The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-12-03
Hamburg Steamship Officials
Admit Guilt h
IN PAY OF GERMANY TO SUPPLY
COMMERCE RAIDERS
Confession Of DIR. Karl Buenz Turned
Over to State Department for Its
Action.

mer agreed to supply German cruisers
At sea with coal and supplies in neu-
trail ships sailing from America early
In the war passed into the keeping of
the German embassy. Dr. Karl Buenz,
managing director of the line, SO tes-
titled today in the trial of the con-
spiracy charges. BuenZ added that all
correspondence also was turned over
to the embassy. Much Of the corre-
spondence was in the German naval
code and was removed to the embassy
when It was thought there was danger
Of 1t becoming public through the trial,
thus revealing to Germany's enemies
the key to the secret code.
DR.. Buenz, elderly and somewhat in
firm, was assisted to the witness chair
soon after William Rand, Jr., had con-
cluded the opening address to the jury
on behalf OF the defense. Previously
Federal Judge Howe had heard pro-
tracted arguments upon motion by
Mr.. Rand to dismiss the indictments.
This motion was denied and DR.. Buenz
was the second witness for his own
cause, the first being local customs
house employe. who identified certain
clearance papers in the case.
Was In Diplomatic Service.
Propped up in the witness chair, DR..
BuenE sketched his 72-year career
from his birth in Germany, through
tenancy in various offices In his ma
tive land to his appointment to the
German consular service nearly 80
wears ago. He had served his country
abroad-in the United States, in Mex
leo. and In Haiti-in the consular de-
{~1N ~ IN corv{nA until
three years ago, when he was made
directing head In this country of the
Hamburg American lines affairs. Up
TO that time he had been schooled in
diplomacy and law rather than seafar-
ing and was virtually without exper-
ience as steamshipman.
In the fall Of 1918, DR.. Buenz testi-
fled, he received from the head office
of the line in Hamburg a letter which
notified him that his superior officers
and the German government had sign.
ed and sealed an agreement which
would become operative in time of wal
of which there was then no intima
ton, and that an abstract OF this
agreement would be sent shortly t.
the German cusul general in New
York where he might see it. The let
ter then outlined the salient points
which were a. recalled by DR.. Buen;
about as follows:
Contents Of Letter.
"That the Hamburg American lin
would undertake to send coal and sup
plies to any German warships needing
them in the Atlantic, should German.
s engage in war and should there b.
such warships in the Atlantic at TIA
time.
THAT certain methods Of communi
cation would be used by the home OF
flee of the line in Hamburg to advis
the lines officials in New York wher
to send the supply ships.
In due time the abstract OF tht
aRreement with the German govern
ment came to the German consul gen
eral here, as promised was examine
& BY DR.. Buenz and found to be as cut
lined in his letter. There the matte
rested until the thirty-first day Q
July. 1914. On the morning OF tina
day when the shadow of war reSte
over Europe, DR.. Buenz received
!. cablegram from Hamburg which rea
about ~ follows:
"Are You prepared to carry out ou
agreement with the German govern
ment?"
81. iBuenz replied, eyes" Aud
z then, feeling that German ships wei
soon to be swept by allied varsity
from the sea, he set in motion the mi
chinery to provide neutral vessels
carry his cargoes of coal and supple
to his compatriots afloat In the sou'
Atlantic.