New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-16
Officer on u. S.
U-Boat Chaser
Held as Spy
William J. Dunbar Seized by
Federal Agents and
lnterned

William J. Dunbar. In command of
|. 5. y. submarine chaser, stationed al
Greenport. Long Island. was interned
on Ellis Island last night as an enemy
alien.
Dunbar. who is said to hold the rank
Of an ensign. was arrested late yester-
cay by Detective McGee. Of the Second
Branch Detective Bureau, and turned
ever to local agents of the Department
Of Justice
The authorities say that Dunbar was
accused OF spying out this country's
naval secrets for Germany 1t is also
charged that he served N the army and
Marine Corps. Had hi. arrest come a
little later. in the opinion OF Federal
officials here, his confcderates and his
means Of communication with Germany
would have been discovered
The charge entered against him on
the blotter At the Detective Bureau. TO
which he was taken, was ICON spring 10
obtain information against the United
States government by enlisting in the
army and navy with the intention Of
getting data on this government
Suspicion was directed against the
navy man, whose name Dunbar" is be-
lieved to be assumed. by members Of
his crew. He seldom appeared in uni
form. and TO residents OF Greenport
Who commented on il he remarked;
81 don't like 20 appear in uniform"
Dunbar claimed he was an English
man and accounted for his ability 20
speak German and other languages by
saying he wss educated in Austria.
Declared a German
William VI. Ofley. superintendent Of
the local bureau Of the Department Of
Justice. said last night that Dunbar
was not an Englishman. but German,
and that he had every reason for be-
GevlnC that Dunbar was not his name
Federal officials when asked If Dun
bar would be put or trial as n spy. the
punishment for which is death. sa d
thai that was for Washington 10 de-
eide. ~ natever they want TO do with
him they can" Said one Fedora Of
fcial. "for he is now safely behind the
bars on Ellis Island"
Dunbar, who gives Pottstown. Penn.
as his place of residence. was first ar
rested last Saturday on his arrival here
from Greenport, according 10 The
Trbune's informant. Federal agents,
II was said. then took him to Washing
ton, where he was said "a have
been given hearing and allowed TO
depart.
One OF the members Of Dunbar's for
-YfG d ~ Z c...d 'ee. ,s~,b.
bar had been cleared Of all charges and
would return TO his snip in a day or
TWO. A. that moment. unknown 70 the
sailor, Dunbar was n prisoner et the
internment camp on Ellis Island
The belief here is that the Washing
ton authorities had pretended 70 be
lievc Dunbar's story for the purpose
Of shadowing him further and getting
on the trail of his confederates, one OF
whom. IL is said is a member Of Neu
York German colony.
Shadowed from Washington
Color was lent TO this theory by the
fact that Dunbar was shadowed from
Washington 70 this city by three agents
OF Tho Department Of Justice.
Dunbar before leaving Washington
telegraphed the Hotel Manhattan to re
serve a room and bath for him. This
was done. He reached the hotel little
after 8 o'clock yesterday morning, the
Federal agents still on his trail
Dunbar, who IS twenty-seven years
old, good looking. tall, and nattily
dressed. registered at the hotel as
William J. Dunbar. Pottstown, Penn"
He was known al the hotel having
topped there two weeks previous
The agents OF the Department of Jus
tice never let him out OF their sight
while in the hotel. They had no in
structions TO arrest him. And II was
10 the surprise Of some members OF
the Department Of Justice that they
learned last night thu: their quarry
had been arrested BY Detective McGee
From a reliable source The Tribune
learned last night that Dunbar was
born In Germany. When Mr.. Ofley
was asked concerning this. he said:
~ understand Dunbar was born IN
Germany
"Is he an ensign in the United States
nayy?"
ii have heard that he is an officer
I'm the navy" said Mr. Otfley, "but that
] have not verified
When Dunbar was taken 10 the head
quarters Of the second branch detec
tive bureau he gave his occupation as
an instructor He told the police that
he was d chemist.