New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-05
HUNT GERMAN TARS
In PASSPORTS CASE
Hundreds of Kaiser's Men
Skip from Ships Tied
Up at Hoboken.
LINES AND MASTERS
FEAR HEAVY FINES
Counsel Obtains Habeas Corpus
Writ for Ruroede-Deiches
Held in $4,000 Bail.

That il may cost the big German
steamship companies whose vessels are
tied up in American ports thousands
of dollars in fines was thought likely
yesterday, wnen it was learned that
agents Of the Department of Justice
were cooperating with the immigra-
tim authorities TO ascertain what mas
become Of hundreds OF German seamen
who have disappeared from the four
teen German steamships in Hoboken.
Since the exposure Of the American
passport traffic among German re-
servists. federal agents have extended
their inquiry into Hoboken and Jersey
CITY. This has disclosed the fact that
many of the sailors, who belong to the
naval reserve. which the Kaiser mas
been concentrating in German ports
have disappeared and are nc longer on
the books Of the companies.
Il is claimed that many Of the for
mer sailors have taken occupations on
shore. because the steamship compan-
les discontinued their pay and only
furnished them with sleeping accom-
modations and meals. Federal agents
are irving to learn if due notice OF
the intention of these sailors to settie
in the United States was given to the
authorities.
Sailors Arc Rounded Up.
German sailors were rounded up yes
terday By federal agents IN lodging
houses and saloons in Hoboken ana
questioned. Many. it is said, admitted
that they had not been aboard thelr
ships for weeks, and we're staying Oh
shore. Quite a feH Of the men nave
obtained employment IN HoboSeh anu
New York, and some nave ieit lot
other cities.
The panic among the reservists
caused Sunday by the arrest OF al
legged ringleaders IN the passport
traffic spread yesterday, when all the
details became known and further ar
rests were expected. The opinion IL
unanimous among the scared tars that
the exposure is the result OF the activi-
ties in this country of agents of the
Allies. and their indignation IS deep.
No More Arrests, Officials Say.
Government officials in charge of the
bogus passport case united yesterday
in an effort 10 prevent the matter from
making any further noise in the world.
All denied there were more warrants
TO serve. and said that although there
might be developments calling for more
arrests they knew of none yet, feeling
confident they had struck at the heart
of the conspiracy.
H. Snowden Marshall, United States
Attorney, said the government was in
a position to prevent the use OF any
more bogus passports that might be
outstanding.
II was obvious. however. that the
government is holding back large
part of what its investigators have
learned. so as not to discredit any more
than necessary the standing OF bona
fide American passports now IN Eu-
rope. Counsel for the arrested men
declared it was their intention, never
theless. 10 force the governments
hand and make it reveal everything.
To further this purpose, Charles A.
Oberwager, attorney for Carl Ruroede,
accused as the agent in the bogus pass
port traffic, sued out writ of habeas
corpus, returnable this afternoon, seek
ing Ruroede's release on the ground
that no sufficient cause Of action was
shown against him in the affidavit on
which his arrest was obtained.
Maurice Deiches, lawyer and Tam
many politician. caught in the net, was
arraignod before Commissioner Hough-
ton and held in $4,000 bail. He, as
we'll as Ruroede, it is admitted, knew
Van Wedell. Deiches, after waiv-
ing immunity, made a statement TO
United States Attorney Marshall, the
nature of which was not divulged. He
engaged George Gordon Battle as coun-
sci.
washington, Jan. THE attention
of State Department officials was
drawn to-day by Sir Cecil Spri.,g-Rice,
the British Ambassador, to several
cases in foreign countries in which
American passports have been fraud
ulently obtained.
In one case cited an American consul
sent an American citizen his passports
by registered mail. and British officials
here assert Germans intercepted the
letter, and that the passport subse-
ouently was found on a German spy.
Strict regulations are now in force by
the State Department requiring appli-
cants for passports to obtain them IN
person.