The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1915-02-05
WRECKER CLAIMS
U. S. PROTECTION
German Dynamites Canada-U. S.
Structure Across Border.
"ACT OF WAR" HIS DEFENSE

Did the Deed-Deolares He Acts in
Authorized German Capacity-In-
ternationaI Complications Are Seen
as Result.
Montreal. Feb. 4.-Werner Van
Horn, the German secret service Off
Ger who blew up the Canadian Pacific
railroad bridge at Vanceboro and
brags Of it, has projected another un.
pleasant international problem into
the somewhat tangled relations be
tween Great Britain and the United
States. Canadian officials here be-
lieve that this was his deliberate
plan, or rather that he was the in
strument Of a plot conceived for this
purpose by a German society in New
York From strictly military stand
point there was nothing to be gained
Neither troops nor supplies are being
carried over this road through Maine.
But the international possibilities are
many. The bridge is jointly owned
by an American and Canadian COM
pany, the Maine Central and Cana.
dian Pacific railroad. 1t has one end
in the States and one in Canada.
Had Blue Prints.
Van Horn, while careful to dyna.
mite the Canadian end, was careful
also to cross into American territory
after the crime. He invited, instead
OF avoiding arrest, and when taken
by the United States authorities not
OILY admitted his guilt but supplied
evidence OF 1t in the shape of blue
prints and dynamite caps.
Thaasituation thus created is pecu.
liar. He claims his offense is a legi-
innate act Of war and punishable only
by the enemy as a political crime. If
his contention is correct he can not
be extradited, nor can he be punished
in the States for an offense committed
in Canada
The only immediate result apparent
Is a renewal Of the military guards
on all railroad bridges and culverts.
These guarls had been kept on day
and night since the war began until
few weels ago. Nothing had hap
pened anywhere so vigilance was re-
Taxed.
Passengers who were on the Boston
and Montreal trains and were de.
layeo at Vaaceboro describe Van
Horn as a niliNry looking man about
middle age respectfully dressed and
very talkatve.
While they were in the station
waiting for their cars to be pushed
across the bridge Van Horn talked
quite freely with those who sought
speech with him. Among the state
meats which he made was one to the
effect that he had secured the explo.
sivss whiqi he used on the Canadian
sid Of tho border according to a pre-.
arranged ban. He arrived in Vance
bop onlyIon Saturday last and had
them in lbs possession a short time
altar.
He alsotlad blue prints on his per
son show ng the location of the
bridge, its approaches and other fx
lures.
Can la Asks Extradition.
Ottawa, mt, Feb. 4.-The Dominion
governmet has taken prompt steps
to securelth The extradition from the
United STD es Of Werner Van Horne
who attenb bted to blow up the c. p
railroad b4dge at st. Croix. AS soon
as the Uni ed States government ad
mits that Canada has a prima facis
case the Evidence against Van Horr
will be Submitted to an extraditior
court in Hhine.
II Van 4 Fl rne is extradited it will
be on the chrge of having committed
IN CanadI Ia criminal offense which
erdanger} ed uman life.