New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-21
WOMAN'S TRUNKS
HID RUBBER FOR
GERMAN NEEDS
Passengers Personal Ef-
fects Aimed to Supply
German Shortage.
PLAN ELUDED PORT
NEUTRALITY RULES
Crude Material Taken by Au-
thorities Was To Be For
Warded from Holland.

A scheme to furnish Germany with
crude rubber from American dealers
to supply the shortage IN that country
was revealed yesterday. The recognized
head OF the plan is nsturalized
German citizen, Max Jaeger. The pro
posed scheme was TO send large guam
titles OF rubber as the personal bag
gage Of women agents travelling from
New York TO Rotterdam. A German
known to be formerly in the service
Of the German War Department was to
take charge Of the disposition Of the
produc. after its arrival in Holland.
Federal agents discovered the plot
while investigating the seizure on No
vernber 27 Of four trunks and eight
packing cases containing s,400 pounds
Of crude rubber which were about TO
be shipped without declaration on the
Holland-Americen liner Ryndam as the
personal baggage of Miss Anna Dek-
kers. This was the first shipment, 1t
is believed, o. 10000 pounds Of rub
Der purchased by Jaeger from a firm
belonging to the Rubber Manufactur-
ers' Association. 1t was seized ny the
neutrally squad OF Collector Maione's
Customs House forces.
A third person involved in the
scheme ia Richard Wohlberg, manu-
facturer Of rubber cement, who was
TO act as Intermediary between
Jaeger and the firm from which he
purchased his supply of rubber, Jae
ger and the other two are not under
arrest, but the evidence collected by
the federal authorities will be given to
United States District Attorney Mar
shall to-day, and indictments may fol-
low.
Suspect u. S. Citizen.
Jaeger came TO the United States
from Germany in 1902, but has kept in
close touch with his former home by
frequent visits from this country. He
s a mechanical engineer and a grad
uete of the Karlsruhe Technical School.
He has held several positions in this
country, and in 1918 he became nstu-
rallied.
Last March Jaeger returned to Ger
many with his family and became as
sociated with an automobile manufsct-
uring firm in Bierstadt.
Atter an extended visit to the lead
ing automobile manufacturers in this
country in July, Jaeger again returned
TO Germany with several cases OF
automobile accessories which were to
be manufactured by his firm there. Tho
shortage in rubber, 1t is thought,
caused the head of the company to de-
eide that there was more profit in I'M
porting rubber, and Jaeger, on account
of his familiarity with American
methods and manufacturers, was
chosen 10 head an importation scheme.
The president of the German auto
mobile firm, whose name could not be
learned, took Jaeger 10 the head OF the
rubber department in the Deutsches
Bank, in Berlin. He produced letter
Of introduction TO his nephew. who was
employed by firm of rubber dealers
in the United States. and unfolded 10
him the plan of procuring rubber for
the German government by evading the
United States law requiring that the
complete cargo of every ship leaving
American ports be put on the manifest.
Jaeger's part In the plan was 70 get
agents who would travel from New
York to Rotterdam, carrying with them
as personal baggage, which IS not IN
cluded IN the ships cargo, quantities
Of crude rubber.
Scheme Eluded Port Rules.
The trunks Of contrabsnd that
h,r O. n
were to be taken in charge by man
formerly in military service under the
German War Department. according TO
the Federal agents. A white chryssn-
themum WAS the badge by which the
agents were 10 recognize him upon
their arrival. The trunks were not 70
be opened at Rotterdam. but were TO
be sent under seal TO various addresses
furnished by tho bank official
In pursuance Of his secret orders
Jaeger reached New York October 81
on the Ryndsm. and few days later
presented his letter of Introduction.
Members Of the rubber firm told him
that on account Of possible complica-
tions with the Rubber Manufacturers
Association il would be impossible 10
sell 10 him directly. They suggested
that he secure an interme ediarY, Al
ter considerable argument Richard
Wohlberg, a rubber cement manulac-
turer. was persuaded 10 accept this
role. and through him Jaeger bought
10 900 pounds Of crude ruber. The
company made the deal with the full
knowledge that the product would be
turned over 80 Jaeger for delivery 10
the German government.
or this purchase, 3,AOO pounds was
sent TO Vettormsns Hotel. in The
Rronx, where IL was packed ln
trunks and eases aud sent 10 the Hol-
land. America pier in Hoboken as the
personal baggage OF Miss Dckker,.
Neutrality Squad Stops Plan.
Jaeger had secured her services as
an agent when they were fellow pas
songeis on the Nieuw Amsterdam, sail
ing from New York August 81. She
wa familiar with American ways, hav-
inc first come 20 this country eight
wears ago. 1t has been her annual
custom 70 visit her parents IN Rotter-
dam.
Miss Dekkers sailed from Rotterdam
on her first rubber mission November
10 on the Ryndam, travelling on a
Dutch passport. Jaeger met her NJ New
York and arranged for her return on
the same steamer. which was 20 sail
fnnttnnsd an pars a. aalumn