The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-26

Having made a defence of the per-
sons with him Lieu. Fay gave n his
tory OF himself ana the reasons that led
him to cOrnc to this country.
Robert Fay Is my NAME he said.
81 was born aud raised in Cologne, Ger
many, and my parents reside there. I
was educated In the primary schools
and the gymnasium and took a CORE
spondcnce course with the Armour In
>tltute IN Chicago in electrical engineer
ing.
81 obtained employment in my home
city FOR IA ilinc. but having finished my
course In the Armour Institute | caine
to this country. | spcn; three years IN
Chicago and New York. working and
completing my studies. | returned to
Germany and there became assistant
superintendent Of a manufacturing plant.
the name OF which | do not care to
mention.
. course ! had served my time in
the army and was II sergeant in the
reserves. When tie war started I
Joined my regiment and following the
inst engagement in Belgium ! was pro-
NOTED 10 a first lieutenaucy. That was
because Of my knowledge OF mechanic
cal and electrical engineering. ! WAS
told 20 specialize In hand %grcnadeS.
81 won the Iron Cross on the field
Of battle. ! received tn. decoration
after two comrades and I had destroyed
and carried a French trench.
II had been working on the plan Of
4 mine before the war started. Bat
the idea was horne upon me most for
chilly during an action IN the Champagne
district In which my regiment took part.
The idea grew day after day as | saw
the terrible havoc wrought by the in
sane French artillery fire. That was
during an extensive offensive in the
Champagne,
The German troops had become used
TO the rain Of infantry bullets sweeping
over the first and second lines, ThoH.
bullets were not effective and ] don't
believe ! saw more than two men shot
down, The only dangerous thing for
US was the tremendous amount OF ar
tillery fire poured upon US, though the
greater part Of 1t was wasted.
THE French battery OF seventy-ives
were extremely annoying TO our regl-
ment. Being a practical man | gave
considerable thought to the matter. We
tried to destroy the artillery battery
opposing us. Finally our regiment made
a night assault and capturing the guns
We dynamited the position, but the nest
morning we found that "a new battery
was hurting shells at US.
Only Way TO stop u.
The thought came to me-" continued
Fay. that the only way to stop that
hre wa, TO stop the shipment Of ann
munition from America. | saw tn" Colo
mel Of my regiment and laid my plan
before him. lie granted my %uncondt-
tionai release aud sent me 10 secret
service headquarters IN BRUSSELS. | saw
there Mr.. Jonnerseu and told him that
| had worked out an idea for exploding
mines under the enemy's trenches with
out the use OF electric wires. Electric
wires always failed to work well in bad
weather. ! had also improved on the
destructive capacity Of the mine.
"When ! explained my plan they an
ranged for my passage TO this country
with Instructions to call on Capt. Boy-Ed
and Cant, Won Papen to ascertain from
them II my new mine could be used To
advantage either in the United States or
In Canada
IL made my way through Holland and
sailed on the Rotterdam with a passport
representing myself as "A merchant.
arrived in New York on April 23. The
first man / called on WAS Capt, Won
Papen. the military attache, ] explained
70 him my plan and told him of my in
structions. He refused to give me an
answer until ! first consulted Capt.
Boy-Ed. The latter promptly refused 10
consider tho plan, Capt. Won Papen also
said that 1t would be impossible to make
any use OF my device.
Zone Of them said to me. however. We
may hnd some use for your mine In
Canada
After spending three lays in New