Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-19
Alleged Activities of Germans
Not Mentioned to Mr.. Lansing,
British Ambassador Says.
GIVES FURTHER DETAILS
OF THE MAVERICK CASE
Secretary Daniels Seeks Proof of Ger
man Scheme to Obtain Control
Of Wireless Plants.

Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice. the Brit
ish ambassador. today denied the re-
port published this morning that he
had yesterday taken up with Mr.. Lam
sing. the Secretary of State, the al
legged activity Of German agents in the
Philippines. He said the subject was
not mentioned in his conference with
the Secretary and that he had called
at the department on Mexican affairs.
The ambassador, however. added some
details to what already had been pub
lished in regard to the Maverick, the
ship that was stopped in the Java sea
July q by Dutch warship. and which,
It Is reported in Washington. carried
rifles and ammunition for German use
for an alleged seditious uprising
against the United States government
by Filipinos.
The ambassador said his information
was that when the ship left the Pacific
coast she undoubtedly had arms and
ammunition on board, and that he had
called the attention Of the State De-
partment at that time to the alleged
activity of Germans in the Philippines.
because he had been informed that the
Philippines were to be used as a base
for action by Germans against India.
Disposition Of Arms a Mystery.
This happened some time ago. the
ambassador said, and at the same time
the British government had requested
the good offices Of the Dutch govern
ment, as a result of which Dutch war
ship had stopped the Maverick in the
lava sea- When that overhauling hap
pened, the ambassador said, the arms
and ammunition on the Maverick had
hnf
said, is a mystery.
This additional Information was all
that was obtainable in Washington to-
day, apparently, on the report that
Germans have tried to arouse sedition
in the Philippines or against India.
The British ambassador said he knew
nothing of any report that the Ger
mans have been making any efforts at
sedition in the Philippines. and that
he would request the Secretary Of State
to deny that he had had any CONVEX
! sation with him on that subject. mas
much. the ambassador said, as Philip
pine affairs are not affairs in which the
British embassy has any interest.
Secretary Daniels has been informed
by John E. Rathom. publisher of the
Providence (R. - Journal. that there
has been on foot a German scheme to
obtain control of radio-telegraph sta
and the Philippines. Mr.. Daniels an
nounced that he has asked Mr.. Rathom
to submit any evidence he may have to
substantiate a published statement cree
tied to Mr.. Rathom that a civil employe
Of the Navy Department in electrical
work. Is in the pay of the German gov
eminent.
More Precautions Taken.
The Navy Department. following a
conference between Mr.. Rathom and
Mr.. Daniels, has assigned additional
officers and men to the naval force
operating the German-owned CONNER
cial wireless plant at Sayville. L. l.
Precautions have been taken to pre-
vent secret messages in code from
being sent, an dsuspected messages ar:
being sent to the department at Wash
ington to preserve the neutrality of
the United States. so far as the Say
VILE plant Is concerned.
Mr.. Daniels sal dthat while there Is
trality at sayville. he had deemed
it best to put tho plant under more
complete government control Mr..
Rathom had offered expert electrical
opinion that it was possible to send
secret messages. and that such mes
sages had been sent.
Mr.. Daniels said he understood there
is little foundation for reports that a
tablished in Washington to intercept
messages received and sent out by the
big Arlington plant.
All messages of importance he said.
were transmitted In code. and he had
no reason to believe that Navy and
State Department codes we're in i'm
proper hands. A receiving station that
could pick up messages from or to
Arlington. he added. could be impro.
yised, with proper Instruments, out of
a spring mattress. and there is no pro-
vision at all to prevent this kind of
eavesdropping.