Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-08
GERMAN SPY GETS
TULSAN'S PATENT
Plan by Which Submarines
Would Be Robbed of Power
Stolen From Owner.
FEDERAL OFFICERS ON TRAIL
Scheme to Steal Drawings No
Doubt Laid in Tulsa and
Spies Escape.

A German spy. who is thot to have
accompanied Archie Robinson, naval
inventor, from Tulsa to Washinsto
where Robinson was to appear before
the naval construction board. stole
from the inventor plans which he had
perfected of a ship which would make
submarine attacks powerless.
Secretary Douglas of the Chamber
of Commerce, who, with other Off
cials of the organization, assisted
Robinson in securing his patent. yes
terday received letter from Robin
son in Washington, telling of the
theft and declaring that there was
no doubt In his mind but that he had
: been the victim of a Teutonic spy
plot. originating in Tulsa before he
left this city
Lost at Richmond.
The letter explained that Robinson
had proceeded on his way to Wash
ington after leaving Tulsa and had
just left Richmond. Va. when. on
opening his handbag he found that
the plans he had concealed there. to-
gether with other data on ship con
struction. had been taken out. He
explained that he had seen the pa
pers in the handbag while in Rich
mond, and that they had been taken
soon after he had left that city.
Some weeks ago Robinson appeared
In the Chamber Of Commerce rooms
with plans and lue-prints of n ship
design. which he declared would prove
impervious to German submarines.
He stated that he had served for
many years before the mast and had
given several years to shipyard con-
struction. Becoming interested. Sec
retary Douglas called In Directors
Mark Cnrr Nawfnn Graham, praqi
dent McFarlin and others. and the
man was advised to go to Washington
and appear before the navy board
with an explanation Of his plans. a
copy of which was sent to the patent
office for further protection.
Robinson left for Washington early
last week, bearing a letter of intro
duction to Pat ]. Hurley. Congress-
man II. A. Chandler and Senator
Robert l.. owen. The Ietter received
yesterday afternoon from Robinson
stated that copy of the patent Of
flee record plans had been procured
and that these had been presented to
the navy board, after an Introduction
had been made possible thru the Ok
lahoma officials and that the idea is
being received with keen interest by
the governments navy experts.
Plan Is Brief.
The plan as proposed by Robinson.
while not~given publicity in detail.
provides for thick shell Of sawdust
about the entire hull OF the vessel.
and n series of suction gates. which
may he placed over n hole when a
ship Is struck. These and several
other features were covered by the
patent papers sent to Washington be-
fore Robinson left Tulsa. and the
plans stolen by the spy probably will
be used by the German government
as a basis for the construction of a
new kind of torpedo to be fired at
such ships.
Robinson stated in his letter that
government officials had been In
formed OF the theft and that with
clues furnished by himself and other
passengers on the coach at the time
of the robbery, were working on the
theory that the man who took the
plans followed Robinson from Tulsa,
whose departure was announced more
than two days before he left for
Washington.