Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-02-24
AN INTERNATIONAL
SYSTEM OF GERMAN
SPIES IS DISCOVERED
ARREST OF TWO MEN IN NEW
YORK REVEALS METHODS,
SAY U. S. OFFICIALS.
AMBASSADOR Won BERNsoRFF
LEFT 100000 IN BANKS FOR
WORK.
BUREAU IN NEW YORK AS CODE.
TWEEN FOR SPIES IN GREAT
BRITAIN.

NEW YORK. Feb. 2l.-An interna.
tional espionage system has been re.
vealed by the arrest of Albert A.
Sander and Charles Wlnnenhurg. ac.
cording To Federal authorities. This
system was built in this city on the
ruins Of the organization dissolved
year ago by the arrest of Wolf
Won lyle. the member Of the German
Embassy stan, who had perfected it,
The chief objects of this system
was to supply Germany with infor-
nation regarding the movements Of
shipping and any particulars regard
ing military or naval operations that
could be picked up in the British
Isles American citizens. with news.
paper experience, we're used as the
agents.
investigation by the Federal an.
thorities uncovered the following
facts:
Two former American newspa-
per men employed by Sander are
in Holland under surveillance and
are said to have confessed.
George Vaux Bacon. arrested in
England, has made complete
confession to save himself from
the fate Of spy and will he re.
turned to this country Ia testify
against Sander and Winncnberc.
Seven other Americans sent to
England by the later are under
surveillance in that country and
may be arrested at any moment.
The money to carry on the OPP
erotions was sent direct from
Germany by American Express
drafts to citizens on this side and
then turned over to Sander.
Federal authorities also discovered
that Count Won Bernstorn. the dis
missed German Ambassador. deposit.
ed $4,000 900 in banks in this city be-
fore sailing for use in German pro.
paganda work
Nuremberg was chief engineer Of
the American steamship Leelanaw,
which was sunk by the German sub
marine u-41 on July 25. 1915. Win
nenberg was taken aboard the U.41
by Captain Hansen, commander of
the submarine, and after his rear.
rival in this country never went back
to sea. The significance of these two
facts is being further investigated by
the Federal authorities.
Both Sander and Winnenberg were
arraigned before Judge Sessions in
the Federal District Court yesterday
and were admitted to bail in the sum
of $4,000 each. The bail was furnished
by the Fidelity and Casualty Com
pany Of Maryland They will be
brought up for hearing February 81.
1t developed that the existence Of
a system first dawned upon the Fed
eral authorities here and the British
government simultaneously.
Winnenberg admitted that Harry
Davis, Of Brooklyn, was a shipmate
of his on the Leelenaw. He also stat
ed that he had made the trip to Ger.
many to get $4,000 which he claimed
by a legacy Authorities believe the
money was furnished by Germans to
help maintain the system.
81 was afraid could not get the
money back here if ! carried it, SO /
went to Copenhagen, deposited it with
a bank and arranged to have it sent
TO Davis in Brooklyn" said Winnen-
berg. 1T was sent to Davis in several
separate amounts. When | got back
and asked Davis for the money he
took it and disappeared.
Winnenberg caused the arrest of
Davis and out Of the trial the Federal
cleaned enough to start
them on the trail which resulted in
the arrest Of Sander and Winnenberg.
One OF the first discoveries made
was the use of the prepared paper
and sympathetic employed BY this cor
in the pay Of Sander. This
fact was entirely unknown to the
British government.