New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-29

From a Special Correspondent Of The Tribune.l
London, Aug. 1.-THE correspondent
of The Tribune has obtained photo
graphic proof of what is considered IN
official quarters here one of the most
glaring bits of international forgery
that history has ever produced. Inc
photograph is that of an American
passport made in Germany and taken
from a German spy who is under arrest
here and who has confessed that he
received his fraudulent credentials
from the chief of the German secret
service in Antwerp.
The spy will be tried soon, and 1t is
expected he will die for his crime
The American government has pro-
tested to Germany concerning this
manufacturing of American passports.
That protest is based on evidence gath
cred by the British authorities. The
nrincjpal evidence is the forged pass
mort Of which a photograph, together
with a reproduction of the original
from which it was copied by the Ger
mans. is transmitted with this dis
patch.
It is probable this is the first time
that such conclusive evidence has been
published of the abuse by one nation
If another nations sacred seal, and OF
the deliberate forgery by the agents OF
enc nation of the signature of the Sec
retarv of State of another end friendly
mower. Officials here are amazed that
il has been possible to procure such
definite proof.
German Government Blamed.
The German government is held d.
rectlv responsible, although II Is eH-
nected that in response TO the amer
ican protest the authorities IN Beriln
will disavow the action as that OF IT.
reenonsible subordinates OF the gov
ernmen+ II is pointed out here; now
oyer that the original and legitimate
American passport passed through the
hands of responsible German oihcials'
members of the German consular ser
vice and that then the data name,
date and numb6r-were oDta,heu anu
later furnished to the secret service
agents in Antwerp. ,e-..
This. il is asserted shows deIhlVe
system. which could not be carried on
without official cognizance. Further'
there is evidence that tins is not the
only fraudulent American passport, but
that many others nave Dec" P'"O'N -
the hands of spies. 49,.
n
American n named Reginald Rowland,
Of New Jersey, obtained from the De-
Dartment Of State in Washington
nassnort for the purpose OF visiting
Enrnne lie was an American citizen
md fully entitled TO passport. lie
was visiting Germany on business
matters and he declared under oath
that he desired TO go to Holland, Ger
many. Belgium, England and france
Made Two Trips to Germany.
He went from New York to Holland,
with his passport, and entered Ger
manv He made two trips into that
countrv from Holland. He first entered
Germany, according 10 the vlses on
tho document. on January 20 and came
~, ON February -. On March "a ne
entered again and came out, en- route
for home, on April 3. -,,.
Ali the time he was travelling, and
beginning with the day when ne went
TO the German consulate genera! II
Now York, which was January 10, his
nassnort was frequently in the hands
IF German officials. Sometime, some
where one of those officials noted
down the main facts about the pass
nortI Rowland's name, the date Of
issuance by the State Department and
The nassport's departmental number.
This was then furnished to the secret
The information came into the hands
Of CAPTAIN Schnitzer, chief of the Ger
man secret service at Antwerp. Schnlt-
ger employed German who had OBJ
cd his first papers" in America to
visit England for the purpose Of OBJ