New-York tribune., 1917-07-25
Companies Disband, but
Men Go Over to Firms
With American Charters
Aliens Given Access
To All Marine Data
Carl Schreiner Incorporates
Own Reinsurance Con-
Germ in Connecticut

When President Wilson issued
proclamation on July IA foroiddlns
German companies to write marine IN
surance it was thought in some quar-
ters he had closed to the enemy one
of his most valuable sources OF In
formation. This is the source through
which il is believed U-boat command
ers learned of the departure OF Per-
shing's expedition.
As a matter of fact. this source OF
information is practically as wide open
to-day as it was on July II, because;
1. German companies no longer
write marine insurance IN TINS
country, but German agents, brok-
ers and employees are writing ma
rine insurance for American COM
panies and enemy aliens continue
TO be employed in offices where all
shipping data is available.
Enemy Fire Insurance Untouched
.. The Presidents proclamation
applies only to marine insurance
companies. Enemy fire insurance
companies are still free to transact
business, direct or by reinsurance.
They may and do write insurance,
even on munitions plants.
3. The Presidents proclamation
does not touch enemy owned COM
panies having American charters.
There are a number doing business
in both the marine and FIRE insur-
ance fields.
4. An enemy company that comes
under the ban Of the Presldents
proclamation may transfer lts
business to a new company incor-
porated under American law for
that very purpose. For example,
Carl Schreiner, known as the head
of the German insurance interests
in this country, is president Oh tne
first Reinsurance Company, which
operates under Connecticut char
ter and has its main office in Hart
ford.
(. While il is true that the Ger
man marine companies reached by
the Presidents proclamation are
going through the motions of stop
ping business, close physical and
professional relations continue TO
be maintained.
Just how this works is illustrated by
the case of Hermann E. Co., American
managers for the Mannheim Insurance
Company, of Mannheim. Germany, and
the Nord Deutsch Insurance Company,
of Hamburg. At the outbreak of the
war the firm consisted of F. Hermann,
Paul Wolf. Charles G. Orr, o. G. Orr,
w. E. Robinson and F. H. Osborne. At
that time it also did business for the
Continental Insurance Company the
Firemen's Fund and the Ph9nix Fidel-
ity, American companies.
Retained German Clerks
On April the firm split, Mr.. Herr.
mann, Charles G.. Orr and Mr.. Wolf
making up the firm of Hermann e. Co.
and retaining the Nord Deutsch anC
Mannheim companies: Messrs. U. u
Orr. Robinson and Osborne formed the
firm of o. G. Orr & Co., Inc, and tool
over the marine and war risk business
for the Continental, the Firemen's funC
and the Phoenix Fidelity. They ais
took over many of the German clerk
in the old firm and the Offices Herr
mann & Co. had in the building a
81 Wall Street.
The old firm made its quarters i
rooms in the rear. Nominally thes
Offices are in the building numbered 4
Exchange Place; actually the tw
buildings are as one so far as the foo
arrangement is concerned, only a cor
ridor separating the two. On the roor
directory of the 81 Wall Street build
ing the location Of the German com
panies is given as the thirteenth fool
also given as the address of the Or
companies.
A Tribune reporter going to the ad
dress as supplied by the State Insur
snce Department asked for Mr.. Herr
mann.
"He is in the other Office" said tn
young man TO whom the inquiry wa
addressed. GO back down the cor
ridor."
This took the reporter into the buiid
ing 43 Exchange Place. On his re
turn TO the Offices of Orr e. Co. a mid
dle-aged man was writing at a desl
near the door. He was asked for Mr
Hermann.
This is not his Office" he replied
with a most pronounced German ac
cent. "There is no Hermann here"
This statement o. G. Orr, head Of o
G. Orr e. Co., Inc, confirmed a momen
later.
"We have nothing to do with Herr
mann" he said. I've have not sine,
April -. All of us were with Herr
mann until then. II now looks a
though there would not be any Herr
mann e. Co. much longer"
"How is that?" asked the reporter.
Busy with odds and Ends"
"The Presidents proclamation put
his companies out Of business. The,
cannot continue without business.
know they are busy, but they are onl!
strengthening out odds and ends.
81 know there are many stories il
circulation about our having German
connections, but II is not so. They er,
stresd by our Friends our suppose,
f9ends. There is nothing 70 it bu
Jealousy"
Carl Schreiner. head of the First Pc
insurance Company and chief Of H.,
German reinsurance interests in thi
country, who finally succeeded in get
ting a permit 10 visit the barred zone
Of this city, has. gone 20 the Adiron
dseks again. He left his Office, 81
Maiden Lane, on Saturday, leaving n,
word as 10 when he will return.
The Schreiner permit was issued o,
the representations Of an insursnc
man that bis presence in the city wa
URGENTLY necessary sfatena N