The Washington herald., 1917-10-11
.LUxBURG SENT
PLOT MESSAGE
Route Bernstorf Used Is
Barred by the State
Department.
By TRACY HAMMOND LEWIS.


Following Secretary Lansings dis
closures Yesterday of the absolute proof
that the German foreign Office had
planned and paid for a program of
sabotage in the United States, the
method of transmission of the Bern
storff kilograms was authoritatively
learned last night.
The kilograms were transmitted to
Buenos Aires over the uncensored
commercial cable routes and thence
snt by Count Luxburg through the
Swedish foreign office to Berlin. This
was the course followed by nearly
all Of the Illicit communication be-
tween Bernstorff and his chiefs.
Though the State. Department reso-
lutely refuses to state how the mes
sages were got through or where, It
got them, the above can be stated
on the word of an official who knows
the whole story.
Clears Neutrsls.
The statement Is to clear suspicion
ern neutrals in Washington. The
State Department is believed to have
no information which would lead 1t
to think that the Swedish or Dutch
ministers here shared, as has been
said, in the Bernstorfr plots, either
innocently or knowingly.
1t was stated here that almost posi-
tive knowledge had been received to
the effect that certain underling
in the Swedish foreign office was re-
sponsible for this traffic. The then
minister Of foreign affairs at Stock
holm was a banker, ill-acquainted with
diplomatic affairs. 1t Is believed that
he was imposed upon by certain sub
ordinates either through direct con-
nivance or through sympathy with
Germany.
Steps have been taken long since
in Stockholm the State Department
has been assured, to see that this
practice no longer continues.
Further sensational disclosures
were made by the State Department
yesterday, which remove any doubt
existing as to Count Won Bernstorff' s
leadership of German intrigue in this
country. The three kilograms be-
tween Berlin and its Embassy in
Washington show that Bernstorfr did
not stop short at propaganda to
poison the minds of Americans, but
had laid plans for wide spread sabo-
tage in United States munition fac
tories and the destruction of the Cam
adian Pacific railroad with view to
complete interruption of traffic in
order to cause as much embarrass-
ment as possible to the European
allies.
No restriction was placed upon the
methods to be employed by Won
Bernstorn and his agents with the ex-
ception that the German general stafr
stipulated that railway embank-
ments and bridges must not be
touched' and the embassy must In
no way be compromised"
The Secretary of State published
the following two kilograms from the
German Foreign Once to Count Bern
storfr in January, 1916:
January 3. Secret. General staff
desires energetic action in regard TO
proposed destruction of Canadian
Pacific railway at several points, with
a view to complete and protracted
interruption Of traffic. Capt. Boehm.
who is known on your side and is
shortly returning, has been given IN
structions. Inform the military at
tache and provide the necessary
funds
(signe0 "ZIMMERMANN."
Sabotage I'm United States.
January IS For military attache.
You can obtain particulars as to per
sons suitable for carrying sabotage
in the United States and CANDIDA from
the following persons: l, Joseph Mac
Philadelphia, Pa: 2, John