New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-17

~ don't know anything about it,"
Absurd" Bunk" "Hot air" and
dozens Of kindred expressions were
served up piping hot yesterday by Ger
man officials and adherents in this city
when they read the story, printed ex-
clusively in The Tribune, Of the double
role played by Count Won Bernstorff's
envoy, OR Meyer-Gerhard."
While the assertion made in the
story that "Dr Meyer-Gerhard, Red
Cross representative" was in reality
DR.. Alfred Meyer, of the German War
Office, called forth many denials by
those interested, there was no vestige
Of substantial evidence offered to re-
flute any part of the article.
Mrs. Lewis Retcent.
Mrs. Selma Lewis, who obtained a
commission agreement from the versa
tile German official, would make no eX-
tCnsive comments on the matter. She,
however, ridiculed the suggestion that
there had been another man beside the
one who sailed as CDR. Meyer y
Have you seen anywhere even a
slight mention of any secretary who
accompanied Count Won Bernstorff's
envoy" she asked. "No, Of course not.
Nor did the cable dispatches say any
thing about two men arriving together.
That statement is entirely ridiculous.
BY many the report that DR.. Alfred
Meyer went back with Meyer-Gerhard
was looked upon as a German inspired
attempt TO absolve Count Won Bern
storff from blame as far as tricklng
the State Department is concerned
Certainly nothing was brought out that
would tend to support any such con-
tention. Even those whose interests
were most affected and who were al
most violent in their denunciation Of
the reports did not throw any light on
the doings of the man who was said to
have sailed with MeyerGerhard.
Remarks attributed to German Of
fcials regarding the foolhardiness OF
buying "antiquated Krags" were highly
amusing. In the first place, the Krags
are not Anticipated, but are efficient
fighting weapons. Perhaps the best
evidence that the Germans think so is
the fact that last Saturday night Cap
tain Franz Won Pepen, military attache
o
reporter that he made no secret OF the
attempt of German agents to purchase
the guns.
German Rife Deal Barred.
He said that Germany had been anx-
ious to keep the rifles out of the hands
of the Allies even if she could not ship
them to the German army. Possibly,
also, il was with the view Of paving
the way 70 a good alibi when the cap
tain said that he had some sort of
recollection that there had been an
other man, a civilian, sent over here
last August to negotiate the deal, His
name had slipped the captains mind.
Captain Joseph Laughlin would not
talk about the matter, and his British
friend, Cyril Carmichael, according to
printed reports, was more or less
peeved and said "Damn!"
A great many adjectives figured IN
the comments of Herman A. Metz, who
admitted that he enjoys pleasant So
cial relations" with the officials Of the
German Embassy. Mr.. Metz also con,
siders the guns so carefully treasured
by the United States Anticipated"
From the Observation-Disclosures
Line came the information that DIR.
no secretary" had engaged accommo-
dations for the trip.
In all of the conversation that was
flying about 30 freely no mention was
made Of a certain woman friend of DR..
Meyer, who was so perturbed when she
knew that the story of his excellency's
activities was 10 be printed that she
called The Tribune on the telephone
and announced that she was leaving
town within an hour At last accounts
she had carried out her threat. She
was most anxious, she said, that her
name should not appear in the paper.
Great interest was manifested yes
terday as 20 how the standing Of Count
Won Bernstorff would be affected by
the investigation said 10 have been
started by tho government The pre-
vailing opinion WAS taat the ambassa-
dor would be forced 20 show the State
Department a clean bill Of health or
md himself very unpopular on this
side Of the Atlantic.
Meyer In Metz's Book.
One record Of DR.. Alfrfd Mezor ex'