New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
Trusted u. S. Clerk
Informed Germany
When Troops Left

FeQeraI autnOrlIeS nave AtN'INSN 49,
formation that a former employe OF
the Hamburg American Line sent word
to Germany of the sailing Of American
transports on their way TO France
with Pershing's troops.
This man. German-born, is employed
by the government in a trusted posi-
ton. He can see any American trans
port that leaves the port and can OBJ
tain all information concerning the
movements of troops that are being
sent abroad. He is crony of Captain
Charles Won Kleist. now serving term
of two years in Atlanta for the part
he played in the conspiracy 10 destroy
ships leaving this country with sup
plies for the Allies.
Complained of Weeks Ago
Weeks before the troops sailed his
actions caused a complaint 10 be made
10 the Department of Justice against
him. II was pointed out that he was
only one of twenty former HAMBURG
American Line employees all either
German born or of German parcntagc
who hold positions with the govern
ment, which enable them TO obtain al
details concerning the movement oil
troops ordered to France.
commissioned officer Of the United
States Navy who gave this informa-
ton yesterday 20 The Tribune said
that Admiral Usher was conducting a
separate investigation into this spy
suspects work. Admiral Usher was
entertaining friends at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard last night when efforts
were made to reach him.
az believe it is my patriotic duty TO
call the attention Of the public TO a
shameful condition of affairs that is
permitted to exist in one of the depart
ments of the army here" said the
naval officer al know that there are
employed in this particular depart
ment at this moment several Germans,
all former employees Of the Hamburg
American Line, a concern that has
been filed with all sorts of German
propaganda since the beginning of the
European wGr. from petty spying on
Americans friendly to the Allies 20
dynamite plots.
Sees Risk in Employing Them
There may be good. loyal American
citizens among them, but surely we DO
not want 70 take any chances as Eng
land did at the beginning OF the war
TO her sorrow-with men with German
names, and connected in the past with
hotbed Of German intrigue, to oc-
oupy positions Of trust in a govern
mental department which enables them
to see our troops boarding transports
going Franceward. They should be
routed out at once"
For obvious reasons the name Of the
department and its location is not pub
lished. Investigation by a Tribune re-
porter corroborated the naval officers
statement with respect to the employ
ment Of former employees of the Ham
burg-Americsn Line in this particular
department of the United States Army.
Virtually the entire service of the
Hamburg American Line was utilized
by Captains Boy-ed and Won Papen, the
dismissed German Embassy attaches,
in their various plots. Captain Paul
Koenig, the head of the Hamburg
American Line detectives, was en-
ployed as chief of the German spies
in this country before our entrance into
the war. Koenig has been indicted for
his activities, notably for conspiring to
blow up the Welland Canal.
Other officials Of the Hamburg Amer
:csn Line have also been indicted and
many Of them sent TO prison for plot
ting. A notable case was the fire bomb
plot, in which Captain Emo Bode. pier
superintendent Of the Hamburg Amer
lean Line, now interned on Ellis Island,
and half dozen officers Of the Kaiser
Friedrich der Crosse we're indicted for
conspiring to blow up Allied shipping
with time bombs.
Captain Won Kleist, the friend Of the
German spy suspect now employed by
the government, was one Of those sent
to prison for this plot. Won Kleist,
German born, was naturalized an Amer
lean citizen in Hoboken in 1882 and
brought UP his family here. Yet when
ordered by Captain Won Papen's Prus-
sian aids 70 take over the superin-
tendency Of a bomb-making factory in
Hoboken he obeyed.