The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28
PLOT WOULD
HURT u. S., E SAYS
Precedent Established Would Prevent Us From Supply.
ing Our Own Navy in Case of War Is Argument
Advanced for Hamburg -American Men.

Counsel for Managing Director Karl
buehz of the Hamburg-American Line
and other Hamburg-American men now
being tried in the United States District
Court on charges of conspiring to de-
fraud the Government has Just sub
mit;ed lengthy legal arguments to
Judge Harland Howe. who is presiding
at the trial. to the effect that II the
defendants are convicted a precedent will
he established which will seriously Grip
pie the efficiency OF our own navy in
case the United States enters a war In
the future.
When supply ships were sent out from
American ports by the Hamburg-Amer-
lean Line. the facts OF which are adj
mltted by the defence, TO transship to
German warships at sea, coal and pro-
visions paid for out OF a fund handled.
according to the testimony. by the
kaiseT's nava attache here, Capt. Karl
Boy-Ed. then. the d~efence's counse con-
tinues in the arguments just submitted.
the Hamburg-American Line, DR.. Buenz
eiu ~ iHt tDTtc ran cbby'N"
now on trial. were merely doing pre-
eisely the same thing as those who are
steadily shipping arms and munitions TO
ports controlled by the Allies.
The DEFENDANTS counsel lays stress in
It's long string OF typewriter arguments.
made public this morning for the first
tine upon questions along the lines told
OF above. Assistant Cni,ed States At
torney Roger B. Wood. for the Govern
ment, however. during M trial session
OF the past week confined his efforts not
at all TO questions OF the violation of
neutrality laws. Instead. he devoted
his energies altogether 70 trying TO con-
vince Judge and jury that the defence
had conspired TO defraud the United
States by obtaining for the supply shiI~
clearance papers which would not have
been granted X the port authorities had
known that manifests and destinations
OF the SHIPS had been falsely sworn TO
for purposes OF concealment.
4. .. War Conditions Predicted.
The United States, say the Hamburg
American arguments. AT various iroub-
lous times in the past made known its
insistence upon the right OF a neutral
nation 10 coal and otherwise supply the
fighting craft of other nations at war.
II III lutElllpTt aISut touiisfi Nv ~
fence, In case of n future war OF eur
own the United States nav more than
likely would have 20 depend. in case the
eNigencies OF campaign carried our bat
tleships to distant seas. upon the ships
Of neutral nations for coal. supplies and
provisions.
Inasmuch as a witness testified at the
trial a few days ago that the activities
which resulted In the indictment OF the
Hamhurg-American Line and some OF
its officers had been begun at least as
early as the latter part Of July. 1915
or before wal was declared at alone
Of the lawyers for the defence was asked
yesterday whether or not DIT. Buenz and
his associates had perfected their plans
any considerable time before the begin
ming of the war.
81 shouldn't care to answer that dir
ectlv." was the reply. Il can safely
venture, however. tha; u wouldn't sur
prise ME TO learn that the United states
Navy Department had completed ar
rang.ments to supply. IN case "t wa.
our battle ships IN foreign waters l
should ne very much surprised. ~ fat.
TO learn that our Navy department had
not done so."
Had Capt. BOy-Ed. pr. Buenz and
his associates counsel was then asked,
perfect advance plans 80 that they
would know just whore 20 send the.!
.eet of supply ships = war Mere Dc.
clared in Europe, or did they DEFEND
upon cabled Instructions from Berlin
for such Information
y SHOULDN'T care TO 60 into details
about that, either" came the reply. Il
understand. however, mat own War
Colleg. Al Washington has its plans 80
wei, worked out IN detail that II We wee
20 go - war the cables would not have
10 toe resor,ed TO much t. send out IL
srruct.1ns.'