Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-25
EXPECTING REAL CLIMAX
TO STORIES OF INTRIGUE
Official Circles Predict That Even
More Astounding Revelations
Soon Will BE Made.
TO REVEAL BIG sLUsH FUND
Reported That Indictments Arc
Looked For of Some Men High in
Financial Circles-Departmen Of
Justice Considering Next Step.

WASHINGTON. September 2i-While
Secretary of State Lansing was silent
to-day regarding the German intrigues
1t was predicted in official circles that
revelations even more astounding than
any yet would be forthcoming within
fortnight, this time revealing slush
fund of millions with which Germany
sought to enmesh this country in war
with at least Two other nations.
Evidence to this effect Is said to be
now In the hands of the Investigators
of the Department Of Justice. A list
of men and firms who have been aiding
In large way German propagandist
plots is now in the possession OF the
Justice Department. 1t is said that
indictments are looked for of some
men high in financial and business
circles; that such step will be taken
rather than an exposure of the names
of all who are mentioned. The gov
ernment now wants to convict tho
guilty.
Supposedly the State Department has
been put in possession OF the facts.
or it will be within few days. At
any rate, official Washington is look
ing for the zeal climax to the stories
of German duplicity. intrigue and crime
that have been committed here, while
the perpetrators have been pretending
friendship for this nation and its
people
Won RINTELEN ROASTED
OF BIG SLUSH FUND
1t has been known for many months
that Franz Won pinte1en boastcd that
he had been authorized to cXpend $1o,-
100000 in fomenting trouble between
the United States and Mexico. This
was only one OF many supposed In
stances of agents being sent here with
slush funds OF hundreds of thousands
of dollars No amount has ever been
stated as to the proposed fund for the
destruction Of the Welland Ship Canal.
Whether the Rtntelen boast forms
large part of the evidence that the
Department of Justice is now believed
TO have is only conjecture; but as the
intrigues so far barred have mentioned
only comparatively small sums like
$4,000. II is taken for granted that
the forthcoming exposure will deal with
transactions large enough to be worth
any price offered
1t Is open secret in administra-
tion circles tonight that the Depart
ment of Justice has the names of men
to whom large part OF this money
went, or the channels through which
1t was to work its influence. These
names it is understood are the subject
OF conferences of Justice officials to
determine whether they shall be made
public In full or whether the big prin-
cipals shall be sifted out and indict-
ments brought against them alone and
let the smaller fry go. 1t is the belief
OF the Justice Investigators that many
Of the persons named have been
brought innocently into the propa-
gandist move, and that they should
not be put In jeopardy.
RECENT EXPOSURES
ONLY SMALL PART
1t has been known for some time
that the recent exposures Of tho State
Department have been only n small
part of the propagandist activities of
which the authorities OF this country
are aware. Hundreds of secret agents
have been threading the entire nation
for more than two years. and they
have been assisted by the ablest of
men in the other countries OF the
allies. The ease with which the
steamship bomb men were captured
before they really caused a large cx-
plosion. the foilinG of the Welland
Canal plot. the arrest Of numerous
bomb makers. are all a smaA chapter
In the remarkable system of espion-
age carried on by this country. And
these were incidental to the larger
game that the investigators were
seeking. Subsidization of newspapers
CONTINUED on Second Pase.)