New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-17
State and Treasury De-
partment Information
Flowing to Embassy.
AT LEAST SIX MEN
BELIEVED INVOLVED
providence Journal" Tells In
Detail of Wide Extent of
Spy System Here.
IBy Telegraph To The Tribune (

lb) ieletrsph tn The Tribune
Providence, K. l., Aug. 17.3"The
Providence Journal" publishes to-day
the statement that government officials
have been investigating for weeks leaks
in the State and Treasury depart
ments through which information has
been given constantly TO the German
Embassy. THE Journal" asserts that
at least two persons in State Depart
ment and four in the Treasury Depart
ment are under suspicion, and says:
"The government has in its posses
sion positive proof that these leaks
have been constant and that import
ant and valuable information, particu-
larly in connection with Investigations.
has constantly found its way into the
possession of Count Won Bernstorf and
Captain Boy-Ed.
There have been numerous confer
ences among Cabinet officers with re-
gard to these leaks FOR several weeks
Secretary ~cAdoo and Secretary Lam
sing have conferred constantly with
Secret Service officials, and every pos
sible effort. has been made to put a
stop to this shameless traffic in state
secrets.
1.-The Journal is able to say authori-
tatively that these Investigations are
in progress and that conclusive proof
of the conditions in the departments
named has already been secured
Bridge Explosion Ordered.
"The government has in its posses
sion an affidavit signed by Captain
Horn, who attempted to blow up the in
ternational bridge at Vanceboro. This
affidavit not only tells the entire story
of Horns attempt, but declares that he
was ordered to do what he did by his
superior officer in this country in the
employ of the German government
The Secret Service authorities who
have this document in their possession
have proof that the individual referred
to is Captain Franz Won Papen. Mill
tary Attache of the German Embassy.
Captain Horns statement declares
that he was brought here from South
America to do either this work or work
similar to it; that he came under or
ders from and in the pay OF his su-
perior officers in this country. MS
confession goes into detail with regard
to the method he employed in attempt
ing TO blow up the bridge. 1t declares
that before starting from the village of
Vanceboro on his perilous expedition
with satchel containing eighty pounds
of dynamite, he pinned a German flag
to each of his erms, so that If captured
he could declare he was in German
uniform.
Involved in Passport Frauds.
"This confession was not secured
from Captain Horn until he had been
notified by the Secret Service officials
that they had positive knowledge OF
his connection with the German army
The facts that brought about THIS
knowledge reveal in startling way
the direct connection OF the German
Embassy with all passport frauds that
have been perpetrated in TINS country
Secret Service officials, posing as the
men conducting these frauds. met an
attache who had been sent directly
from the German Embassy at Wash
ington with a letter to the rlngleader
of the gang Of forgers. Believing that
he was dealing with the passport men,
he handed a letter TO one OF them, stat
in that it was most important. When
opened by the Secret Service of1cers
the envelope was found to contain
list of over thirty prominent German
army officers in this country for whom
fraudulent passports were desired by
the German Embassy.
Lusitanias Position known.
"The government is' convinced that
before the sinking of the Lusitanla
representatives of the German Embassy
in Washington sent to the Admiralty
in Berlin secret messages with regard
TO the position OF that ship and her
course. The government has already
taken steps 10 see if il can hold these
men on either murder or piracy
charges.
at is understood that this informa-
tion came 10 the German Embassy
through a spy, or spies, IN the once
of the Cunard company in New YORK
City. The Journal cannot state 10
what extent the government has Verl-
fed these suspicious, but it is fact
that within two weeks the government
has called upon two Of the best known
legal authorities on international law
in New York City 10 give their opinion
as 10 whether such acts, II proved
would constitute either piracy or muf-
der. and that. if either OF such charges
could be brought. whether they would
hold against members OF the German
Embassy staff.
Both these lawyers, however, have
returned briefs TO the government
which take exactly the same ground:
They argue that under our laws and
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