New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-22
Million Bales, Valued
at $143,250, 900,
Will Be Con.
fscated
$2,500,000 in Other
Materials Taken
Steel, Copper, Nickel
and Chemicals Stored
Here by K Kaiser's
Agents

ne CNlIeu SLdtes viii use Vbst
quantities Of German owned supplies
stored in this country to aid our troops
and the Allies in carrying on the war
against the Kaiser's empire. The value
Of the property is expected TO mount
into the hundreds OF millions.
Already, it was learned yesterday.
the government has begun to confscste
the immense stores of cotton, steel.
copper. nickel, leather, oil, chemicals
and other war necessaries purchased
here by German agents before tn.
United States entered the conflict and
since held here in their names by
American brokers.
The resources which this conhscs-
tion will place at the service of the
government are unbelievably exten-
sive. Secret Service men under Chief
William J. Flynn have already seized
stores Of copper, steel, oil and nickel.
valued at more than s2,50000O. Thos.
who know the true state of affairs
say that the government has only be
gun to scratch at the wealth of ma
terials held here for German purchas-
ers.
Germany Has Million Bales Here
IL is said that OF cotton alone Ger
many has more than 100000 bales
in this country. At it's current price
this store would be worth Sl43. .250 900.
Governments agents are now conduct
ing an inquiry in seaboard cities and in
Southern commercial centres TO deter
mine the exact amount of German
owned cotton held in the country. IL
became known yesterday that in Janu-
airy the United States will begin 70 sup
ply Italy, which is known 10 be ey-
tremely hard up for cotton. at the rate
OF $4,000 bales a month. Other German
stores here will also be shared with
our allies.
The rest OF Germany's stores in
America will go the way of her cotton.
Under the trading with the enemy act
the government has the right TO take
over all German property here.
as she has already taken over Ger
many's vessels and make an accounting
therefor at the end Of the war.
Germanys largest holdings in this
country, it is said, are n cotton. This.
like most of the other raw materials
which the brokers of the United States
are holding for German customers, was
obtained by agents working under Helm
rich f. Albert, German Imperial Privy
Councillor, during his stay here.
Government Has Detailed Reports
In the archives at Washington are
somewhat detailed reports OF this par.
ticular activity or the part Of Geheim-
rat Albert. Most of the cotton was
purchased before November, 1915. a few
months before Albert began speculating
on his own account in cotton with Ger
meny's money.
Germany purchased several other
million bales OF cotton through houses
IN neutral countries in 1914, 1915 anc
1916. Most OF IL was smuggled into
Germany from Gothenberg, Sweden.
and various points in Norway, Den.
mark, Holland and Spain.
Under the trading with the en-
emy act" said high Federal oficial
yesterday, 'it is the duty of Ameri-
can brokers and other Americans now
holding raw materials for Germany
to inform the government Of the fact.
Inelr failure 10 do so constitutes a
crime. When these men first engaged
IN this work the country was not a,
war with Germany. and their acts
were perfectly legitimate. But now
conditions are dsferent."
Alberts cotton purchases, while AZ,
hrst made under coyer--not, however.
with any intention of concealing them
from this government-were toward the
end or 1918 made openly. In fact. Al
bert had several talks with members
of the Federal Reserve Board regarding
these purchases. and in November OF
that year nc said TO one member OF
the board:
"The war will be over in a few
months. We want that cotton to set
Germany's idle spindles whirring the
moment peace is declared so that she
can go out once nore into the worlds
markets as Great Britain's rival in
manufactured cotton goods"
Purchased at Low Price
Most of the cotton was purchased by
Albert's agents at S 10 Is cents a
pound One official said that to put
Germsny's ownership OF cotton in this
country at one million bales would be
conservatiyely stating the case. The
cash price for cotton on Saturday was
2s.G5 cents a pound. The average bale
weighs 500 pounds. A million bales at
Saturdays price would be sl43.250 900.
The seizure of S2,500.000 Of Ger
msny's stores by Secret Service agents
was not learned until yesterday, al
though the property was taken early
in May. Most OF it was on steamship
piers, notably those Of the Hamburg
American Line, in Hoboken. Some was
found in warehouses.
All the property was held in the
names of private individuals. and was
destined for shipment 10 Holland, Swe
den, Norway and Denmark, and from
these countries into Germany.
1t was through these countries tha,
Germany received most Of her val