The sun., 1917-08-22


money from Germany via Switzerland.
The activities before the United States
declared war OF persons connected with
the lines Increased the interest IN tho
acquired knowledge that Capt.
NJ Moeller. In charge or the interned
vessels Of the North German Lloyd be-
fore the war. was the secret intelligence
agent in this country Of the German
navy. Capt Moeller and his chief a..
sistant, Capt. r. Knewnick, arc still on
the payroll Of the line and are living
In Hoboken.
still Doing something.
Agents Of the Department Of Justc
have been camping persistantly on the
heels Of all officers and employees Of the
two lines. Unlike the German insurance
which were practically closed
up tight by the Government, the steam.
ship companies. which have been con-
slant and serious offenders against this
ever since the commence.
ment Of the European war. are stu DO.
ing something-not business--at their
old stands and getting large sums Of
money all the time.
Last February. II was learned yester.
day from a steamship nah formerly In
the employ OF one Of the companies. the
North German Lloyd received 5000
from the German Imperial Government.
The money came by way Of Switzerland,
and Its transfer was arranged here by
Ladenburg. Thalmann & Co and the
Trust Company. The excuse
given at that time by the companies was
that they needed It TO feed and maintain
the crews on their idle ships x.'pt In
port by the allied navieA
When the United States declared war
the ships Of bSth lines mediately were
taken over by the Navy Department
and their crews sent to Ellis Island. so
that the care and expense were lifted
from the ship companies.
THE Sun was informed yesterday that
money has been coming regularly to
these companies from the German Gov
ernment since then
Carl Won Helmolt IL now in charge Of
The North German Lloyd Company. He
look over the company's Affairs when
Oelrichs q Co. withdrew after this coun-
try's declaration of war. Mr.. Won Hell
mott was not In his ONCE yesterday.
Several clerks were in the various de-
partments. Not one of them was doing
any appreciable work One said there
was nothing to DO and added In excellent
English that all Of them expected to
get the hook soon"
Shipping men are asking one another
Two questions. one-why does the Gov.
ernment permit the companies to keep
their offices open in view OF their pas.
breaches Of faith before the war and
what motive impels the compa mes 10
keep open. Tho German steamship lines
when asked the question have replied
curtly that II was their intention to keep
all tho heads Of their departments 20
that ~ the termination OF the war they
would have the nucleus OF their organza-
tons.
Room At Ellis IsIaud.
Other shipping men :; init the sense O..
this. but also suggest with reason that
the nucleus could be kept with greater
safety in the interrment camp on Ellis
Island so recently honored by the pres
ence Of Ficke. who said he was receiving
$40 monthly from the company.
Lack of money is not embarrassing
any OF the lines. Huge bank credits
kept them going with their routine ex-
penses continuing and no profits coming
in, two years after the commencement.
OF tho war. About year after the
conflict began Rudolph Hecht. VICE
- ANsAd'ill VI NA1HiloE 10, raised a
~ loooo, 900 war loan for Germany. II
has not been sent abroad yet. saw the
steamship men. The North German
Lloyd Company, through a subsidiary
which owned their Hoboken
piers, obtained a million dollars By
them.
one hy one officials and employees Of
the German steamship lines have been
caught violating neutrality laws Sew
ersl OF them continued their propaganda
after Americas entry into the conflict.
In view OF these facts shipping agents
and brokers are wondering why the
State Department allows deliberate
operation OF their Office forces. when
every one knows they have no legitimate
business to transact
Information reached here yesterday y
via Amsterdam and London that the
directors Of the North German Lloyd
steamship line in Bremen were expend-
Ing large sums building new vessels n
OF the end Of the war I,
was publicly stated by the officials OF ne
company IN Berlin that the company h9i
obtained the financial aid OF one OF 'ls
German insurance companies so as 20 %
ready to compets with foreign shipping
at tho end OF hoet.littes The directors
Of the North German Lloyd declared
thsy had kept pretty busy using ae.-
homo forces and ships aiding the COW
eminent In the transportation OF err
grants from captured territory and n
between Sweden and Sorws Y
and Germany.
Tho Offices OF the Hamburg America
line, which was more directly concern -
In violation OF neutrality laws before IN 8
nations participation in the conflict. are
also open. Many OF the high sa'ar.sd
officials are on the lob and receive d..
merous visitors Emil Lederer. ore II
the directors In charge OF the freight is-
partment. motors IN daily from the Nass
sau Hotel at Long Beach
DR.. Carl BuenL. head OF the Hsmhu-eN
American Line and formerly Ge-raa
Consul General here. Is in the country
and In touch with the lines ot-ces. fla
was indicted shortly after the con-
mcncement OF tho war in oourecrioa
with antt-nsutrality violations
Julius p. Meyer. vioe-d.rsctor OF -hs
line. 10 native born American. but 4
said TO be still on the companys pay-oil.
Capt JArcke. son-in-law OF C4nL
Moeller and formerly in charge ot tNs
company's piers and ships In Hobcs Il.
Is still drawing his salary as are '1"
heads OF the deoAss nsnts and tho CLERKS
In the company Shtces.