York
| One OF these men was alleged to have
lived In Fremont. Ohio. and the other
in New York.
Attorneys Protect selves.
After the affidavit was prepared tn
attorneys for their own protection
united up these two alleged individual:
and discovered they did not exist. II
spite OF this fact and In spite OF an ap
p%arently sincere attempt on the part Of
the attorneys to prevent any recognition
Of the AFFIDAVIT Zwiedinek and Ludwig
after a consultation in Washington witt
Coun, Won BernstorN. filed the aifidavi
with the Department of Justice.
Baron Zw!edinek. Consul Ludwig an
Count Won Berns;oin at the time OF tn
fling Of this affidavit knew that Il wa
an Infamous falsehood. The only Oh
jec: in bringing II before the atten
ton OF the Government was the hop
that such an action might cas-, doubt {.
tie minds OF American people as to
torpedo having been the cause OF tn
destruction OF the L~usitania.
1T Is pointed out that this action o.
the par: OF the highest Austrian official
IN this country could only have bee
based OH knowledge OF the America
attitude with regard to the sinking O
the Lusltan!a. Yesterdays despatc
from Vienna has brought the Ritter cas-
sharply into prominence by reason c
these circumstances