The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-07-17
GERMANS NAFHAVE
BASE ON THE COAST
Arrested Spy In Confession
Makes Startling Disclosure Of
Teuton Espionage System

SAN FRANCISCO, July 10 ~ The
completeness Of the German spy system
in the United States and the boldness
and unserupulOusness Of It's agents are
indicated with startling cIearness in
the sensational disclosures of Baron
Friedrich Devon Fels, who is under ar
rest her ON a charge Of espiotiass! "a y
According to Fels, who is only TWEEN
tytwo years old, Il appears possible
that the Germans have succeeded in
their long maturing plans for establish.
ing submarine and aeroplane base in
the Gulf of California.
The confession gives added confirm
alton to the Zimmerman note Co the
Mexican government, urging an al
lance against the United States and
hdded significance to the recent warn
ing Of the Navy Department that Ger.
man submarines may be operating in
the Pacific. AQ
Fels, an unwilling creature Of the
German secret service, was trained in
Germany and was sent to this country
last fall, according TO his story, TO
work on, the Pacific Coast of the United
States and Mexico. In this state he
worked under the direction of Rudolph
Flamendinghe, who Is now under arrest
in Los Angeles. He rebelled against
the service and tried several times TO
escape, but always was bounded back
into the work
He was sent to the Gulf Of Califor-
ola last November to locate a suitable
base for hiding submarine and aero.
plane parts. He worked with four
other agents Of the German govern
ment. They were told that Mexico
probably would be the ally Of Ger
many in a war against the United
States. They worked at night and
found places to conceal engines and
other machinery.
Sick Of His Job
Whether the submarines and aero.
places or not Fels does not know. He
grew sick of his job and came to Cal
ifornia, trying to dodge the agents of
his government. m
Once in California the boy spy did
not long escape the German secret
service men. He was ordered TO join
the United States Aviation Corps at
San Diego and work there as a spy,
He did so, telling false story Of his
experience in the German aviation
corps and in theSGerman army. &.
He was told TO get plans Of the lower
parts of the California coast and to get
maps of Fort Rosecrans and San Diego.
These planE were intended for the mill
tary use Of the Germans. 1-Some of
them were found in his possession
when he was arrested in San Francisco.
Reported TO Chief
He ran away from the aviation SER
vice after few weeks, hating his work
as spy. He had to report frequently
TO his chief in Los Angeles. He learn
ed that the spy work on the Pacific
coast was being financed by Germans in
this country. .-i .-..-@. ~ -
At the time he gave the name of
Flamendinghe TO the government Of
fficials he did not know that this agent
had been arrested.
He came to San Francisco after de-
sorting from the San Diego corps and
changed his name, obtaining employ
ment as dishwasher in the German
Hospital. w E.it 81
He WIS drradfplly anxious, he said,
to escape the iItasteful employment,
but every time he ran away from it he
was brought back and forced into q
new line of work. e ... n ID.
There are many other spies at work
on this coat, he declared. He is afraid
that he will be shot and has given the
United States Attorney a fun history
of his work in this country in the hope
that some leniency will be shown him
because of his youth and the way in
which he was forced into the work.