Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-04
U.S.. PASSPORTS FOR
TEUTON RESERVISTS
Alleged Plot Of Germans to Furnish
Soldiers with Papers to Cross
Sea Disclosed.
FOUR TAKEN OFF OF STEAMER
Prominent New York Lawyer and
Politician Arrested In PhiIa-
deIPhis, Most Important
of All.

NEW YORK Jan. Although a series
Of arrests IN this city and one in Phila-
delphia there was brought to light tonight
what the Department of Justice alleges
was well organized conspiracy to enable
German army officers and reservists to
return TO Germany on fraudulently-ob-
tained American passports.
Most important OF the arrests. in the
belief of government officials, is the one
made in Philadelphia, the prisoner there
being Maurice Deiches. prominent as
lawyer and politician in this city. 1t was
alleged that Deiches wae active IN ad-
vlsing reservists in connection with pro-
curing the passports.
Active In Politics.
Mr.. Deiohes has been active in demo-
cratic politics and ran for county register
on the Tammany ticket at the last city
election. He will be brought here, IL was
announced tonight. on Monday, and ar
raigned before United States Commits
sioner Houghton. That still more i'm
portant developments might follow, how
ever was intimated by government au-
thorities, as 1t was said that others in
high position we're associated with the
attorney I'm his alleged activities in behalf
native land to join the army OF the en-
plra.
Taken OFF steamer.
Four OF the men made prisoners were
taken off the outgoing steamer Ber-
gensfjord. bound for Norway and al
legged to have had fraudulent passports
In their possession. One OF them was an
army officer, Lieutenant wilhelm Arthur
Sachse. He was paroied. The other
three were German reservists who were
held under bond. Others arrested here
were Carl Ruroede. former steamship
agent. charged, with the others. with
eonspiring to defraud the government
through the use OF the American pass
ports, Ruroede's 17-year-old son. John
Aucher. alleged assistant OF Ruroede. and
four men were detained as material wit
nesses The three reservists, Walter Null
Ter. August Meyer and Herman Wegener.
whI recently came here from Chile. were
held in 5000 bail each.
There were detained also. under ssoo
bail each, four others as material wit
nesses, two with American and two with
German names.
The arrests were the elimination, IL |
was said at the Department OF Justice |
mere tonight, OF an investigation which |
had been In progress since the arrest n |
England OF Carl Lody. who was subse- I
quently executed in the Tower of Lon
don as German spy.
state Bureau Concerned.
Lody had passport issued 70 an
American and 1t became known 10 the
Department OF Justice that other Amer.
lean passports also were in the hands OF
German citizens. This discovery was OF
great concern to the State department.
as It was feared that Americans holding
perfectly sood passports would be open |
10 suspicion and possible peril Of their |
hves In the countries belllgerent TO Ger
many.
Waive Examination.
Al the defendants waived examination.
rheir case will go TO the grand Jury.
In arraigning Lieutenant Sasche ana the
three prtvates, Assistant District Attor-
ney Content told United States Commits
sioner Houghton that the government
did not consider their alleged offense in
any way criminal in It's nature.
we realize" he said, that these four
aefendants were inspired by the biRhest
patriotic motives. They were going home
10 Tight for their country This is the
iaii-end of a conspiracy in which they
are, unfortunately for them, involved.
and In the interests Of justice they must
be detained within the Jurisdiction of
the court"
This Is the parole to which Lieutenant
Sasche, whose face was Scared ms n
from wounds received In the German
Student sport Of duelling. signed his
name:
Parole of Lieutenant.
sailed today from the Bush terminal
dock in Brooklyn on the steamship Rer-
sensfjord. l was arrested after the shin
had passed out into the harbor. NV
rank In the German army is lieutenant.
desired TO be discharged on my own
reeognizance, and IL this is done I give
my word OF honor as an officer ana a
gentleman that l will keep the United
states district attorney for the southern
district Of New York advised Of nv
whereabouts, and 1 will not leave the
city OF New York until the proceedings is
terminated In which have been ar II
rested. also agree. on receipt OF notice
from said United States district attor-
ney, Immediately TO surrender myself ana
give ball In this proceeding"
Arrest Made In PhiIaaeIphta.
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 2-Local rem
resentatlves OF the department OF Justice
tonight took into custody Morris Deitch.
'sid TO be an attorney OF New York. on
charge growing out OF alleged issuing
u false passports in New York.
Deitch was arrested at the home OF
us tather-in-law in Mount Airy, Phila-
ieiphia, whose name the federal Officers
would not make public. but who. thew
aid, Is wealthy. .
~ peiteh valves a hearing, the federal
,lHeers said. he win be taken 10 New
FORK probably tomorrow.
No Comment 60 Make.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2.-ActinT secre.
AIRY lansing OF the State department had
no comment TO make tonight on the ar
'est IN New York OF Germans accused Of I
conspiracy TO use fraudulently .AmerI- I
an passports. lie said he had been ad- r
Used OF the details OF the case by the a
Department Of Justice. which had gath.
red the evidence. n
In other quarters IL was said an bel b
igerent governments would be advised Of '
he action In these cases. as a warning b
against violations by their albfects ~ q