Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-01

Richard
New York. March Locked up IN
the Tombs on a charge of obtaining
false passports. Richard Peter Stegler.
German reservist, who after taking
out his first naturalization papers IN
this country. abandoned his plan TO
go to England as a German spy. told
how his American wife had swerved
him from his purpose. Here is his
story:
q was born in Germany in the pro-
vince of SILICA SO years ago. My faith
er is a manufacturer in Hanover,
Prussia / was brought up a Prus-
sian with all that that word means AS
young man 1 went into the navy and
served my time
= landed in Boston four years ago
and it was not long before became
convinced that the United States was
the country OF all countries. l de-
cided to become an American citizen
and signified my intention of obtain
ing my first papers.
Right here l might say that there
is IN New York city a most extraor-
binary organization of Germans who
are ready and willing at all times to
do secret work for their fatherland.
when ordered they report 70 cen
trail Office and receive instructions.
There is not a ship that leaves the
harbor. not a cargo that is loaded or
unloaded but what some member OF
this secret association watches and re-
ports every detail All this informa-
Fz cd
the German government.
Whenever any important facts are
obtained which might aid a submarine
attack upon the British marine or the
holding up of contraband goods on
neutral vessels this information is
flashed by wireless from Sayville 10
Berlin or some other German station
It is not sent out by code. That
would be too crude. The truth is COW
cred up in some apparent innocent
message that would not excite suspi-
cion. I became a member of this as
sociation and for time l thought l
did my duty in obeying the commands
from the German headquarters
"In the middle of January I called
at the German consulate and asked if
there was any employment in Ger
man firms either in New York or else
where. saying that / was only too
willing to do anything TO earn a liv-
ing. I was referred TO Captain Boy
Ed
81 had several conferences with
Captain Boyd and it was finally de-
cided that ! should go to England as
a German spy"
After detailing how, through the aid
of Cook. he obtained Madden's birth
certificate by paying s17s therefor,
Stegler continued:
II was told to make the voyage on
the Lusitania It was the trip on
which she raised the American flag
Just before reaching Liverpool My
instructions were as follows:
''.Stop at Liverpool, examine the
Mersey river: obtain the names, ex-
act location and all other possible in
formation concerning warships around
Liverpool ascertain the amount of
munitions of war being unloaded on
the Liverpool docks from the United
States: ascertain their ultimate desti-
nation: obtain a detailed list of all the
maritime ships in the harbor: make
constant inquiries. but in a most
guarded way, of the location of the
dreadnaught squadron which the Ger
mans in New York understand is an
chored somewhere near st. Georges
channel: appear at all times as an
American soliciting trade and IL neces-
sary appeal to the American consul
for protection
After doing all this I was to go TO
London with my trunks well piastered
with English hotel labels and con-
tinue my investigations there of the
Thames and its shipping. From Lon
don I was to journey TO Holland. work
nv way to the German border and TO
Berlin There / was to receive what |
ever orders the head Office had for me
and make my way back to London and
the United States
lust before the date OF sailing l
saw Captain Boyd. I was then in !
formed that I had TO leave my wife |
behind
up to that time / had not told my |
wife OF that fake passport or of the |
purpose of IL. She questioned me
closely and when she saw that was