The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-27
Naval Officer Executed lmme-
diateIy After Ne Had Confessed
To Selling News Of Fleet
STORY OF HOW NOW FAMOUS
LEAK WAS STOPPED ARRIVES
Bribed With Huge Sum Of Gold,
Youngster Falters, Then Con-
fesses and Goes To Death

At least one traitor to the United
States has been discovered and made
70 pay the full penalty for this treason,
according TO information received here
in private adyiees from the East. The
fraitor is said 70 have been a junior
ofices in the navy, who was one of a
number on duty at one of the great
wireless stations on the Atlantic coast.
He Il was who Is reported to have di-
vnlged TO Berlin the date of sailing Of
the American flotilla, and the course
which il was pursuing. He paid for
his disloyalty with his life, for he was
tried, convicted and shot.
The letter containing the information
Of this, the FIRST result Of German
treachery in the navy, came to public
official here from his son, who Is con
neeted with the service, and Is believed
20 know whereof he writes. His ex-
PLANTATION for the silence which the
povernment has preserved regarding
the whole affair is logical, for he as
serts that the Huns have begun al.
ready policy Of deliberate murder
Of Americans In Germany, following
the capture Of and punishment of spies
and agents Of the Kaiserbund in this
country. In order, therefore, to pro-
teet Americans unfortunate enough to
be still In the grip of the Germans,
Uncle Sam has adopted the policy Of
absolute silence regarding all the &C.
ton taken by his own agents to rid
him Of the pests which the Kaiser has
turned loose among the American
people.
story Circumstantial @.... -,
This 10 the story as told by the let
ter, and while the names are withheld
. by request Of the official BY whom II
was received, the story il tells is cir.
cumstantial and detailed. The young
naval officer was tempted by the Hun
devil and fell. He was offered a huge
sum Of money--reported TO be one
hundred thousand dollars--to get the
news Of the date Of departure Of the
fIotilla and the course which il would
follow to Berlin. The means was up to
him. ..a,}s-. ~ IT,.
He was at that time on duty at o
wireless station, through which most OF
the orders from Washington 70 the com
mander of the flotilla were being sent
The station was close to the mobiliza
tion point Of the flotilla and he was in
close touch with many of the officers Of
the fleet When the order came fol
the flotilla to sail, he shot 1t out into
the air together with other orders anc
a tumble Of messages in code. The
news reached Berlin all right 1t alsC
reached British wireless station, ant
was reported to the Admiralty.
Sends Word to Kaiser ~ =" -.
The flotilla left under sealed orders
goes on the writer Of the letter, with
Instructions that the course to be fol
lowed would be sent to the commander
by radio from time to time. The trait
or IL said 10 have flashed these instrue
tions TO Berlin, This time q vessel IL
the British channel picked them up anC
communicated them to the British Ad
miralty. I#.
The latter, seeing treason and being
wise IN the ways of the Huns, notified
the commander Of the flotilla, as sh'
neared the submarine zone, to chang
her course. At the same time the Bri
tish authorities are said to have mott
fed the navy department Of the leak.
With the announcement of the seere
fary of the navy that but ten mel
knew Of the date of the departure o,
the flotilla and the course il would fol
low, certainty Of conviction came upol
the young officer, who is said TO hav,
confessed, He admitted that he hat
sent the information that had com
near 10 wrecking the first move o
Uncle sam in the war, and that he wa
willing to plead guilty to the eharg
of treason. He was Immediately tries
and shot the following day,