Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-02
DR.. BUENZ SENDS
PAPERS TO EMBASSY
Hamburg Line Agent Says DOcu-
ments Regarding Coaling Ships
in Code and Beyond Reach.
NOT ALLOWED TO TELL OF THEM


NEW YORK, Dec. THE alb
stract Of the Hamburg American
lines agreement with the German
government, whereby the former
agreed to supply German cruisers at
sea with coal and supplies in neutral
ships sailing from American ports
early in the war, has passed into the
keeping OF the German embassy at
Washington.
DR.. Kari Buenz, managing director
q the line. so testified today In his
trial-and that of three other line
officials and employes--on charges
Of conspiracy, now nearing its close
n the United States district court
here.
Not only has the abstract OF this
agreement been given to the embassy for
safe keeping DIR. Buenz testified, but all
correspondence on the subject by letter
or cable likewise has formally been
turned over to the German government
through tho embassy at Washington.
The cablegrams. II was said. were In
the German naval code and were re-
moved to the embassy when II was
thought there was danger Of their beeom-
ing public through this trial. and thus
revealing TO representatives Of England
France and Russia tha key to the Ger
man secret code.
Orders Come by Cable.
Notwith standing the severing OF the
German cables to America by the British
early in the war the Hamburg-American
line was In constant cable communion
ton with Germany. DIR. Buenz testified
These cablegrams at the time the line
sent out relief ships told DIR. Buenz where
to send ships 10 meet German cruisers
Notwithstanding the isolation of the war
ships from the German admiralty.
The government strenuously objected
to Or. Buenz' testimony concerning the
abstract OF the agreement and the cable
grams relating to the dispatch of relief
ships. Roger b. Wood. United States as
sistant district attorney, contended that
the documents themselves were avail
able and that they should be brought
into the court room. In this he was up
held by Judge Howe and Buenz was not
permitted to tell of their contents.
OFFERS 10 Produce TRANSACTIONS.
William Rand, jr., counsel for the de-
Tense, sought TO have the contents OF the
documents placed before the jury as DR..
Buenz remembered them.
I'VE are willing to show you the trans
lations" Mr.. Rand said I'VE cannot
show you the originals. In the first
place. we couldn't get them from the
German embassy IL we wanted to. They
are safe and fast in Germany's keeping
In the second place we maintain that
the government Of the United States Is
not interested in the German secret code.
II they were brought here they would be-
come public property. The German code
would become known to England. France,
Russia--to all OF Germany's enemies"
BOy-Ed Came In Frequently.
DR.. Buenz testified that he arranged
for the shipment OF coal and supplies.
chartered various neutral ships through
John II. Cans and spent altogether ST.
10000 in trying to accomplish his object.
This money was repaid by the home Of
flee in Hamburg.
Did you see Captain Boy-ed. the Ger
man naval attache. while you were d.
recting the movements OF these vessels,
or chatering themT' asked MIR. Rand.
Il did. lie was In and out OF our Of
flee frequently"
did you take your Instructions from
him?"
mo; he did not interfere in my business,
/ was working under our agreement with
the German government"
but he knew what was going on?"
"Oh, yes, he knew"
Denies False Mantfesta.
DR.. Buenz concluded his direct test
mony by asserting that he had never
heard OF the steamer Marina Quesada,
which sailed December is. 1914 from
Newport News. Va. TO supply German
cruisers. the government charges; that
he had not tried to obtain false mani
tests. and that nothing was further from
his thoughts than to deceive or defraud
port collectors OF the United States gov
ernment.
On cross-examination. DIR. Buenz test-
fled that It was his intention to have re-
lief ships proceed empty 20 their destina-
tions named In the clearances. after they
had transferred their supplies at sea.
what did you consider your obliga-
ton to the United states?" asked Mr..
Wood.
1 didn't give it much thought. ! re-
garded the United States as a friendly
power and 1 didn't want to break It's
laws"